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Published on October 24, 2007

 RS Public's young star Rattapoom "Film" Tokongsup has plenty to smile about these days. He's the first singer in Southeast Asia to be appointed as an ambassador of Habitat for Humanity Thailand and the second individual to be named as an envoy in the Asia-Pacific region after Indian actor John Abraham.

"I'm thrilled to be the Habitat ambassador," says the 23-year-old. "I'm a long-time admirer of Habitat and familiar with the way the organisation works."

"We had three candidates in mind but we think Film is the most suitable, not just because his show schedule will permit him to take part in the upcoming activities but also because of his commitment," says Pornpan Techarungchaikul, senior executive vice-president of the major recording company.

Over in the States, rock icon and philanthropist Jon Bon Jovi was recently appointed founding ambassador of the Habitat for Humanity Ambassador programme as part of the international non-profit organisation's new advocacy outreach initiative. Other celebrities-cum-volunteers include Ricky Martin, Cher, Brad Pitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Oprah Winfrey as well as President George W Bush and his wife, Laura.

Rattapoom, who has been recording his currently untitled third studio album, scheduled for release in December, will help to raise awareness about Habitat, raise funds to build homes, and take part in the actual building.

"I'm now learning more about Habitat and the building process as well as getting fit," he says, after a three-hour briefing at Habitat's Bangkok office.

The young heartthrob will also go to the US next month, visiting New York from November 1 to 4 and then Washington DC from November 5 to 8, to spend time with the Habitat for Humanity International staff and see completed homes. He then joins Korean celebrities and other volunteers for construction duties from November 9 to 15 in Seoul and will help build homes in Argentina from December 19 to 25.

Here in Thailand, along with 20 staff from the record label and volunteers from several educational institutions, Film will build two homes at the beginning of next year. According to RS, Black Vanilla's guitarist Osathee "Graph" Soonmongkol will also join the team.

"Film will spread the Habitat message in parallel with promoting his new album, on radio, TV and the print media," says Pornpan. "He's a good role model for teenagers."

The singer has signed a one-year contract with Habitat.

"We believe Film can help us come up with sufficient funding to build 7,000 homes in the next three years," says Panida Panyangarm, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity Thailand. "Up to now, we've built fewer than 900 homes, even though there are 350,000 households in need."

Habitat for Humanity Thailand is a non-profit organisation dedicated to eradicating poor housing and homelessness by helping low-income families construct simple, decent and affordable houses.

Habitat has three home designs: interlocking block houses come in three sizes (4.95 metres x 10.80 metres, 6m x 6m and 6.95m x 9.90m) concrete houses (7m x 5m, 6m x 6m and 4m x 9m; and stilt houses (6m x 6m). The average cost of a Habitat house in the Kingdom is Bt120,000, payable in interest-free monthly instalments.

"If a family has only a little money, the structure will usually be a large room with a toilet, without room partitions. We set up a committee in each of the communities and it is up to them to decide who will be the most suitable candidates for the houses," she says. "Our aim is to ensure they have a house within five to seven years."

After completing two-storey houses in Sai Mai, Habitat plans to build apartments in Bangkok.

Anyone interesting in volunteering time or donating money and construction equipment should call (02) 711 6942 or visit Habitatthailand.org.

 Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul

 The Nation