Banpu Recruits Young Social Entrepreneurs For Banpu Champions for Change 7 Supporting Thai social entrepreneurs to emphasize sustainable business ideas
Banpu Public Company Limited, a leading Asian Energy Company with a focus on social sustainability, is collaborating with Change Fusion, a non-profit institute under the Thai Rural Reconstruction Movement Foundation by the Royal Patronage, to inspire young social entrepreneurs to develop their business ideas to join Banpu Champions for Change 7. In its seventh year, this program aims to support entrepreneurs between the ages of 20-35 years to positively use their businesses to create changes in Thai society, communities and the environment, while maintaining successful and long-term operating profits. Prospective social entrepreneurs, either as an individual or a group of up to four people, can submit their applications during 1 January – 28 February 2017 to win a chance to receive total initial funding from Banpu of more than two million baht.
“Banpu believes in our business credo: an industry will be strong only when it is developed in tandem with social and environmental responsibility. For the past six years of this program, Banpu has helped nurture business establishment of 62 social enterprises with funding and skill support. Apart from that, this program has been building up a strong network of like-minded entrepreneurs, where encourages knowledge sharing, learning and business relationship among participants. Banpu hopes to be a part of the movement to sustainable growth by continuously support the development of social enterprises in Thailand. This aligns with Banpu’s corporate social responsibility philosophy; learning is the power of change and development. said Mrs. Udomlux Olarn, Head of Corporate Affairs, Banpu Public Company Limited.”
In 2017, Banpu Champions for Change 7 will be even more intensive than ever before. Banpu has been focusing upon fostering social enterprise initiatives that have the achievable goal to make significant change for targeted social issues and beneficiaries. Accordingly, throughout the program, the social entrepreneurs will receive professional advice and attend workshops related to business, marketing, branding, funding, finance and social impact assessment with industry experts from many related fields. The participants will also have opportunities to strengthen a network of social entrepreneurs among themselves and Banpu Champions for Change Alumni with the mutual aim to make Thailand’s social enterprises grow further.
Participating social enterprises will be screened by making sure their distinct business objective is focused on social issues and the environment, with creative operating directions for their sustainable social enterprises. The 20 successful enterprises, selected by judges from related fields, will be provided with the fundamental skills and training. Following this, 10 social enterprises will be chosen due to their outstanding plans and potential to leverage the operating profit – they will then receive initial funding along with the knowledge and skills to accomplish their three-month plan. Finally, four winning social enterprises with the most outstanding and impactful operations and concepts will be awarded additional funding to support their long-term business operations. A total of around two million baht of funding will be provided to these teams throughout the two phases of the program.
For more information www.facebook.com/banpuchampions
Applications open: 1 January – 28 February 2017
Application forms can be downloaded at: http://bit.ly/2iZBAbe
For further inquiries, please contact 02-938-2636 or email banpuchampions@gmail.com
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About Banpu Champions for Change Program
The “Banpu Champions for Change” program began in 2011 as an evolution of the support for developing young social entrepreneurs since 2006. The program aims to allow young people with potential and creativity to drive social change by implementing their own social enterprise-based initiatives which incorporate business, society, environment, and financial management into profitable activities using ethical business management principles and practices.
“Learning is the Power of Change and Development”
Banpu’s CSR activities are based on our firm belief that “learning is the power of change and development” for people and society by emphasizing the promotion and development of continued “learning” among young people and communities in a number of ways. Banpu supports sustainable development of communities and society through a variety of learning opportunities for both individuals and teams, ranging from daily real-life experiences both in- and outside classrooms, to hands-on practices which enhance capabilities and skills.
