On 19-21 August 2014, H.E. Mr. Pitchayaphant Charnbhumidol, Ambassador of Thailand to Brazil welcomed the visit of Dr.Sumet Tantivejkul, Secretary of Chaipattana Foundation and Honorary Advisor of the Resource Management for Sustainability (3R) Foundation and his delegation to Brasilia.The Thai delegation had a meeting entitled “Thailand – Brazil Bilateral Collaboration on Waste Management ” with Mr. Farbricio Araujo Prado ,International Advisor, and Ms. Daniela Gomes Metello , Coordinator of Inter-ministerial Committee for Economic and Social Inclusion of Waste Pickers - CIISC) at the President Palace. The results of the meeting led to exchanges of best practices of Thailand and Brazil as well as solutions for the betterment of quality of life of waste pickers in both countries. 

 

               At present, there are around 400,000 waste pickers throughout Brazil. The Brazilian government has already upgraded quality of life of 50,000 waste pickers through setting up of 2,000 waste picker cooperatives, working closely with the CEMPRE which comprises top business companies in Brazil and collects wastes from waste pickers to be recycled, enhancing quality of education and health, as well as providing legal assistance to Brazilian waste pickers.