The Cultivation of Wisdom Foundation under sponsorship of KASIKORNBANK (KBank) has launched the Cultivation of Wisdom Camp No. 1, “66 Days of Life Skill Learning – Making Business into Reality", to equip high-school students in Nan province with new knowledge and real-world business experience in 66 days. Under the new learning method, participating youths will have a chance to gain knowledge imparted by professional speakers, renowned business gurus and entrepreneurs. The pilot project will initially be organized for 40 students from eight schools in Nan province. This initiative reinforces KBank's intent of developing youths with new knowledge and new skills through hands-on experience, allowing them to foster sustainability for their hometown in alignment with the Bank's commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr. Adit Laixuthai, Managing Director of the Cultivation of Wisdom Foundation, said, “Mr. Banthoon Lamsam, Chairman Emeritus of KBank, recognizes the importance of human development via the educational system which is a basic mechanism for idea creation, especially among youths, while also being instrumental in reducing inequality in the society. Based on this concept, the Cultivation of Wisdom Project was conceived by KBank in 2013 and was under the support of the Bank and Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI) until 2019. This project was continually implemented in Nan province until 2022. It was found that the research-based learning (RBL) approach could reshape the thinking process of young learners, allowing them to establish assumptions and find answers through logical thinking – a stepping stone to a lifelong learning process."
Subsequently, KBank established the Cultivation of Wisdom Foundation in December 2022, with Dr. Apichai Chandrasen as Chairman and Ms. Kattiya Indaravijaya as Deputy Chairman of the Foundation, aimed at continuing to advance the Cultivation of Wisdom Project. The key objective of this Foundation is to develop new knowledge, new skills and hands-on experience among Thai youths to ensure that they will live a more balanced life as they mature.
In 2023, the Cultivation of Wisdom Foundation has initiated a project aimed at enhancing students' competency so that they have new knowledge and skills that are different from those gained from the classroom, through activities offered at the Cultivation of Wisdom Camp No. 1 with the theme, “66 Days of Life Skill Learning – Making Business into Reality". Such activities have been designed in accordance with the Foundation's goal of equipping participating students with hands-on experience so that they can develop skills for lifelong learning and improve their communities, while also building sustainability in Nan and nearby provinces in alignment with one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations on Quality Education. This goal, once met, is expected to support other SDGs such as Decent Work and Economic Growth, and Reduced Inequality.
The Cultivation of Wisdom Camp No. 1 aims to offer new learning experiences for high school students, as youths at this age tend to explore the different elements of their identity before entering college. With such experiences, they will be able to develop new skills and logic to lead and strike a balance in their lives. Opportunities will be given to five students at the upper-secondary level 4-5 from each of the eight schools in towns and rural areas, totaling 40 students, who have already participated in the Cultivation of Wisdom program, as they have advanced thinking, are eager to learn and wish to become entrepreneurs. The camp will run from March 23 to May 27, 2023, for a total of 66 days.
Participating youths will be equipped with various kinds of knowledge, ranging from creative thinking to business idea testing, turning business ideas into reality, marketing and finance for entrepreneurs, business plans and development, fundamental skills for life, as well as communication and presentation skills. Professional trainers, leading business gurus in Thailand, and entrepreneurs in Nan will be invited to help participating youths enhance their skills and capabilities so that they can turn their business models into real companies. The Cultivation of Wisdom Foundation will provide seed capital for them to launch businesses. Awards will be presented to the teams with the most outstanding performance. Financial support will also be given to participating schools for development purposes. The Cultivation of Wisdom Camp aims to offer enjoyable learning through three camps, as follows:
- Camp 1, entitled “Dare to Learn" (March 23-27, 2023), offers knowledge on how to build basic business ideas, explore business possibilities, and the requirements for doing business. At the camp, eight teams will be required to use the knowledge gained to develop valuable business ideas and capital funds from the Foundation to develop minimum viable products or services for market trial later on.
Camp 2, entitled “Dare to Do" (April 20-23, 2023), focuses on how to penetrate markets, offer sales, and reach prospective customers, while identifying strengths and weaknesses to further develop products and services. The youth teams will offer products or services that they have designed and developed to sell or ask for feedback from real consumers at Kad Khuang Muaeng Nan walking street. The results will be considered for product or service improvement and further development as an actual business.
Camp 3, entitled “Dare to Step Forward" (May 24-27, 2023), is arranged for reporting and presentation along with inspiration sharing. The eight teams will need to present their performance to a committee of business professionals. Awards will be announced and presented to teams with the most outstanding performance and highest cumulative score. Also, participating youths will learn of experiences from successful business role models as well as leaders in national sustainable development at the camp's closing event.
- Schools participating in the “Cultivation of Wisdom Camp" No. 1 include: 1) Srisawatwittayakarnnan School, Mueang Nan District; 2) Sa School, Wiangsa District; 3) Racha Prachanukroh 56 School, Wiangsa District; 4) Pua School, Pua District; 5) Tha Wang Pha Pittayakhom School, Tha Wang Pha District; 6) Chiangklang Prachapattana School, Chiang Klang District; 7) Phra That Pittayakom School, Chiang Klang District; and 8) Mueang Lee Pracha Samakhi School, Na Muen District.
Dr. Adit added in closing, “The Foundation aims to make the Cultivation of Wisdom Camp a stage that offers opportunities for youths in Nan province to develop new knowledge and creative ideas as well as operate real businesses. They will be able to develop professional management skills through relevant processes, make systematic decisions, learn to fail and persevere, while building networks of relationships and friendships among the camp members. We believe that the knowledge and experiences from the Cultivation of Wisdom Camp will help prepare the participating youths to cope with future challenges in a confident and balanced manner. This learning system would be an important mechanism for human capital development to achieve competency in creating and maintaining sustainability for the country going forward."