Bangkok--8 Aug--Maxima Consultants
A Heart for the World.... SIFE Chulalongkorn University students with a charitable spirit for sustainable community was named SIFE Thailand Champion at the ‘2011 SIFE Thailand National Exposition’, the national competition for university students to create the best practices that improve the quality of life and standard of living for more sustainable communities. Among a total of 21 universities all over the country participated in this competition and three leading Thai institutions went to its final round including Thammasat University, Chulalongkorn University and Mahidol University.
The Chulalongkorn University champion team undertook three projects to help locals including the Soil Booster project, tourism promotion for Koh Kred community and the basic agricultural costing book for sustainable living. Chulalongkorn SIFE team, as Thailand National Champion will represent Thailand at 2011 SIFE World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during October 3-5, 2011.
The final round for ‘2011 SIFE Thailand National Exposition’ was recently organized by M.R.Disnadda Diskul, Chairman of Rakkaew Foundation and Chairman of SIFE Thailand (Students in Free Enterprise) and held at Mahidol University at Salaya Nakornprathom.
M.R.Disnadda Diskul, Chairman of Rakkaew Foundation and Chairman of SIFE Thailand said ‘SIFE offers university students an opportunity to apply what they are learning to solve real world problems. Students get database from community, develop their teamwork, initiative project and effective solving solutions which concerns the relevant economic, social and environment. The community becomes the classroom and learning laboratory.
Rather than the business lead, this year global SIFE focuses on triple bottom line as our judging criteria which are economic, social and environmental factors which our Majesties the King and Queen have operated the same working principles for sustainable development of Thailand for a long time. SIFE believes that the potential of transforming our nation face is the cooperative learning which eventually solve the nation economic inequality and bring sustainable nation.’
Speaking of the National Champion, Mr.Chote Jindaratanacholkij, a project leader from SIFE Chulalongkorn team said ‘we have received good cooperation from community as the working projects are the need of community which they preferred. For example, the Soil Booster project that we have consecutively been doing for three years to help locals. It helps farmers to reduce cost by using earthworms to produce organicfertiliser. This project also reduces the waste for over four tons a year. The second project is the ‘Cost Board’, basic agricultural costing book for farmers in Kangkoi, Saraburi province. We educate the community on how to keep accounting books on their agriculture. Farmers in the community will share their knowledge on costing among each other for the cost saving solutions. The third project is tourism promotion for amazing Koh Kred community. We encourage Koh Kred residents to promote its tourism through their wealth of beautiful culture. We have worked really hard to achieve the goal and very happy that Chulalongkorn team have been SIFE National Champion for three years consecutively. We hope that our working projects will help improve local people’s quality of life and will do our best for the work on the world stage..’
Mr.Jittinun Jaisuith, a project leader from SIFE Thammasat University won the first runner-up SIFE competition said ‘SIFE allows us to apply what we have learned from classroom. Our team takes the Thai Rice project which brings farmers good health by organic farm. The mission is for example increasing green area of 11,200 square meters to community, increase the earning of over 1.5 million Baht for 16 farmers and etc. For the tourism project, we expand ‘Thai Home Stay’ project to an additional 51 house hold from the previous year.’
Mr.Thanakrit Bandasakdi, a project leader from SIFE Mahidol University won the second runner-up SIFE Competition said that ‘we find out the community’s most pressing problems and solutions, then select the most impact one. For example, the Parachute Rice Transplanting technique, the Chinese technology which can reduce cost of 30% -39% while the Econ Child project spreading awareness on children potential. The project rolls out the education program on language and technology for the youths who will be our leaders of tomorrow.’
2011 SIFE Thailand National Exposition showcased potential Thai students who would be able to make a difference in this world. No matter winning or losing, SIFE has tremendous success through our journey as we have been able to improve quality of life and standard of living for others.
SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) is a global non-profit organization, established in 1975 in U.S.A, supporting university students at more than 1,500 universities in 40 counties. Students are empowered to teach ethical entrepreneurship and business conducts in their local communities. SIFE students demonstrate practical managerial skills, have hand-on experience and are committed to sustainable business. Working in partnership with business and higher education, SIFE establishes student teams on university campuses. These teams are led by faculty advisors and they are challenged to develop quality community outreach projects. SIFE team members leverage their educational experiences, the expertise of their faculty advisors, and the support of their local business advisory boards and the resources of their institutions to deliver projects that create real economic opportunities to community members.
From left
1. Mr.Jittinun Jaisuith, a project leader from SIFE Thammasat Universitywon the first runner-up SIFE competition
2. M.R.Disnadda Diskul, Chairman of Rakkaew Foundation and Chairman ofSIFE Thailand
3. Mr.Chote Jindaratanacholkij, a project leader from SIFE ChulalongkornUniversity team with the SIFE National Champion Cup
4. Mr.Thanakrit Bandasakdi, a project leader from SIFE Mahidol University wonthe second runner-up
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