The Panasonic Group in Thailand continues its Panasonic Cares initiative as it enters its fourth year, reinforcing the organization's commitment to conducting business while creating value for society through activities that aim to enhance the quality of life of people, communities, and the environment, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the global mission of Panasonic GREEN IMPACT.
This year, Panasonic Cares launches its first activity in collaboration with BIG CAMERA through the"Young Rak(sa) Samut Sakhon" activity, which aims to develop youth in Samut Sakhon Province into environmental communicators (Green Creators). Participants will learn content creation and documentary production to tell the stories of local communities and natural resources, inspiring wider public awareness and encouraging environmental consciousness.
Mr. Hidekazu Ito, CEO of Panasonic Group in Thailand said: "Over the past three years, Panasonic Cares has served as the principal platform for driving the Panasonic Group's social contribution activities in Thailand. Through a wide range of initiatives—including supporting medical equipment, enhancing educational quality, delivering Solar Lanterns to remote areas, promoting health and sports, tree planting, and organizing environmental awareness campaigns in various locations across the country—every activity reflects Panasonic's commitment to growing alongside Thai society while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Panasonic GREEN IMPACT, which believes that creating a sustainable world begins with developing people."
"This year, we aim to build upon our positive impact on communities by further strengthening the potential of the younger generation through the "Young Rak(sa) Samut Sakhon" activity. The activity provides young people with opportunities to learn about environmental issues through real-world experiences while developing their analytical thinking, communication, and creative content production skills, enabling them to use the power of media as a tool for positive change. Throughout the program, we provide all eight participating teams with LUMIX digital cameras and high-quality lenses for hands-on filming, together with professional guidance on camera operation from experts. We believe that when young people possess knowledge, skills, and a deep understanding of their own communities, they will be able to communicate meaningful stories that inspire more people to care for the environment, creating benefits for schools, communities, and society as a whole. At the same time, the program helps build a network of the next generation that is ready to drive sustainable development in the future, which is at the heart of Panasonic GREEN IMPACT."
Mr. Chan Thienkanjanawong, CEO of BIG Camera Corporation PCL commented on the collaboration: "Over the years, BIG CAMERA has been committed to creating learning opportunities for children and young people through the San Fan Pan Kwam Ru Project, believing that developing skills and providing opportunities for the younger generation to gain hands-on experience are fundamental to building quality personnel for the future. We are therefore delighted to collaborate with Panasonic to further develop this concept through the "Young Rak(sa) Samut Sakhon" activity. We believe that 'photography and creative media' are not merely tools for documenting stories, but also powerful means of fostering understanding, inspiring people, and driving positive change in society in a meaningful way.
As The Ultimate Imaging Solution Partner, BIG CAMERA not only provides high-quality photography equipment and content production equipment, but is also committed to sharing knowledge and experience from photography experts and professional Creators to enhance young people's skills in Visual Storytelling, digital media production, and creative communication. We sincerely hope that the knowledge and experience gained from this activity will serve as a starting point for young people to further apply what they have learned to their education, future careers, and creating value for their communities, while becoming an important force in driving sustainable social development.
The "Young Rak(sa) Samut Sakhon" activity provides young people with an opportunity to participate in a four-week learning process, beginning with hands-on workshops in storytelling, photography, and video production. Participants will then conduct field studies to explore environmental issues and community ways of life in Samut Sakhon Province, using their findings to produce short documentaries under the guidance of experts and professional mentors. The program concludes with the Documentary Showcase & Competition, where participants present their work to share community stories through the perspectives of the younger generation and inspire society to participate in sustainable environmental conservation. The program brings together students from eight schools in Samut Sakhon Province: Samut Sakhon Burana School, Samut Sakhon Wittayalai School, Chalermphrakiat Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Samut Sakhon School, Samut Sakhon Wutthichai School, Krathumbaen (Wiset Samutkhun) School, Wat Thammachariyaphirom School, Laksong Songsrim Wittaya School, and Phanthai Norasing Witthaya School.
Entering its fourth year, Panasonic Cares is more than a CSR initiative. It is a long-term investment in developing the potential of young people, nurturing a new generation of responsible citizens who care for society and the environment, while empowering them to use communication skills and creativity as drivers of change to help build a low-carbon society and a sustainable future for Thailand.
