Lessons Learned from Ban Sainoi’s Moral Community Prototype in Bang Ban District, Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Province

Abstract

The purposes of this qualitative research were: 1) to study the operational process of becoming a moral community prototype of Ban Sainoi Community, Bang Ban District, Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Province and 2) to extract lessons learned and create a model of the practical steps involved in being a moral community prototype of Ban Sainoi Community, Bang Ban District, Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. The data were collected via informal interviews, in-depth interviews, and non-participant observation. The key informants consisted of 4 groups: 1) official community leaders, 2) unofficial community leaders, 3) those involved in the community's religious dimension, and 4) Ban Sainoi Community residents from Moo 1 – 10. The results revealed that the implementation of Ban Sainoi Community to become a moral community prototype complied with the 9-step criteria of the Ministry of Culture. The community drive was operated by a group of community leaders who developed moral goals along with preparing ethical promotion plans and activities. Guidelines for determining such activities were consistent with the three dimensions, i.e., religious principles, Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, and good cultural ways, to solve community problems and cultivate the virtues and good deeds. It was also found that Ban Sainoi Community had components of social capital that were important factors in driving the community to become a moral community prototype, namely, 1) strong community leaders, 2) the basis of community residents living together peacefully, 3) shared moral goals of the residents through the meeting process and participation in the opinion expression, 4) communication channels reaching people throughout the community, and 5) the cooperation among community leaders, community residents, temples, and government sectors to operate ethical promotion via participatory activities.