"It is not an easy craft. Each coconut shell bead must be handmade one by one."

"Sawasdee kha. My name is Yupaporn Wongwikarn. I was born in a province of northern Thailand where coconut trees abound and people craft Buddha locket necklaces from coconut shells to sell. I grew up with eight brothers and sisters. The family income came only from our father, who worked as government officer while my mother managed the home.

"When I was about six or seven, my father was killed in an accident. My mother took the responsibility for our lives. In order to pay for our living and education, she sold fruit in the local market and did it ...

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