2023 Seed Grant Award Problem Statements

Decent Work and Education

Problem #6: Promote Green Jobs and Green Skills to Unemployed Youth in Thailand, especially Women

Country/Region of execution:  Thailand

Collaborating Organization:  Community Children Foundation under the Royal Patronage of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn

Community Children Foundation (CCF) has been operating in Thailand since 1957. The foundation was registered as a local non-profit organization in 1975. CCF has implemented a development program in 238 areas in 34 provinces, with 230 committee members, 755 partners, 1,131 volunteers, and 1,202 youth leaders. CCF’s development programs focus on aged-appropriated, need-based, and sustainable approaches. All programs are based on assessment and insights from the country landscape analysis, CCF’s D-Score (disadvantaged score), and nationwide research. CCF's top goal is to empower underprivileged children and their families to reach their full potential, break out of the poverty cycle, and have quality living. The CCF’s latest 2021-23 Country Strategy emphasized three national priorities: 1) Food Security Sustainability, 2) Health, Hygiene, and Well-being, and 3) Education, Life Skills, and Career Skills.  These priorities are facilitated by three key drivers, including 1) Partnership Engagement, 2) Volunteers, and 3) Youth Leaders.

Problem Statement Description:  The COVID-19 pandemic has hardly hit Thailand since 2020, affecting local consumers and businesses. The economic shock associated with COVID-19 has also adversely affected youth employment. Despite the decreasing unemployment rate from 2.0% in 2021 to 1.5% in 2022, the country's youth unemployment rose to 27%, accounting for 170,000 persons. The Regional Economic Office of the Bank of Thailand indicates a rising unemployment rate of new graduates, especially in the North of Thailand, which rose from 41% in 2020 to 80% in 2021. Livelihood scarcity, environmental issues, and social complexity are the three main problems of the North of Thailand’s local community. Regarding livelihood, the locals stay with a $1,600 annual per capita.

For social complexity, ethnic minority groups here have a unique way of living that is sensitive to change. Family system and kinship are robust. The tribal way of life has resulted in limited career choices while local people rely mainly on monoculture with low income. Youth becomes low-skilled workers. Girls and women are obsessed with marriage traditions at an early age and being for household labor or household chores. Additionally, deforestation and contaminated water are also environmental concerns. Deforestation from invasive encroachment of farms and ranches into forested areas is widespread. Many families cut down trees from the forest to make firewood, as in the traditional way of life. The household data assessment found that approximately 5-8 kg. of wood is used daily. Averagely, each house uses about 2,000 kg. of firewood a year. Using chemical fertilizers also causes water contamination, and natural water sources have become a concern between people upstream and downstream. CCF realizes that youth is an essential social accelerator and a catalyst for change. This project aims to empower 100 disadvantaged youths, especially young females in the North of Thailand, to thrive and realize their full potential through CCF’s “YES” Program (Youth Entrepreneurship for Success), which will incorporate the promotion of green jobs and green skills. Under the BCG concept, the 7-step approach includes:
 
1) local context exploration
2) self-awareness and career compass
3) innovation, BCG, and design thinking
4) the BMC
5) digital communication
6) innovation fund support 
7) Marketplace.
 
The project is relevant to SDG1 End Poverty, SDG4 Quality Education, SDG5 Gender Equality, SDG7 Affordable, Green Energy, and SDG8 Decent Work and Economic Growth. It is expected that a micro-community business will be formed, and the practice model will be scaled.