In helping people to have a better living conditions, a significant factor leading to success is that they must have occupations with adequate income to raise their families. Chulabhorn Research Institute is urging the villagers to use their skill in local art to create handicrafts. H.R.H. Process Chulabhorn has graciously given and initial budget to support the project, as well as giving advice in occupation training to improve the villager’s ability.

Besides increasing the villager’s income, Handicrafts Project also play a significant role in community development, allowing the villagers to form a group to work and spend their time fruitfully.

Regarding operation of the project, Chulabhorn Research Institute provides knowledge, skill training, and craftsmanship development to the villagers through training conducted by experts consisting of the villagers themselves and those from various agencies. The Institute also helps with marketing by finding markets for them. In certain area, the villagers have formed a group to strengthen themselves in competing with the market

Chulabhorn Research Institute has organized several occupation training courses at Chulabhorn Pattana and Red Sapphire Villages. In Nakhon Si Thammarat, villagers of Chulabhorn Pattana 2 Village were trained in clothes making and silver ornaments, and villagers of Chulabhorn Pattana 3 Village to weave and make products from krachud (Lepironia articulata), a local reed. Villagers in Red Sapphire 03 Village, Sa Kaeo Province were trained to make product from wood such as chopsticks, ladle, fork and spoon. Villagers in Red Sapphire 06 and 07 villages, Si Sa Ket Province were trained to split and weave bamboo to make khru noi or small water holding basket in various shapes. Villagers of Red Sapphire 04 Village were trained to weave women handbag from palm leaves and pandanus leaves. The villagers are encouraged to work in groups and select a group leader to lay out a plan of operation and coordinate with different agencies to get their products to the market.

Chulabhorn Research Institute helps promote the products by put on shelves in outlet like Doi Kham Royal Project Shop, Bang Sai SUPPORT Training Center, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and other tourist attraction places. The Institute also encourage the villagers to product new and fashionable products so that they will be able to compete in the market.