Food Academy Bangkok abruptly closed down

[webfact 78,230]

Food Academy Bangkok Abruptly Closed Down



BANGKOK: -- The Food Academy Bangkok (F. A. B.), set up by a Swede only a few years ago, has come to an abrupt end. F.A.B suddenly closed down by the end of 2014 and in the process a dream project of the initiator, Susanna Asklöf, was ruined.

The website said: ‘Closed due to external circumstances!’ On F.A.B’s previous Facebook page Susanna elaborated: “Dear friends and sponsors in Bangkok/Scandinavia!! After almost 3 years building up F.A.B and putting in 110 % effort, I regret to inform you that I can no longer keep up with the demands of the job and will be closing FAB. Since some people made my hard work even harder it is impossible to continue.”

The circumstances surrounding the closure are murky and the Scandinavian community is tight-lipped on the subject. F.A.B had enjoyed much support from Swedes and other Scandinavians in Bangkok, not only for its Scandinavian food and bread but also for its cause – helping underprivileged people in Bangkok’s slum area in Klong Toey to a career within restaurants – food & beverage – through learning the skills of cooking and baking, including also basic accounting and English skills. Susanna Asklöf had wanted to make a difference; ‘making merit’, as Buddhists would definitely define her efforts.

Many feasts and Scandinavian events, such as crayfish and midsummer parties, were held at F.A.B and the catering became successful in the community.

F.A.B was started and operated using her own funds, and with the help of private donors – a Swiss foundation among them – along with income from selling food and holding private events.

It all went well – until something went terribly wrong, the details of which Susanna Asklöf declines to reveal.

“F.A.B enjoyed a fantastic response but what good did that do when Thais did not believe in my sincere intentions, believing I was making a profit and wanting their share of that. I had to close down F.A.B since it was incomprehensible for the authorities to believe that I ran the project as a non-profit organization, and instead persistently believed I was doing something else.”

“I spent all my private savings to build up F.A.B and could never take out a salary. My private economy is in ruins.”

She did not mince here words in describing what she had been going through leading up to the closure.

“It’s been hell for me, and a catastrophe. They’ve ruined my life and my future.”

Who are they? Susanna’s concern for herself and the safety of all the organizations and individuals that supported are more important for her than elaborating any further.

Those causing trouble for her were only after money, she said to ScandAsia.



“My friends have supported me immensely during this time and I have fought extremely hard. Those who supported and were there with us already know – and we are protecting each other now. There is not much to add. No more people should get in trouble because of this.”

“Though difficult, I have greatly enjoyed the experience of helping young people getting started in the food business and I can’t thank you enough for also helping to provide new opportunities for those with limited options in life. I greatly appreciate all your help and support with this project,” she announced too on Facebook.

From her adopted home country Sweden she is deeply disappointed about Thailand, the country in which she was born.

“I feel safe now but I will never forget this hell I’ve been through, and I’m pretty disappointed to have seen that Thais do not understand that one might want to do something without having the ambition to make a lot of money.”

Source: http://scandasia.com/food-academy-bangkok-abruptly-closed-down/

-- ScandAsia 2015-02-25

[Stradavarius37 3,060]

They is the Food Mafia of course....

[iReason 8,234]

"Thais did not believe in my sincere intentions, believing I was making a profit and wanting their share of that."

"it was incomprehensible for the authorities to believe that I ran the project as a non-profit organization"

"Those causing trouble for her were only after money, she said to ScandAsia."

Thainess.

[clockman 8,974]

Forget about Buddism. There mantra is greed! Its the only thing they understand.

[BeforeTigers 1,043]

So they demanded bribes from a non-profit and now she's not allowed to speak on it because they've still got her over a barrel somehow. Couldn't even be bothered to check the books.

This country is run by <deleted> children.

[bushmill 133]

Sorry to read thi it ha been an great institution. Destroyed be jealousie and greed.

[JulieM 330]

I had a similar experience. I tried to help some people here and one greedy Thai Mutherfracker decided he wanted a large splice of the pie. I had no choice but to close up shop after his repeated demands for cash.

[Just1Voice 24,314]

I've been coming here for over 40 years, and after all I've seen, I would never even consider setting up type of business in this totally corrupt, baht worshiping country.

[bob4you 227]

As a foreigner in the country you have no chance. OK to live here but not ok to have a business here, if you are farang it just means another person to scam every

[bob4you 227]

In this country a foreigner has no chance. Everyone is wanting to get in your pocket. Forget it just enjoy life here, help yourself, no one else it is a country of scammers, cheats and thieves.

[ekkamai 49]

So sad, but I am not surprised. People move to Thailand with the best intentions, but after a while they become completely disillusioned and frustrated.

[questionsreplies 153]

She is Thai ? And scare of what ?

[Loaded 2,554]

Non-profit organizations should be set up as foundations. It doesn't appear that this organization was, or had applied to be, a foundation. Therefore, the authorities would see this as a business and I expect the revenue department would want audited accounts and tax paid on minimum salaries for the foreigners. Immigration would want to see non-immigrant B visas for foreign staff and labour would expect to see work permits. My suspicion is that they thought they were exempt from these rules and regulations.

[krisb 5,919]

Speculation?

Maybe it just went broke?

[paddyjenkins 1,108]

Remember the tsunami....many foreigners came to thailand to help, for free, out of pure decency, and were cheated by the usual suspects....the tuk tuk drivers etc....the authorities too....a forensic team from germany rushed to identify dna and were charged with working without a work permit and had to leave....as for the vast funds that were donated, nobody knows whose pockets that money ended up in....thailand is rotten to the core

Edited February 25, 2015 by paddyjenkins