Bangkok: Government Savings Bank (GSB) continues its community development program through the 9th year of the “Youth Development for Local Communities” project, searching for outstanding youth ideas to develop and upgrade communities across Thailand, with total prizes worth 450,000 baht.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Lapawan Chankrajang, Deputy Director of the Government Savings Bank (GSB) and Acting Director of the GSB, revealed that the ninth year of sustainable community development through the ‘GSB Youth Development for Local Communities’ project aims to strengthen communities nationwide by leveraging the potential and energy of youth. This involves integrating ideas, knowledge, techniques, and innovations gained in the classroom with community wisdom to upgrade products and services to suit the modern market. This reflects the bank’s role in empowering communities to grow steadily through their own capabilities, which is one of the four strategic missions of being a social bank.
For the year 2025, the bank collaborated with 67 higher education institutions nationwide to develop 342 community groups, including community enterprises, OTOP groups, community tourism groups, and homestay groups. Students gained real-world experience, integrating knowledge and innovation to develop products and services that leverage local wisdom and resources, meeting market demands and ensuring competitiveness. They received close guidance from faculty advisors, experts from partner networks, and GSB staff before 12 teams were selected as finalists to compete for the Best of the Best award in the 9th GSB Youth Development for Local Communities project, with total prize money exceeding 450,000 baht.
Ms. Wachira Karsut, Deputy Director of the Government Savings Bank, presided over the opening ceremony and presented awards to the winning teams in all six categories. The Food Category award went to the Yen Chang Pang Pu team from Burapha University for their innovative blue crab ice cream, while the Well-being Category was awarded to the Koh Chai New Team from Walailak University for upgrading services in the Koh Chai community tourism group. The Beautiful Category was claimed by the Engkorsawan team from Nakhon Sawan Rajabhat University for their scented candle product “Hatthacha.”
The Outstanding Product Category winner was the First One team from Mae Fah Luang University, recognized for their “Pamori Serum” made from duckweed. The Conservation Category award went to the Prachya Silk Ancient Craft Team from Buriram Rajabhat University for developing unique local silk patterns and contemporary clothing. Finally, the Smart Eco Plus+ team from Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University won the Innovative Idea Category with their “Me-Leave” water-repellent spray derived from bamboo leaves.
Over the past nine years, the ‘Government Savings Bank Youth Development and Community Preservation Project’ has benefited more than 2,400 communities and provided opportunities for over 17,000 young people from 67 universities nationwide to learn through hands-on experience. This initiative has fostered an understanding of the value of local wisdom, community collaboration, and the development of prototype products and services that can generate income and be further developed in the future. The project is part of Government Savings Bank’s ongoing commitment to its ‘social banking’ role, aiming to strengthen communities through the potential of local people and promote opportunities for sustainable quality of life improvements, while continuing to create tangible results for communities across the country in the long term.