Development of Right Occupation Based on Community Ways of Life for Increasing Household Income of People in Pakhom District, Thailand

Abstract

The objectives of this research study, “Development of Honest Livelihood based on Community’s Way of Life to Increase Household Income of People in Pakham District, Buriram Province,” were: (1) to examine problems regarding honest livelihood in accordance with the community’s way of life at the household level of Pakham District, Buriram Province; (2) to determine how to improve the honest livelihood based on community’s way of life to increase household income of people in Pakham District, Buriram Province; and (3) to develop the honest means of livelihood and enhance community’s potential in developing honest livelihood based on the existing body of knowledge to increase household income of people in Pakham District, Buriram Province. The participants were specifically drawn from tourism community and included community leaders, senior members of the community, local scholars, village volunteers, members of the Sub-district Administration Council, public and private organization officers, older persons, and youngsters of Pakham District, Buriram Province. This research and development project made use of quantitative and qualitative tools to collect community data as well as to test the satisfaction with the development of honest livelihood based on the community’s way of life and improve the community’s potentials.

         Research findings indicated that, with respect to problems with community’s honest livelihood at household level, there were limited budget, materials and equipment and a lack of learning centers in the community. In terms of income, there were the problems of unemployment and some community scholars were not skilled in transferring their body of knowledge. There was a study of how to improve honest livelihood by conducting occupational training based on self-sufficiency principle in order to reduce expenses and increase supplementary income. Knowledge obtained from the occupational training was applied to create new body of knowledge in order to perform additional careers. As a result, there were occupational groups for people to earn more income. The participants’ satisfaction with their involvement in the project was at the highest level with the average score of 4.86. Learning management was improved and occupational training was organized in the community to increase people’s income. The community applied the body of knowledge gained to household management and came up with the guidelines for creating a learning center where people could learn about honest livelihood based on the community’s way of life. Thus, a variety of occupation emerged and there was exchange within the community.