About a hundred students from 18 schools took part in this year's education equity partnership programme, aimed at reducing disparities in educational opportunities among students in large cities and remote areas, according to one of the initiative's leaders.
Speaking yesterday, Putthawan Supatranun, the corporate communications director, Sea (Thailand), one of the three main sponsors of the programme, told reporters that of the 18 schools participating, six were from rural areas and the rest from city schools.
Throughout the programme, students learned the skills necessary for starting their own e-commerce businesses and made more than 200,000 baht in total sales from products sold through online retailers such as Shopee, Ms Putthawan said.
"We expect the skills they acquired to be further enhanced and to continue benefiting their future careers," Ms Putthawan said.
She said that participants were taught not only core digital entrepreneurial skills but also how to make their products stand out online.
"Selling products online requires more than appealing pictures. An interesting story about the products is vital," she said.
The other two sponsors of the programme are the Equitable Education Fund and Shrewsbury International School.
Rungphakphon Phaksuang, a teacher at Wat Hup Krathing School in Ratchaburi's Bang Pong district, said two of her students with learning disabilities had made her proud by managing to complete the programme.
"I'm going to share my experience gained from this programme on how to make good products and make money out of selling them online to my friends both at school and in my community," said Panadda Khamphakdi, a student from Ban Nonkhummittrapap 210 School in Nakhon Ratchasima's Sikhiu district.
Marketing, product design and storytelling skills were taught along with basic entrepreneurial skills at this year's fourth annual event, said Gregory Threlfall, director of Shrewsbury International School's outreach programme.