When it comes to Thailand's energy needs, state-owned energy company Banpu has found a surprising way to help: social entrepreneurship.
The company has for 13 years been running a campaign called "Banpu Champions for Change: BC4C," which aims to boost the number of social enterprises in the country, Banpu says in a press release.
The campaign has so far focused on the northern province of Chiang Mai, where more than 50 aspiring social enterprises have joined, Banpu says.
Buddy HomeCare, for instance, trains ethnic youth in Chiang Mai to become caregivers for the elderly, Banpu says.
"These factors form a solid foundation for SEs to flourish, simultaneously addressing pressing social concerns such as inequality reduction, fostering career and educational opportunities, environmental conservation, and bolstering the local economy," the company says.
Buddy HomeCare has trained 177 caregivers to care for 4,048 elderly people, Banpu says, and it plans to expand the program to Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima in the future.
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