As 2020 comes a-knocking, Guru asked inspiring Thais what has meant the most to them in the past decade.
Thanayut "Book" Na Ayutthaya
An 18-year-old rapper known as Elevenfinger and the artist behind the well-known song Klong Toey, My City.
"The important lesson that I have learned is that whatever happens, be it good or bad, has value to me. I was born in a slum. My parents did not want me, so my grandma raised me. She told me that when she took me in, my body looked rotten, most likely due to the fact that my mother was a drug addict when she was pregnant with me.
We were poor. We struggled. From a very young age, I had to find ways to make money, be it working odd jobs or collecting and selling things that people would discard. If I wanted toys to play with, sometimes I would resort to stealing them.
Growing up this way was difficult. However, as I matured, I came to realise that the hardships taught me valuable lessons and moulded my character. As I came of age, I tried to reconnect with my mother, but she simply drove me away with vile words, saying that I was merely a kid she had found in the trash and not her child. But I do not resent her. I think she spoke that way to keep me away from the terrible life that she still lives.
I had my own addiction. Games. I used to hang out at gaming shops all day. But this proved beneficial to me, in a roundabout sort of way. I was shown a rap video in a game shop one day and that captivated me. This style of poetry really connected with me and set me on the path that I follow today. As soon as I discovered rap, I began to skip lunch and utilise the money to pay for internet browsing at gaming shops so as to watch rap videos and hone my own rapping ability. Now I write my own music. My first song was Klong Toey, My City and it got people's attention. I began to be known to many as "Elevenfinger". Ironically, I used to be bullied when I was younger due to a growth I have, which resembles another finger.
I got the chance to write a song called Equality for the Future Forward Party, which became a big hit. I even gave a Tedx talk after that.
Everything that happened impressed upon me that one should not focus on what he/she lacks, but instead be proud of what one has. That is the key to achieving dreams. I used my shower head as a microphone and my squalid environment as a source of strength. I created my own destiny."
Supattharachai Chuetamasorn
Founder of Zero Factory, a zero waste project that raises awareness about environmental issues, recycling and composting culture.
"I am the kind of person that would do things in order to learn. Regardless of the outcome of what I decide to do, I always learn a great deal. I always have new questions occurring in my mind and they lead me to do things in order to figure out the answers. Funnily enough, often times, the question itself, in a way, turns out to be the answer. When this happens, I know myself a little bit better. During the past decade, it felt like the world was moving so fast. My questions kept changing and I suppose who I am will always keep changing, too. But the most important time is now. Things that are happening now are my life, not what has happened in the past. I never wish to change anything from the past as my actions then were what I considered to be the most appropriate at that time. I'm still trying to stay in the present and hope to remember all the good and bad experiences that I might have in the next decade, so as to look back on them in 10 years' time again."
Sirin Mungcharoen
Vice-president of the Student Council at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Arts. A human rights activist, Sirin's works involves writing and translating books on social issues, gender equality and gender-based violence.
"For me, it's youth power. All over the world, young people are starting to be the ones who make changes. Even in Thailand, when I was in high school, I had Netiwit as an inspiration to speak out and to do something about issues I care about. I'm now in my third year in the university and as the end of this decade is approaching, youth power is more evident than ever. Young people are a lot more conscious about political and social issues. I'm excited to see what changes the youth or the next generation will bring in the next decade."
Phanuphon "Black" Bulsuwan
Chef-patron of Blackitch Artisan Kitchen in Chiang Mai and Thailand's "master of fermentation".
"This decade has been a chapter of change for me. I consider it to be the time during which deep roots were established in my life and a strong foundation was built. In 2010, I turned my back on a career as an engineer to become a chef. That very year, I met my wife and opened my own restaurant. A couple of years later, we got married and started a family. Throughout these years, I have been able to work on improving myself, growing a great deal both professionally and personally, while having such a blast embracing every single experience."
Angele Anang (Anchalee Anang)
Winner of Drag Race Thailand Season 2.
"I went from the age of 15 to the age of 25. During this period, I have climbed to spectacular heights and fallen to crushing depths. I discovered that I had the strength and maturity that is required to handle either situation. Developing a strong spirit to face personal struggles and learning that it is vital to always move forward, have been the highlights of this decade for me. I'm really excited to see what the coming year holds for me and often remind myself that no matter what happens, I will be resilient."
Panita Hummel Roth
A feminist who champions the promotion of body positivity.
I learned the meaning of empowerment. Through movements like #metoo #timesup or #donttellmehowtodress we see there's strength in standing up and using your voice. Reflecting now I'm proud to have had been a small part in speaking out about body positivity and taking pride in who I am inside and outside.
Busayapa Srisompong
A human rights lawyer for victims of violence and founder of SHero, an independent project for the elimination of domestic violence in Thailand.
"The journey of my achievements over the past decade started when I changed my path to becoming a human rights lawyer. On May 22, 2014, I graduated from the Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University. It was the same day as the military coup and when the junta took over Thailand and abolished the Constitution. Since then, I have been paying more attention to civil and political rights, human rights and sustainable development goals (SDGs), which was launched in 2015. I moved to the Thai-Myanmar border to gain experience in working with the marginalised population, migrants, refugees and stateless persons. My theory was that if I understood the obstacles to access public services and justice that vulnerable groups had to face, I could identify gaps in the social and justice system of Thailand to create better policies and create positive changes.
I am most proud of SHero that I founded in early 2017 after I overcame my own struggle to receive justice as a domestic violence survivor. SHero aims to eliminate domestic violence and de-normalise the culture of violence in Thailand. My goal was not only to help survivors but also to advocate human rights and equality among the younger generation while giving them space to learn and discuss these issues.
Until now, inequality and violation of rights are still major issues and we still have a long way to go. The human rights and political situation in Thailand, as well as globally, is evolving, but I do have hope for the future. Now people, especially the youth, are raising their voices on this issue more than ever before."
Thanita Phuvanatnaranubala
Girl Rising's Country Programme Manager and former teaching fellow at Teach For Thailand.
"One of my most memorable moments this decade happened this year, at one of Thailand's youth detention centres. We were running a programme about setting future goals and a teenager shared her dream of becoming a soldier. 'I tried before, but my boyfriend used to beat me up… that's why I came here, to get away from him.' She didn't seem sad when she was telling us her story; it was simply another fact of her life. And it broke my heart to think there are young girls out there who willingly put themselves in such situations, just to get away from violence. Her time at the detention centre is not 'jail time' -- it's an opportunity to get educated and follow her dreams. I can only wish that as the new decade comes around, all youth -- regardless of gender and circumstances -- will be able to get such opportunities everywhere, as they rightfully deserve."
Yutthakrit Chalermthai
Founder of EDeaf, education for the deaf.
"The engagement and involvement of youth in global issues, to resolve problems and generate new ideas and innovations, though not just to serve human needs, but also to take the balance of our planet into account so as to create a safer and better world."
Nophand Boonyai
Actor and playwrite, best known for Taxi Radio, a play that shines a spotlight on social and political issues in Bangkok.
"In this age of information overload, it is hard to define any memorable moments because we keep scrolling through the feed of oblivion. But thanks to Mark Zuckerberg's algorithm, we can all be reminded daily about what we did, who we used to be with, how young we used to look and other such random facts of our lives, online."
Amornthep Sachamuneewongse
Mental health advocate and founder of Sati, a project that aims to help individuals with mental health and stress-related disorders.
"This year has been better than I could have imagined. I have lived with major depressive disorder and schizophrenia for the past four years and have twice attempted suicide. At my lowest point, I decided to work on a mental health project and become an advocate of such issues. This year has been such a great year in terms of creating awareness about mental health. More people have spoken up about it. My campaign idea, 'Heart With Ears' was also adopted as the national campaign by the Department of Mental Health in collaboration with the Let Me Hear You campaign of Miss World. I was able to travel to London, Prague and Geneva to talk about and share my experience with mental health disorder and was selected as one of the 51 Global Shapers attending the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020 in Davos.
There is still a lot to be done when it comes to mental health, in terms of educating people, creating awareness and destigmatisation. We also need leaders to understand that the old ways of running a country is not good for the country's well-being anymore. As much as we talk about improving the economy, looking at the GDP only helps the top 1% who own 67% of our country's wealth. We need to turn from a GDP-driven country to a well-being driven country. That is the only way to ensure that we are strong and able to solve the problems that come with being an ageing society. As many people advocate for clean energy and a greener planet, I am advocating for a more empathetic society. Nonetheless, it has been a great decade!"
Winyu "John" Wongsurawat
Spokedark TV's co-founder, co-host of Shallow News in Depth and 2014 Time's Next Generation Leaders.
"My most memorable moments of this decade are when both my sons were born. They have been the happiest, yet the most eye-opening time of my life. I feel the responsibility that I have now over the future of my sons and their generation, as well."
