THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Banpu, Change Fusion cooperate on ‘Champions for Change’

Banpu, Change Fusion cooperate on ‘Champions for Change’

Banpu has collaborated with Change Fusion, a non-profit institute with a key role in driving the Thai social-enterprise industry, to roll out “Banpu Champions for Change (BC4C) as one of Banpu’s CSR programmes.


 The 10 social enterprises are made up of interesting ideas and concepts that utilise technology and new media to enhance their businesses and respond to the lifestyles of modern consumers. For example, there are online platforms for people suffering from depression to seek treatment, a critical-thinking course for the underprivileged, learning aids for the blind and hearing-impaired, environmental- and health-friendly packaging products, a mobile application for real-time public-transport schedules, human-waste fertiliser, a zero-waste soy-milk product, and a recreational and productivity hub for senior citizens.
The company’s head of corporate affairs Udomlux Olarn said a lot of young people had the will and ideas to create a social enterprise but sometimes lacked guidance and the means to accelerate their projects and realise their dreams.
Banpu has therefore offered an opportunity for young social entrepreneurs to immerse themselves in a learning process that will help them accomplish their goals, because it believes that learning is the power of change and development. BC4C serves as a platform to provide them with skills, knowledge, financial support and networking opportunities. They will get to learn, solve problems and make the most of their potentials while having Banpu and its mentors as their guides, she said.
 Banpu has invited experts from Thailand’s start-up and social-enterprise communities, as well as its programmes’ alumni, as judges and mentors to share their insights and expertise with the young entrepreneurs.
Among them are Pattaraporn “Dao” Yaemla-or, an expert on measuring the impacts of social enterprises, and social marketer Alan “Ton” Archapiraj, a marketing expert and founder of social innovation-based enterprises and inspirational magazines. All of them have proven expertise in the social-enterprise arena.
 BC4C participants were given advice and mentoring through workshops that assist in taking ideas and shaping into working business models for sustainable social enterprises with desired impacts.
The 10 selected teams then have three months (April to June) to make the most of Bt50,000. At the end of this three-month period, they will present their social-enterprise progress in a final round to win four places to receive Bt200,000 to fund their businesses.

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