Panupong Mitpitak and Thanakorn Suddai, participants in the ILO’s Young Futuremakers Thailand project, shared their aspirations during the project’s closing ceremony. Mitpitak, aiming to establish a coffee shop, and Suddai, aspiring to run a barbershop, communicated their dreams using sign language.
Mitpitak, 19, highlighted the challenges of communication in job applications due to his hearing disability. Alongside two other young individuals from Yala, Thailand’s southern province, Mitpitak and Suddai, 20, expressed their aspirations at the event.
Funded by the Standard Chartered Foundation, the Young Futuremakers Thailand project, launched in 2021, aimed to bolster the labor market prospects of young men and women in Thailand. Over 1,000 youths, including approximately 200 persons with disabilities, received skills training through the initiative.
During the closing ceremony in Bangkok on April 29, 2024, Xiaoyan Qian, Director of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia, and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, expressed gratitude for the support extended by the Standard Chartered Foundation, Thailand’s Ministry of Labour, and Yala City Municipality.
The project’s geographical scope expanded in 2022 to include the southern region, specifically focusing on Songkhla and Yala provinces. A report titled ‘Promoting Youth Employment in Songkhla and Yala, Thailand’ emphasized the impact of limited career guidance services and skill mismatches on youth employment in these areas.
The project’s activities encompassed demand-driven skills training, including courses on digital skills, entrepreneurial development, and language proficiency. Additionally, a career guidance fair was organized for young people in Yala, and collaboration with the Labour Ministry’s Department of Employment facilitated the adaptation and implementation of the ILO’s Public Employment Services diagnostic tool, particularly targeting youth.
Mitpitak, reflecting on his experience, expressed newfound interest in coffee-making following Barista training. Suddai, having participated in Barista, YouTuber, and Hairdressing courses, conveyed his passion for pursuing a career in hairdressing, underscoring the transformative impact of the project’s training opportunities.
The stories of Mitpitak and Suddai exemplify the project’s success in nurturing youth aspirations and fostering employment opportunities among Thailand’s young population. Through tailored training initiatives and collaborative efforts, the project has made significant strides in empowering youth to pursue their professional dreams.