U-Volunteer Project Conserves and Breeds Banteng in 2021 (Year 1). 

    The Khao Nam Phu Nature and Wildlife Study Center, Kanchanaburi Province, and Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi collaborate with the Suthirat Yoovidhya Foundation to advance Banteng conservation and breeding efforts with the aim of connecting the Banteng habitat from the Salak Phra forest area to the Huai Kha Khaeng forest area by 2023. 

Project Implementation

    Under the guidance of Assistant Professor Second Lieutenant Yuwadee Kwatrakul, a cohort of students from Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi gathered community data and produced knowledge pamphlets and vinyl signs pertaining to Banteng. The objective was to educate the Ban Tin Tok community, situated in Khao Chot Subdistrict, Si Sawat District, Kanchanaburi Province, regarding Banteng conservation.

    1) Activities to familiarize oneself with Banteng “Community Participation in Banteng Conservation” aimed to gather community data and foster understanding and awareness regarding Banteng conservation in schools and community areas, with a particular focus on youth and local residents. The collected information would be utilized to develop the Banteng conservation strategy that minimizes or eliminates adverse effects on the community. 

    2) Produce signs and pamphlets that disseminate information regarding Banteng, including their history, ecological significance in the region, habitats, characteristics, and behavior. One such initiative is the reintroduction of Banteng into nature, which aims to foster community members’ comprehension and awareness of the vital role Banteng play in the natural world. 

 U-Volunteer Project Advances Local Fisheries Conservation in 2021

    Suthirat Yoovidhya Foundation, in collaboration with the Pak Nam Pran Fishery Farmers Group, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, and Silpakorn University (Phetchaburi Information Campus), promotes local fisheries conservation efforts with the aim of transforming fishing farmers into community business entrepreneurs by 2023 ( beginning in 2021). 

Project Implementation

    A group of Silpakorn University (Phetchaburi Information Campus) students, led by Professor Rachakorn Vachirasirodom, traveled to the destination in order to conduct training on topics such as establishing and managing product processing groups, organizing training to ensure product processing complies with FDA standards, developing product distribution and marketing channels, and enhancing locations to ensure sanitary and safe product processing.

    Project Implementation Results in Year 1 An organization known as the “Pak Nam Pran Local Fishery Product Processing Community Enterprise” was formed and formally registered as a community enterprise. Its objective is to enhance the hygiene and quality of its processing and packaging areas to meet the requirements set forth by the FDA by 2023. 

U-Volunteer Project Conserves and Propagates Seagrass in 2021

    With the aim of augmenting the seagrass area by 50 rai by 2023 (beginning in 2021), the Suthirat Yoovidhya Foundation is collaborating with Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya (Trang Campus) and the fish cage farming community enterprise of Ban Phru Jut, Trang Province, to advance seagrass conservation and propagation efforts. 

Project Implementation        

    Under the direction of Assistant Professor Dr. Prasert Thongnoonui, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya (Trang Campus) students conducted a survey of the area in Koh Phi, Ban Phru Jut, Bo Hin Subdistrict, Sikao District, Trang Province, in order to conduct research on planting seagrass. For the purpose of conducting research on locally suitable seagrass species and ecosystem changes, a map of seagrass planting plots was generated, delineating an area of 40x40 meters per plot within a 3 rai expanse. The boundary of the seagrass planting plot was established in the lowest tidal area where the seagrass once thrived. This will gather research data that will be utilized in the subsequent period to plan seagrass planting efficiently.   U-Volunteer Project Promotes Farmers as Community Business Entrepreneurs in 2021

     Suthirat Yoovidhya Foundation, in collaboration with Chiang Mai University and the Khao Thip Chang Community Enterprise Group, Hang Chat District, Lampang Province, advances the group’s capacity to produce high-quality rice skin powder extracts through development and improvement efforts. The objective is to transform rice farmers into entrepreneurs of community-based businesses by 2023 (beginning in 2021). 

Project Implementation

     Under the guidance of Chiang Mai University assistant professor Dr. Phumon Sukwong, students at the institution gathered data and devised a system to transform rice bran into dark organic rice skin powder extract, ensuring nutrient content, hygiene, absence of contamination, and processing in accordance with FDA regulations. The following are the phases of execution that comprise this endeavor:

     1) Conduct an assessment of the enterprise group’s present condition with regard to the manufacturing procedures employed for rice skin powder extracts.

     2) Standardize the specifics of the procedures involved in the manufacturing process of rice surface powder.

     3) Facilitate instruction in order to foster comprehension of food production standards.

     4) Provide equipment and support for the production of rice surface powder in accordance with standards.

     5) Conduct quality assessments and tests.

     Based on the assessment of the community enterprise of the Thipphaya Chang Rice Group’s performance, it is apparent that it possesses the capability to manufacture rice skin powder extracts of acceptable quality. Consequently, the group has received training to furnish support tools and knowledge for its operations, thereby enhancing the quality and standardization of production processes and procedures and increasing its production potential to function as an effective community business entrepreneur and maintain its status as a model. 

Reflections of the Advisor

“U-Volunteer Project” 

“It is considered a collaboration between academic institutions. It is a role and responsibility to do good work. Various departments in the area have come to learn about collaborative development work based on villagers’ experiences and academic knowledge from agencies. Participating in raising public awareness about the community in order to make it stronger and more sustainable, including serving as a classroom for students, is regarded as truly beneficial community work.”

“The U-Volunteer project contributes to the replenishment of knowledge in the community, which is beneficial because building knowledge and confidence in farmers equips them with the ability to learn and improve themselves at any time. Meanwhile, the university has contributed to the dissemination of academic information in order to generate new knowledge.”

“We have a responsibility to provide knowledge and experience to students both in and out of the classroom. Having agencies come and support them so that they can work on projects provides students with knowledge. At the same time, the community has grown together as a result of the knowledge and academics that the project provided.”
“It is their role and duty to do good work, as academic departments collaborate. Several departments from the area have come to learn about joint development projects. The university offers academic knowledge. Villagers provide spatial knowledge, but the goal is to protect Banteng.”