Now Recruiting! Banpu to Award 1.3 Million Baht-worth Grants for Social Entrepreneurs Nationwide under the "Banpu Champions for Change 5" Program
14/01/2015

Banpu Public Company Limited, a leading energy company in Asia, is calling for young-blood social entrepreneurs to join the "Banpu Champions for Change 5", emphasizing its leadership in social change for five consecutive years. Applicants aged between 20-35 can form a group of up to 4 people and propose their social enterprise initiatives to tackle social, community or environmental issues in order to be awarded grants worth up to 1.3 million baht to support their project.  Interested people are also invited to participate in the "Open House"  on Tuesday 20 January, 2015 at Ma:D Hub for Social Entrepreneurs in Ekkamai Soi 4 to get to know more about the program.

Ms. Udomlux Olarn, Head of Corporate Affairs, Banpu Public Company Limited, said, "Banpu Champions for Change is entering its fifth year in 2015. This year we will focus on providing fundamental business understanding for participants in order to equip them with knowledge to sustainably grow their social enterprises. Banpu believes that the exchange and sharing of knowledge and experience will help social enterprises operate sustainably, with profitable growth and positive social impact. As always, Banpu is committed to adhering to its corporate philosophy: a business will grow sustainably only when it is developed in tandem with social and environmental responsibility."

Banpu, in partnership with Change Fusion, will provide financial support of 50,000 Baht for an initial period of three months to 10 social enterprises that develop an outstanding plan to solve social problems, improve society and the environment. Teams with the most outstanding business performance and tangible social contribution will then be selected to further receive a 200,000 Baht grant each to continue their second phase implementation. Each team will receive advice and be given an opportunity to attend workshops by industry experts in order to develop their businesses and overcome challenges. They will also be able to build a strong network with other social entrepreneurs and Banpu Champions for Change alumni to gain new insights and ideas to innovate and to create  sustainable development.

Applications open today and close on 28 February 2015. Applicants and interested people are also invited to participate in the "Open House" on Tuesday 20 January, 2015 from 19.00 - 21.00 hrs at Ma:D Hub for Social Entrepreneurs in Ekkamai Soi 4 to find out more about the program and listen to tips and techniques from previous champions on how to operate a social enterprise successfully. For more information please call 02-938-2636

Applications period: Today until 28 February 2015
Download application from Facebook.com/banpuchampions
For further information call 02-938-2636 or email banpuchampions@gmail.com

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About Banpu Champions for Change Program
The "Banpu Champions for Change" program began in 2011 as an evolution of the support for developing young social entrepreneurs. The program aims to allow young people with potential and creativity to drive social change by implementing their own social enterprise-based initiatives which incorporate business, society, environment, and financial management into profitable activities using ethical business management principles and practices.

About Banpu Public Company Limited
Banpu Public Company Limited is a leading energy company in Asia.  Its coal and related energy businesses span across six countries: Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, Australia, China, and Mongolia.

"Do by Heart" is the fundamental shared value at Banpu. Its social responsibilities are what everyone at Banpu does 'by heart', which is based on "sincerity", "serious concern", and genuine "good will". This corporate value has instilled in Banpu's people a level of great pride while motivating them to keep on developing and upgrading the company's CSR activities in order to achieve the ultimate goal of ensuring sustainable benefits for the community and society where it operates.

About Change Fusion Institute
Change Fusion Institute is a non-profit institute under the Thai Rural Reconstruction Movement Foundation under the Royal Patronage that aims to grow social entrepreneurs for creative and sustainable change. It aims to support and invest in social enterprises, and also facilitates a better ecosystem for them in Thailand and in Asia. Its portfolio social enterprises are working in various areas such as web and mobile tech, sustainable agriculture, sustainable tourism / community-based tourism, affordable healthcare, community-scale alternative energy, fair trade and more.

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