To mark the culmination of the ‘Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future’ project, led by the Education for Development Foundation (EDF) with support from VFS Global (a global leader in trusted technology services, empowering secure mobility for governments and citizens), a symposium was held where students from the participating schools in Chachoengsao Province presented their projects and shared key lessons learned. The event celebrated the students’ achievements in applying entrepreneurial and financial literacy skills, with the Best Business Model Award presented to Ban Khlongudom School. The programme has directly benefited more than 1,900 students and their families.
Mr Kaushik Ghosh, Head – Australasia, at VFS Global, said, “At VFS Global, we are proud to support this programme of empowering young people with the skills and knowledge to create sustainable livelihoods. This initiative demonstrates how education, when paired with practical entrepreneurial training, can change lives – not just for the students, but for their schools, families and communities as well. I am delighted to see that the students have made the most of the training imparted to them, applying their learning with creativity and determination. We look forward to continuing our work in this space, in line with our commitment to empowering youth through education, skilling and entrepreneurship globally.”
According to Mr Sunphet Nilrat, EDF Managing Director, “Partnering with VFS Global for the ‘Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future’ project has been very productive. Our combined effort has improved the chance of needy Thai students from eight schools in Chachoengsao Province for better employment opportunities, as well as equipping them with know-how about income-generating projects to help them self-support their education and bring extra income to their families.”
He added, “As the organisation coordinating and operating the ‘Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future’ project, we are indeed impressed by how students from each school presented their skills and share their experience to other school students. It will help further propagate the knowledge gained to their own school and to other schools.
“The fact that more than 1,900 students and their families learned about business and product development, financial literacy, project management, team spirit and many more, I feel confident they are now more prepared to handle challenges they would encounter along the way.”
Ms Jintana Katinthong, Director of the Educational Management Promotion Group of Chachoengsao Primary Education Service Area Office II, said “I am delighted witnessing the private sector supporting the ‘Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future’ project at eight schools under Chachoengsao Primary Education Service Area Office management coordination. Promoting the educational management is our main mission, while good education does not only mean academic knowledge but also to help develop other elements, including critical thinking, analysis, actual practice and more importantly to make use of all of these to help them develop themselves.
“We would like to thank VFS Global for their educational development support to Thai students’ occupational skills. We would like also to thank the EDF for managing the project. The ‘Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future’ project exemplifies the excellent collaboration of private organisation with Thai government educational organisation.”
Organisations or individuals, who wish to hold CSR activities in schools and communities or support scholarships to underprivileged students with the EDF, can send emails to [email protected], communicate via LINE @edfthai or access www.edfthai.org.
