Paradai "Duke" Theerathada, 40, is the executive vice-president of Corporate Communications Group for TMB Bank, which oversees both commercial and social campaigns. "Fai-Fah", which he helped form, is a programme that empowers children by teaching them art and other important skills. It began three years ago and now has three centres on Chan, Pracha Uthit and Pradiphat Roads. Duke also initiated another social campaign called "Make The Difference Society" (www.makethedifference.org, facebook.com/makeTHEdifferencesociety), which also has an application of the same name that runs on iPhone and Android phones. It allows you to create a personal goal, set a date by which you think you will complete it, and share it with other people. Until Jan 28, you can set a goal and garner "cheer" from people for a chance to win a prize to help make it happen.
WHAT'S THE CONCEPT BEHIND FAI-FAH?
We want to teach kids to unlock the energy within them, letting them feel empowered, confident and proud in the hopes that they will become leaders in the future. Fai-Fah is a three-year programme that teaches kids a skill set through art and allows us to build a relationship with them.
HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA?
We wanted to help communities at the root of their problems. Fai-Fah is about creating communities that are self-reliant rather than stagnant and dependent on government handouts. Children are taught skills they might not otherwise have a chance to learn and in a fun way. Then they can use those skills to improve their communities. Once they do that, they can take a sense of ownership and pride, and in return, become a source of inspiration for others in their community.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THEY FINISH THE THREE-YEAR PROGRAMME?
They receive a certificate from us but I think that's the last thing they care about. When they finish the three years, hopefully they will feel that they have accomplished something.
[Also] that they are worth something and have something to contribute. We also give them opportunities to use what they learn from Fai-Fah - be it cooking, arts and taekwondo - at competitions like the Heinz Junior Chef Competition or TKS Open. Many Fai-Fah kids have won at these competitions.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR OTHER PROJECT, MAKE THE DIFFERENCE?
We launched the website in October. So far we have about 10,000 people who have registered their personal goals. The website is an online platform to help you make a difference. It is rooted in the idea that if you write down your goal, the chance of achieving it increases proportionally. It increases more when you tell friends and family about it, and even more so when you feel inspired and motivated every day. We have all those elements in our website and application. Friends can come and click "cheer" on your personal goal. Say if you want to get fit by riding a bicycle, you can write and share it via the website
[which you can log into using your Facebook account]. You can also look at what others are doing and there are always constant updates so that you feel inspired. The 100 personal goals with the most cheers by Jan 28 will receive vouchers/gift certificates to go towards making those goals come true.
WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL GOAL?
My first and foremost goal is to raise my sons to grow up to become adults with integrity and responsibility. I'll develop a new one once I'm done with that.
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Writer: Pornchai SereemongkonpolPosition: Guru Reporter
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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/01/05/exemplary-exec/
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