Making his influence Count Belgian nobleman uses football and radio to boost chances for the less-privileged Published: 16/04/2012 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: Life

As a billionaire with a European title of nobility, Count Gerald van der Straten Ponthoz has the world at his feet. Having traversed the globe for years, a handful of coincidences brought the Belgian to Thailand a decade ago. Little did he know back then that moving to the Land of Smiles would be the start of a string of projects which he would help spearhead to equip tribal folk in the North with the educational know-how to a promising career path of their choice.

Seen here in his home in Chiang Rai, Count Gerald van der Straten Ponthoz enjoys beautiful things, like luxury cars, but says he doesn’t believe in collecting them.

After living in Barcelona, Spain, for three years, he had his heart set on moving to Mexico where he planned to purchase the house of his dreams. But a twist of fate brought him to Thailand, after he was told the house he had pinned his hopes on buying had been sold, and a close Thai acquaintance invited him for a vacation to Thailand. Shunning the sights and sounds of tourist areas, he chose instead to visit the remote rural areas of the North and South to savour the cultural and traditional aspects of the countryside. It was eventually Chiang Rai's Mae Chan district which he chose to call home.

"Thailand was not on my radar of destinations to settle down in when I was contemplating to move from Spain to Mexico," mused the outgoing count, whose family owns a major stake in the world's biggest beer brewer, Belgium-based AB InBev.

The count doesn’t shy away from getting his hands dirty. Here he lends a hand helping with the construction of the stadium.

"The house I wanted in Mexico is located in an old village, right in the centre of an enormous city. I really wanted to move to this neighbourhood because it is housed in an area where residents can closely experience the lives of the Mexican people.

"Chiang Rai province, especially in Mae Chan district where I live now, is similar in that it is a place where you can learn from its people and culture. Residents are also very nice and warm. These are all factors I look for when I am moving to another country.

"Chiang Rai is small enough to get a good understanding of its close-knit society and interesting culture. It was much easier for me to adapt to this outback type of environment. If you're able to quickly adapt to your new surroundings you're happier. I also learned to read and write Thai to better communicate with locals."

His decision to become a resident in Thailand eventually opened opportunities for him to reconnect with his long-lost ancestor Chao Phya Abhai Raja Gustave Rolin-Jaequemyns, who served as general adviser to HM King Chulalongkorn. Through local connections he was also introduced to Wilaiwan Piriyakrit, director of Suksasongkroh Mae Chan School, a government-run educational institution for impoverished students from hilltribe communities. She played an instrumental role in his desire to help the students.

Underprivileged tribal people have a special place in the heart of this Belgian count, who wears his heart on his sleeve.

To better structure the hilltribe projects he was running with the Thai educator, Van der Straten Ponthoz was advised to set up a foundation, which he named after his ancestor, that would go on to support destitute hilltribe children with scholarships to pave their way for better career opportunities in the future.

Today, the business-savvy investor heads the independently run Chao Phya Abhai Raja Siammanukulkij Foundation. The aim of each project under the foundation is to give disadvantaged youngsters opportunities which will help them in earning a middle-class income with a job they're passionate about. This is made possible through full scholarships in subjects they would like to pursue as a profession. While students don't have to be brilliant to get a shot at this, he said they are expected to bring home satisfactory results.

''It is my desire to see individuals with particular talents and skills do more than just repair motorcycles for an occupation because they don't have the financial means to pursue a better career option. If they can earn by doing something they actually enjoy, I am ready to lend a hand. The theme of each project is often something I am not personally compassionate about, but am ready to support if there is a genuine interest by the young adults. Previous projects have included a violin concert by our tribal girls, a ceramic exhibition and a magic show,'' the count said.

The Belgian nobleman prefers not to look at his financial assistance as charity, but rather a source from which people with a need can do something to improve their livelihoods. Nothing comes for free in life, he said, so everyone has to prove they are worthy of being equal partners in these endeavours that he throws his full support behind.

If you are born lucky, he says, it becomes your responsibility to at least share that luck with a few people.

The count’s ancestor Chao Phya Abhai Raja Gustave Rolin-Jaequemyns, general adviser to HM King Chulalongkorn.

Van der Straten Ponthoz's latest project is the Chiang Rai Hills football stadium, which was completed in October and cost more than 40 million baht. Before that, a radio station, christened Weah Radio, was set up for aspiring local talent. He encourages them to survey the internet and observe music trends in other countries, bringing the audience a mix and match of music genres.

The station, which has been around for four years, currently has 5,000 members on its website club. Membership benefits include discounts on seat tickets and souvenir shops and free entrance to the stadium. He said the radio station is an excellent educational tool to train boys about marketing, developing niche products, improving the audience base and facing competition. This they get through on-the-job training, using the radio station to learn how to market the football stadium, he enthused. The revenue generated from the events held at the stadium is used for its monthly upkeep.

The idea of Chiang Rai Hills FC was once again the idea of the students. They wanted to organise their very own tribal football team to play at second division level, recalled the count with a smile. So he assisted with getting them a coach and paid 50 baht for each player's petrol expenses to reach the practice grounds as they didn't have their own stadium at the time. Van der Straten Ponthoz gave them six months to train, after which he would evaluate their progress to determine what step to take next.

At the end of six months, he found to his surprise that they were still training as diligently as when they started. As the team's average age was 23, considered too old to turn professional, he thought the next career option that would go in line with their passion for football would most likely be a football stadium.

The count explains his vision: ''I helped them with investing in the stadium, it is now their duty to be financially responsible for it. My role is that of an adviser to the players who also manage the stadium, which is under the foundation. I think it will take another year before they will be able to run the stadium without my guidance. The stadium is spectacular in both size and structure. It also has a gigantic LCD screen, the biggest in the province. Plans for a football academy are also in the pipeline.

''I expect everyone to play a part in the managing of this stadium. During its construction everyone, including myself, helped out with digging and carrying bricks and mud. I have to admit that not everyone was up to the task. The ones that weren't left on their own accord. The boys hold regular weekly meetings, covering such areas as how to keep the shop better stocked, contacting possible sponsors and brainstorming on viable events that can be held in the stadium when the field is not being used for matches.''

Weerapong Atao doubles as both stadium manager and Chiang Rai Hills FC team captain.

It is important for him to place the right people in the right position of management. When the answer to how the shop can be better stocked comes from the boys, it makes him happy, even though he prefers not to display his emotions openly.

''I never thank them or say that a job is well done,'' said the count, in a matter-of-fact manner. ''I will reprimand them and continue to find areas where they need to improve. During our meetings, I am very upfront with them over where they are going wrong. My tone of voice might show that I am displeased. However, away from work they know I am like their friend. They can come and talk to me about anything.''

Van der Straten Ponthoz _ who prefers not to have the spotlight on himself _ says if there was something he wanted to be remembered for, it would be as a person who helped to generate awareness among wealthy and influential people to do more for society than just write cheques to charities.

Two of his most promising students so far have been Banchong Mayare, who manages Weah Radio, and Weerapong Atao, Chiang Rai Hills FC's captain. Banchong comes from the Akha communities in Ton Muang subdistrict, Mae Fa Luang district of Chiang Rai, while Weerapong was born into a Lahu farming family in Chiang Mai's Chiang Dao district. Both are 22 years old, but very different in personalities. Banchong has the making of an orator while Weerapong is a man of few words.

The 22-year-old Banchong, who loves music and languages, said if he hadn't met the Belgian nobleman as a teenager he would not have had the chance to not only further his education but also learn about life.

''He has taught me far beyond anything I could learn in an educational institution,'' said Banchong in a tone filled with emotion. ''I come from a hilltribe background, knowing very little about the world outside of my comfort zone. He has opened my horizons and taught me about everything from dress code to how to carry myself in front of important people. My future has more direction to where it's heading now. Prior to knowing him, I had nothing to look forward to in life because I come from a poor family.

''Describing his personality is difficult for me sometimes because while he has a good heart, he is an authoritarian and a no-nonsense person. Some people will find him a difficult person to please because he often speaks his mind, and sometimes that might offend them. I believe he is tough with us so we will not get spoiled.

''This is the best opportunity I could have to make something out of my life. He is my gift from heaven. For me, he is like a second father who is also a teacher, an older brother and a friend who is there when I feel emotionally down. He is always there to advise us. I admit that I cry or feel discouraged at times when he is harsh with his words, but I know that he is doing this for our good, he gets nothing out of helping us.''

Weerapong also shared the same sentiments, saying: ''He is the light at the end of the tunnel for me. From his years of experience as a businessman, he has taught us the art of managing our own venture. He teaches us to think out of the box, to widen our knowledge through using the internet and other modes of social networking. Yet, even though he is a strict person and often hard to please, I know he is doing everything for me as a person to grow. I wouldn't have had a future to look forward to if I didn't know him. I am learning to stand on my own feet.''

Weerapong has made it to team captain through hard work and perseverance. Two years ago he tried out for the team because he had a passion to become a professional footballer. The eldest of four siblings, he is thankful that Van der Straten Ponthoz has employed his mother as his housekeeper and his father to do the gardening.

''Khun Gerry loves the underprivileged people very much. From the time I have known him he has never thrown anyone out of his house. He only tells us to improve ourselves. He has been the perfect adviser anyone could have wished for,'' said the talented footballer.

Aspiring singer Banchong Mayare manages Weah Radio, which offers the best of music from around the world to its Northern audience.