On 13 – 14 July 2023, the Department of Information and the Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with the United Nations Thailand, jointly held the workshop titled “Youth for SDGs: Embracing a Sustainable Future” at Vithes Samosorn, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to deepen among youths the understanding about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and development diplomacy based on the SEP for SDGs Partnership. Mr. Nathapol Khantahiran, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, gave welcome remarks to 133 secondary school students from 18 schools in Bangkok and Pathum Thani which are as follows: (1) Chitralada School, (2) Taweethapisek School, (3) Rittiyawannalai School, (4) Sri Ayudhya School, (5) Satriwithaya School, (6) Chulalongkorn University Demonstration School, (7) Thammasat Secondary School, (8) Srinakharinwirot University Prasarnmit Demonstration School (Secondary), (9) Surasakmontree School, (10) Horwang School, (11) Suksanari School, (12) Vajiravudh College, (13) Saint Gabriel’s College, (14) Mahidol Wittayanusorn School, (15) Wat Raja O Ros School, (16) Mater Dei School, (17) Bangkok Christian College, and (18) Pathumwilai School.

On the first day of the Workshop, the participating students took part in the lecture sessions aimed at raising awareness on the collective actions by stakeholders such as Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UN, and Bangkok to achieve SDGs as well as SEP for SDGs. The speakers comprised of Mrs. Eksiri Pintaruchi, Director-General of the Department of International Organizations, Ms. Gita Sabharwal, UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand, Mr. Pornprom Vikitset, advisor to the Governor of Bangkok; and Mr. Nares Sangarun, a fishery biologist from Khung Kraben Royal Development Study Center. In addition to the lectures, students also participated in edutainment activities jointly run by the Department of Information, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and UNESCO Bangkok. The activities drove home the idea that sustainable development is a familiar foreign affairs issue and young people can achieve SDGs at the household, school, and community levels.

On the second day of the Workshop, students adapted what they had learned on the previous day and presented their projects aimed at achieving SDGs in their schools. Examples of the projects were the fertilizers from food waste project, the Trash Less with Trust project, the vegetable plantation project, and the SDGs camp. The students received constructive feedbacks from eminent persons from UN agencies: Dr. Manop Udomkerdmongkol, Senior Economist from UNRCO Thailand; and Ms. Phunchawaree Puapunsri, National Coordinator for Safe and Fair Programme from UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

The “Youth for SDGs” workshop was also aimed at creating a network among youths and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Thailand to promote and ensure continous cooperation on sustainable development.

In addition to the students who joined the Workshop, the Ministry would like to thank United Nations Thailand, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Khung Kraben Royal Development Study Center, and all the participating schools, as well as the teachers who cooperated with the Ministry and encouraged students to take on the role of SDGs drivers.

The workshop clearly depicted the joint efforts and intentions of the organizing agencies who worked closely together to encourage youths, who understand and realize the importance of implementing sustainable development goals, to become agents of change in their communities.