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Published on January 20, 2008

He teaches us to grow our own plants and raise our own animals so we don't have to buy them. My way to practice sufficiency is to live moderately without having to borrow money, to grow plants and raise animals so we could sell them for a living. I also save money from my allowance in my piggy bank," says Panan Jansod, a young girl who honours HM the King and reflects the sufficiency philosophy in her drawing so well that she recently won the top prize trophy from HRH Princess Somsawali in the early elementary category (Grade 1-3) in a drawing contest on the topic "Follow the King…My sufficiency".

The contest was held by Silpakorn University in cooperation with Staedtler (Thailand) Co to honour HM the King on the auspicious occasion of his 80th birthday anniversary. The is the third time the drawing contest has been held and this year it drew 1,241 applicants from around the country. The competition was divided into two categories: early elementary (Grades 1-3) and late elementary (Grades 4-6) and 20 works were selected for the final round, which was held at Silpakorn.

Nine-year-old Panan, or Nong Wan, is a grade-3 student at Baan Koohahsawan, Phatthalung said she has been interested in drawing since she was little and had been practising to enhance her skills and participate in several drawing competitions ever since. "My drawing is of a farmer holding a saving bank book showing that he could earn a living from growing plants and following a sufficiency way of life," said Nong Wan.

The first runner-up winner was Nontakorn Jesdavanich and the second runner-up was Padtanama Tanpohprasit.

The winner in the late elementary segment was Jiraporn Popponpan or Nong Sai, 10, a grade 4 student at Petchkasem School in Bangkok.

"His Majesty the King is a decent man who devotes himself to his people and the nation. I save my money in my piggy bank everyday so I chose to draw a picture of a family who saves money in piggy banks to encourage others to learn how to save," said Nong Sai.

The first runner-up was Apiwat Jukongthon and the second runner-up was Savitri Pornsima.

Five other students were recognised for their effects with complimentary awards, receiving scholarships and certificates as well as Staedtler stationery to help them sharpen their skills in the future.