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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#666699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04a00840erlcjm.png"> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B><IMG SRC="05b82530.jpg" border=0 width="898" height="83" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></FONT></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" background="04411c00egdysm.png"> <div> <B>LINKS</B></div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:flyspirit@yahoo.co.uk" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:flyspirit@yahoo.co.uk"><U><B><!-- Start Gem Animated Image (GIF) --> <img src="HTMLobj-168/aniGif.gif" border="0" align="bottom" width="88" height="31"> <!-- End Gem Animated Image (GIF) --> </B></U></A></div> <div> <B> </B><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News and Events"><U><B><!-- Start Gem Animated Image (GIF) --> <img src="HTMLobj-178/aniGif.gif" border="0" align="bottom" width="88" height="31"> <!-- End Gem Animated Image (GIF) --> </B></U></A><B> </B></div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Products and Services"><U><B><!-- Start Gem Animated Image (GIF) --> <img src="HTMLobj-188/aniGif.gif" border="0" align="bottom" width="88" height="31"> <!-- End Gem Animated Image (GIF) --> </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Information and Orders "><U><B> <!-- Start Gem Animated Image (GIF) --> <img src="HTMLobj-203/aniGif.gif" border="0" align="bottom" width="120" height="31"> <!-- End Gem Animated Image (GIF) --> </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><U><B><!-- Start Gem Animated Image (GIF) --> <img src="HTMLobj-216/aniGif.gif" border="0" align="bottom" width="131" height="31"> <!-- End Gem Animated Image (GIF) --> </B></U></A></div> <div> <B> </B><A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U><B><!-- Start Gem Animated Image (GIF) --> <img src="HTMLobj-255/aniGif.gif" border="0" align="bottom" width="130" height="31"> <!-- End Gem Animated Image (GIF) --> </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Information and Orders "><U><B> </B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <bR> <div> The Bangkok Women's Co-operative - The Story</div> <div> <B>e - The StoBangkok Women</B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>'</B></FONT><B>s Co-operative - The Sto</B></div> <div> <B>The Bangkok Women</B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>'</B></FONT><B>s Co-operative - The Story</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> This is Khun Wow making Paper and hanging it out to dry!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="06df4f40.png" border=0 width="244" height="244" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Wow is part of the team working in a women<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800080" FACE="Arial" >'</FONT>s co-operative located in a slum area of Bangkok, named Suan Plu. This cottage industry was started over 7 years ago by Dave and Kerry Verkade who are from Invercargill, New Zealand. Dave has a degree in computer sciences and Kerry is a certified accountant and together they have used their skills and experience to build this business which is also given extra assistance by the local Christian Church, of which they are members.</div> <bR> <div> The co-op market their products under two brand names, <B>Hot Chilli</B> <B>Concepts </B>and <B>Yonjai Spa</B>. All the profits made from their domestic and export sales are ploughed back in the business or spent on much needed items for their local community.</div> <bR> <div> The community<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800080" FACE="Arial" >'</FONT>s biggest challenge to date was just over a year ago when the Suan Plu area caught fire, many homes were burnt down, also leaving Dave and Kerry homeless and without premises to work from. The local authorities responded quickly and temporary assistance and charitable donations rolled in, however further efforts to secure compensation proved an administrative nightmare resulting in many families leaving the area with nothing. Dave and Kerry were eventually donated a 3 storey building which is now central to providing the women<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800080" FACE="Arial" >'</FONT>s co-operative with a home and a production facility.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Web SIte Designed By Andrew G James 2005 </div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:andygj2002@ntlworld.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:andygj2002@ntlworld.com"><U>andygj2002@ntlworld.com</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.andy-james.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.andy-james.com"><U>www.andy-james.com</U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>