The SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) Club from the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy at Chulalongkorn University joined the SUSTAINABILITY EXPO 2024 (SX2024) in a panel discussion under the theme "Sustainability: A Path to Longevity", sharing their work in tackling real business challenges in local communities through sustainable approaches.
SIFE serves as a starting point for sustainable, long-term development by laying a solid foundation for community-based businesses. The group supports self-sufficiency and digital literacy to ensure communities can keep pace with an ever-changing world. With globalization accelerating, equipping local communities with relevant knowledge and skills has become crucial for survival and success.
According to the student team, their weekly meetings involve sharing practical business knowledge with community members—particularly women—empowering them to become content creators and build their own digital presence. This not only builds confidence but also ensures real engagement, both online and offline, aligning strategies with measurable outcomes.
Combining Hard Skills and Heart
The team also conducts workshops to enhance both hard and soft skills. A key part of their approach includes site visits and immersive learning from established social enterprises such as DoiTung, a model project operated by the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage.
“The real challenge isn’t something you can solve by picking up the phone. You must go to the field, encounter the real issues, and extract firsthand knowledge to bring back to the community,” one representative shared.
For example, traditional weaving involves unique production processes and cultural elements—from cotton varieties to specific weaving techniques like “unit of mind” and “unit of heart.” Being present on-site allows the team to gather accurate cost data, set fair pricing, and identify both internal community needs and market demands from an outsider's perspective.
Enabling Communities to Thrive Independently
True sustainability is achieved only when tangible impact is delivered—when a community business is able to stand on its own and generate income sustainably. Before closing any project, the SIFE team ensures that communities are fully equipped to carry on without outside assistance.
To that end, they’ve developed manuals, guides, and toolkits containing all the knowledge and processes shared during the project. These resources allow community members to revisit and reference the content as needed. Beyond that, the team continues to provide mentorship, follow-ups, and plans to revisit communities in the future to evaluate long-term sustainability.
Laying the Groundwork from the Inside Out
Dr. Sawitree Boonpatcharanon, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and a lecturer in the Department of Statistics at Chulalongkorn University, emphasized that working with communities involves multiple factors, with the most critical being the development of a strong internal foundation.
“From an advisor’s perspective, there are two fundamental pillars: first, we must see and understand what lies within the hearts of community members. Development must begin from within—by helping communities recognize their own value. Secondly, we must help them establish a transfer plan that passes this value on within the community, ensuring sustainability across generations.”
One example is the Swaisor community in Buriram Province, where local women create handmade textile products. Many of them began out of passion, not considering costs, labor, or time investment.
“It’s essential to build mutual understanding with the community. We can’t force change based on our own assumptions. Instead, we must show them that they are capable—that their work has value, that it can sell, and that they can price it fairly. When they truly see the worth of their work, that’s when lasting impact happens,” Dr. Sawitree affirmed.
Empowering Youth, With Support from All
While it’s the students who serve as the driving force in these community development efforts, youth alone cannot carry the entire burden of societal transformation. It requires collaboration—strong support from educators, institutions, and various sectors. Only through this united approach can social development efforts truly succeed.
Because sustainability is everyone’s responsibility.
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Join us again for SX2025, where we will return with even greater energy and inspiration from September 26 – October 5, 2025, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC).
