“BANPU Champions for Change 3” holds intensive training course for 11 teams of young social entrepreneurs
The “BANPU Champions for Change 3” program recently provided an intensive training course on the development of fundamental business and financial plans for the 11 teams of young social entrepreneurs who have passed the first round of the program. These social entrepreneurs work in every region of Thailand, focusing on diverse areas such as education, the environment, agriculture, career development, art, food and health, and underprivileged youth. This year, 11 out of 61 social enterprise projects from all over Thailand passed the first round and were granted the opportunity to implement Phase 1 of their projects during the period of July to September, 2013.
Mrs. Udomlux Olarn, Banpu’s Head of Corporate Affairs and Director of the BANPU Champions for Change Program, stated that this is the third year that Banpu has encouraged and sponsored creative young people who are highly determined to change society in a positive manner through social enterprises driven by a combination of sound business and financial management and social and environmental awareness.
“This year is not only Banpu’s 30th anniversary, but is also the third year of the ‘BANPU Champions for Change’ initiative, which has supported over 31 social enterprises to date. For the 2013 program, we want to promote a network of volunteer mentors, the social entrepreneurs selected this year and qualified entrepreneurs from previous years. The reasons behind this are to create strong bonds, exchange information and experience and offer mutual support. These will eventually lead to innovative and sustainable enterprises and a better society in the future,” Mrs. Udomlux explained.
The “BANPU Champions for Change 3” program is one of BANPU’s Corporate Social Responsibility activities undertaken under the concept of “Learning: A Power of Change and Development. Children’s education is believed to be the key factor that inspires change in humans and society in a creative and sustainable way. The program is open to modern Thai youth nationwide to help them prepare and implement innovative social activities that offer a tangible benefit to society as a whole. It also opens up an opportunity for them to learn from first-hand experience, and apply the profits of their endeavours to make a positive difference in their local community and society.
