The Equity Partnership’s School Network, commonly known as the Equity Partnership, is back for Season 5. This year, lower secondary/junior high school students who are recipients of the Conditional Cash Transfer or OBEC Equity scholarship program from 10 schools under the supervision of OBEC in 10 provinces nationwide will be paired with 10 teams of high school / senior high school students from international schools. Together, they will collaborate to enhance the value of local products, starting from the prototype stage through the production process and managing the stores and products, culminating in selling them on the Shopee platform, an online marketplace, in July-August 2024.
The official name of this program is the Equity Partnership’s School Network, which has been co-created as an educational activity in collaboration with Shrewsbury International School Network and Sea Company (Thailand). This year marks the 5th year of the collaborative effort to promote educational equity through non-monetary means, fostering various skills such as digital marketing through ‘participatory involvement’ between urban and remote schools. The program aims to nurture and promote professional knowledge, emotional and social growth, and creative thinking by creating learning spaces’ and’ spending time together.’ This is achieved through sharing, exchanging, and embarking on journeys to explore new experiences, embracing the diversity in backgrounds and ways of life.
Over the past four years, continuous activities have mobilized cooperation from local communities and people in the area through a network of working groups from over 40 schools under the supervision of OBEC nationwide. This collaboration also involves a network of 9 international schools across 30 provinces, with approximately 400 educators and learners participating in the project. Profits from selling the products on the Shopee platform, which amounted to over 1.5 million Thai baht, have been reinvested into funds for students in the project who are participating in the OBEC Equity scholarship program, supporting future product development.
In this 5th year, the 10 OBEC schools participating, namely: Ban Than Ying Wipa School in Surat Thani Province, Wat Tha Som School (Khun Sarat Bamrung) in Trat Province, Ban Muang Nadi School in Ubon Ratchathani Province Khun Yuam Wittaya School in Mae Hong Son Province, Dong Sawan Wittaya School in Nong Bua Lamphu Province, Ban Na Lao School in Maha Sarakham Province, Ban Ya Por School in Tak Province, Phiang Luang 1 School (Ban Tha Ton) in Chiang Mai Province, Ban Thung Hong School (Apiwang Wittayalai) in Phrae Province, Ban Huai Luek School in Chiang Rai Province and five international schools, including Shrewsbury International School, Rugby School Thailand, St. Andrews International School, Satit Prasarnmit International Program and Ascot International School, in addition to another international school in the process of joining.
The value and profits from working together are also reflected in creating a ‘Space of Cooperation’ and ‘Friendship’ that will endure for youth on both sides. Even though they may start with differences, by exchanging and sharing their potential and through mutual encouragement, they have evolved into a community where they can harvest knowledge, experiment, develop skills, and gain new experiences. This includes digital skills, entrepreneurial skills, and Social Emotional Learning, all contributing to the meaningful development of ‘Empathy,’ understanding, compassion, and the spirit of giving and receiving, both today and in the future. This stands as a different experience from classroom learning and is part of weaving a network of cooperation between schools and support from the private sector, which may serve as a model for building a learning framework based on equity.
Students from the OBEC Equity scholarship program shared their feelings about the ‘first-day’ activity, expressing excitement, joy, anxiety, and curiosity about whether meeting international school students would be like they imagined.
“I am surprised that we managed to communicate regardless of the language differences.”
‘Fon,’ a grade 9 student from Wat Tha Som, a lower secondary/junior high school (Khun Sarat Bamrung) in Trat Province, expressed her excitement about opening up to new experiences. Before arriving today, she had thought extensively about how it would be. She had imagined that meeting the high school / senior high school students from international schools would result in communication barriers. However, upon actually meeting and conversing with them, it was different from what she had envisioned.
“I am surprised that we managed to communicate regardless of language differences. I thought that we would not be able to understand each other. However, after our interaction, I realized that working together would be great fun. I am glad the high school / senior high school students are helping us develop ideas, and we welcome their input. So now, we are preparing for their visit, eager to showcase the positive aspects of our community.”
“Proud to be chosen.”
Nawi expressed her desire to gain work experience, particularly in understanding the broader society beyond her current scope. She also emphasized her interest in marketing and product development, areas not typically covered in the school curriculum.
“I want to understand how to sell our products, each with its unique story effectively. How can the seniors help generate interest among potential buyers? I feel proud that my teacher selected me to participate in this project. Today, my objectives are to acquire knowledge, forge new friendships, and explore unfamiliar communities—experiences that cannot be attained within the confines of a classroom. I believe this is a really good opportunity.”
‘It took me a while to calm down from the excitement.’
Kan admitted that initially, she hadn’t expected to be chosen to participate in the activity. Therefore, when she arrived at the event, it took her a while to calm down. “I was still in shock and didn’t dare to approach the seniors. I felt shy and afraid that they wouldn’t understand me. However, if we could work together, the seniors would have much to teach or advise us. Now, I’m looking forward to meeting them in our community. I want them to see our community’s renowned basket weaving. I’m eager to see how they can help us develop our products to make them more appealing.”
Moving on to Ban Muang Nadi School in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Plai-kao, a Grade 9 student, noted that the orientation featuring games and enjoyable activities facilitated rapid acquaintance and alleviated anxiety. “Before arriving, I worried about the language barrier, fearing they wouldn’t understand me. However, I tried my best because I was eager to get to know them and learn from them. I am determined to absorb as much as I can learn from today’s activities until the end of the event and use it.”
“Can’t wait until the next activities.”
Umm-Eem, a Grade 9 student, expressed her excitement at encountering numerous new experiences so soon. “It’s only the first day, and I’m already feeling this excited. I can’t wait for the next activities.” Reflecting on meeting seniors from international schools, she remarked, “It’s very different from what I had imagined. I anticipated communication challenges, but it wasn’t like that. And I assumed we would be vastly different, but that’s not the case. I feel positive about being here because I’m keen on selling products. I’m eager to learn about managing an online store, handling the backend structure, and understanding the process of starting a sales venture. I believe the experience of planning, executing, and launching a store on Shopee will be invaluable, offering me significant learning opportunities.
“The outcomes of this activity will provide insight into the direction my future may take.”
Palmmy, a Grade 8 student, shared, “It only took half a day for me to begin feeling at ease. The seniors are very relaxed, which helps alleviate my tension.” Reflecting on the day’s significance and the activity, she added, “The knowledge we acquire today will guide our personal development. It may even be crucial to my decision-making after completing Grade 9. I aspire to potentially open an online store while continuing my education, which could provide additional funds for my schooling.”
These are the sentiments expressed by the scholarship students on the inaugural day of the Equity Partnership’s School Network Season 5 activity. Following the orientation, participants will be grouped into 10 teams. Subsequently, they will embark on a field trip in April 2024 to explore community resources, gathering stories and insights into local lifestyles. They will craft products and narrative stories upon their return, culminating in the manufacturing and distribution processes. EEF invites everyone to track the student’s progress and their journey ‘On the Path of Friendship.’
