During our 1995 visit to Cabbages & Condoms (C&C), proprietor Mechai Viravaidya introduced our group to the work of C & C, now a chain with six locations. C & C raises money for AIDS prevention and family planning in Bangkok. They also use funds to support rural industry, as an alternative to prostitution and to encourage villagers to stay in the countryside rather than moving to the overpopulated city. Mechai is also chair of the Population and Community Development Association (PDA), which mobilizes the local and international corporate sector to bring its business expertise and financial resources to poor villages by sponsoring economic development projects. Our store, The Black Cat, imports crafts from their projects.
