BU Students Create Community Activities to Elevate Local Products from LOCAL to Valuable
Every year, the Project to Promote and Support Youth Citizenship in Democracy for Sustainable Democracy Development creates opportunities for Southern Democratic Youth to learn through hands-on practice by organizing good activities for society. This year, Bangkok University students who are Southern Democratic Youth - Mr.Natthapong Phuthongkitcharoen (Donut) and Mr.Songtham Ritaram (Plub), Students from the School Digital Media and Cinematic Arts
Along with Ms. Maytawee Zinhliw (Maynie), an alumna from the School of Communication Arts - were selected as the working committee to conceptualize the project, determine the concept, and design activities that address community development focused on sustainability. This led to the activity "Elevating Local Products from LOCAL to Valuable" under the concept "SMALL VILLAGE, BIG VALUE - Keereewong Can Do It."
The Project to Promote and Support Youth Citizenship in Democracy for Sustainable Democracy Development, organized by the Secretariat of the House of Representatives of Thailand, has established the Democratic Youth Project since 2002. This project adheres to the philosophy of "Creating a new generation with vision, way of thinking, way of life, morality, consciousness, and commitment to democracy with the King as Head of State," aiming to continuously cultivate democratic culture among youth.
Exploring Areas for Creativity
"We sent a survey team to Keereewong Village, Lan Saka District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, to talk with community leaders, enterprise heads, village headmen, and local representatives to collect information about what products villagers make to generate income, in order to further develop what the community needs. The team adjusted the plan to add TikTok channel creation for the community, dividing into approximately 3 groups to produce clips and deliver the accounts to the community for continued use after the activity ends, to ensure real continuation."
Elevating Local Products from LOCAL to Valuable
"3 activities from community products: Tie-Dye, Tie Hearts - conveying art on fabric from Keereewong mountains; sharing knowledge in Nora bead work - Threading Love, creating contemporary fashion jewelry from Manora identity; and Mhamui Magic - transforming local plants into beautiful jewelry with sustainable wisdom by using Mhamui seeds to make keychains, using mangosteen peel and durian leaves as natural dyes, reducing waste, increasing income - activities that elderly or unemployed people can participate in, creating community economy from existing resources."
Creating and Presenting Work in New Formats
"Creating the activity 'Elevating Local Products from Local to Value' by combining local wisdom with modern technology like TikTok wasn't enough - we organized the presentation through a fashion show with mapping, creating excitement and novelty to generate interest among viewers. The response has been very good. It's challenging but creates value and community image, with trends to expand to other areas through local networks."
For the good activities that will take place in 2026, Bangkok University's Southern Democratic Youth students will continue creating activities for community sustainability in Songkhla Province. Rest assured there will be fun, creative things to follow.
