Nissan Partners with the Raks Thai Foundation to Build Leadership Skills for Thai students

BANGKOK, Thailand (March 15, 2018) – Some 1,200 young Thai students from grades 7 to 12 at eight selected schools in Ayutthaya and Rayong provinces, will benefit from a three-year Youth Leadership Development program sponsored by Nissan Motor Thailand Co, Ltd. in partnership with the Raks Thai Foundation.

The program was initiated by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. through CARE International Japan, and began in 2017 with a focus on developing leadership skills through team building, improved self-esteem, analytical and decision making, and management skills. The program also includes occupational skills training in a micro-business activity in the technical fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The Young Leadership Development program in Thailand provides leadership development training and experiences to students at eight different schools in Ayuttaya and Ranong. This is achieved through leadership, occupational and entrepreneurial content presented at workshops, camps and project assignments - where the students then apply to real-life situations what they have learned in these classes.

 “Nissan and all of its employees are so honored to be able invest in the future of these young student by helping them become leaders in their communities and even spur them to open their own businesses,” said Mr Peter Galli, Vice President of Communications,  Nissan Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

“These students represent the bright future of Thailand, and who can make a huge difference in their communities and society. They have demonstrated their desire and potential to lead and succeed, and we are proud to help them develop those skills so they can fulfill their true potential,” he said.

Sgt. Jantorn Khumpaksorn, a director at the Wang Noi school in Ayutthaya, one of the schools in the program, said that the program would help students become more independent. “Thanks to Nissan’s support, we have seen the students initiate a number of micro-business projects under the program, which have yielded  strong and impressive results,” he said.

The Raks Thai Foundation has been working closely with teachers at these eight schools to ensure the program is implemented successfully and is effective. The 40 teachers from 8 schools have been trained under the program with Raks Thai Foundation to ensure the program’s consistant implementation and effectiveness.

As of February 2018, 322 students at the four chools in Ayutthaya, and 378 students from the four schools in Rayong, have received Leadership training and development. They have all initiated their own projects as part of the program, which is designed to give them leadership development experiences not usually available to students through the classroom.

“When I heard about the Youth Leadership Development program from my teachers, I was scared because the name of the program seems intimidating, especially on the first day that I attended the program. I felt uncomfortable working with people that I didn’t know,” said Charinrat Kerdphokha, a student from the Wong Noi school and a program participant.

“But then we broke through any barriers once activities started and I knew I was with a very good group. I am more outgoing now because of the program. I can freely express my own opinion and show my true self in speaking with others in public. I feel the program addresses what you will face in real life, so I am not participating in just usual school activities, but real-life simulations,” Charinrat added.

Nissan’s sponsorship of the Youth Leadership Development program continues until 2020 and, over that time, Nissan Motor Thailand will continue to work closely with the Raks Thai Foundation to not just strengthen the skills of Thai students, but also to help build dynamic leaders who will lead the Kingdom of Thailand into an even more successful future.

About Nissan Motor (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

Nissan was established in Japan since 1933 with the commitment to create Innovation that Excites for customer satisfaction. Nissan wants to improve quality of life for people in society by pursuing a goal of zero emission vehicles and zero fatalities on the road with “Nissan Intelligent Mobility”. The company plans to introduce autonomous drive vehicles across regions for safety and more enjoyable driving experience. Nissan started business in Thailand since 1952. Currently, the Nissan Group of Companies in Thailand has subsidiaries five companies, including two of the production bases, over than 190 showrooms and service centers nationwide network. Vehicle range cover all segments includes 10 models spanning the entry level Eco-Car, SUV, Premium Sedans and Pickup Trucks.

About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Nissan is a global full-line vehicle manufacturer that sells more than 60 models under the Nissan, INFINITI and Datsun brands. In fiscal year 2016, the company sold 5.63 million vehicles globally, generating revenues of 11.72 trillion yen. In fiscal 2017, the company embarked on Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022, a six-year plan targeting a 30% increase in annualized revenues to 16.5 trillion yen by the end of fiscal 2022, along with cumulative free cash flow of 2.5 trillion yen. As part of Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022, the company plans to extend its leadership in electric vehicles, symbolized by the world's best-selling all-electric vehicle in history, the Nissan LEAF. Nissan’s global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, manages operations in six regions: Asia & Oceania; Africa, the Middle East & India; China; Europe; Latin America; and North America. Nissan has a global workforce of 247,500 and has been partnered with French manufacturer Renault since 1999. In 2016, Nissan acquired a 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors. Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi is today the world’s largest automotive partnership, with combined sales of more than 10.6 million vehicles in calendar year 2017.

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About Raks Thai Foundation 

The Raks Thai Foundation or RTF was established on August 15, 1997 as a Thai successor to CARE International (Thailand) in promoting strong communities and assisting the disadvantaged in society. As the first member to come from a developing country in 2003. Care International is an amalgamation of Care country offices around the world including Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Norway, Japan, USA, England, Denmark, and the Netherlands.