SideKick

12/02/2025

🎤🎶 Jai Mai Se Podcast—First Episode Wrapped!
We just filmed our very first Jai Mai Se podcast episode with the incredible students from the Chorus Singing Club, Ramkhamhaeng University—and what an experience it was! We sang, we laughed, and we uncovered their personal stories—how music isn’t just a passion but a source of strength.

Through two years of research with our partners, SideKick and Thai Health Promotion Foundation (สสส.), แผนงานสุขภาวะผู้หญิง, we found that having friends—people who understand, listen, and share similar experiences—is the most crucial factor in overcoming emotional struggles. That’s why Jai Mai Se is here—to create spaces where young people can connect, engage, and support each other.

Clubs like these do more than bring people together over shared interests. They create a support system that helps young people find joy, resilience, and the courage to move forward, no matter the challenges they face.
The first episode drops this May—stay tuned! Up next, we’re stepping onto the mat with the Judo Club! 🥋

29/01/2025

Jai Mai Se – Because a strong heart matters!

Children and youth, especially young women from low-income families, often face violence, loneliness, and a lack of access to emotional support. Through two years of research with our partners, SideKick and Thai Health Promotion Foundation (สสส.) แผนงานสุขภาวะผู้หญิง found that having friends—people who understand, listen, and share similar experiences—is the most crucial factor in overcoming emotional struggles.

That’s why we’re launching Jai Mai Se soon!
A project designed to support young people who may be experiencing loneliness or emotional distress.

What we’re doing:
- Creating safe spaces by partnering with student clubs across all topics—from sports and singing to arts and beyond—where young people can connect, engage, and find support.
- Producing an 8-episode series featuring inspiring stories from students who have found strength and community through clubs.
- Building an online platform with tools, resources, and a supportive space to help students navigate emotional challenges.

The photos here are from our first training session with student trainers—young leaders who will be at the forefront of this campaign, bringing Jai Mai Se to life on the ground.

Through this initiative, we hope to foster a supportive community where young people can find joy, resilience, and strength in shared experiences. Because no one should have to face life’s challenges alone.

22/01/2025

Bridging Generational Divides: The Prasopkarn Project
The "Prasopkarn" project, initiated by Sidekick in collaboration with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (สสส.), is a groundbreaking effort to reduce age-related biases (ageism) in Thailand. Recognizing that ageism fosters discrimination and judgments based on age, the project seeks to bridge generational gaps and promote mental health by fostering empathy, respect, and meaningful intergenerational interactions.

The Connectors: A New Approach to Age Bias
Over two years, Sidekick conducted research involving 611 individuals across age groups (15-18, 19-30, 31-50, and 51-70) to identify a unique group termed “Connectors.” Representing 20% of the population, these individuals naturally demonstrate openness, empathy, and respect for perspectives regardless of age.

Collaborating with Thammasat University, Sidekick identified four key behaviors that define Connectors:

Appreciate: Valuing efforts and supporting ideas at every step, not just the outcome.
Listen: Actively listening to diverse perspectives and creating space for all voices equally.
Learn from Mistakes: Openly sharing personal mistakes to promote growth and acceptance of imperfection.
Open: Cultivating safe spaces for honest, fear-free discussions.

These behaviors were captured in the acronym A.L.M.O. and represented through engaging “Furry Monsters” characters, making the concepts accessible and easy to adopt.

Pilot Activities and Outcomes
To bring the A.L.M.O. framework to life, the project piloted hands-on activities where youth collaborated with adults embodying or trained in Connector traits. These activities, centered on shared interests like storytelling and photography, aimed to reshape how youth perceive adults and themselves.

The impact was profound. Evaluations by Mahidol University's research team revealed:

Increased willingness among youth to engage in meaningful discussions with adults.
A stronger desire to learn from adults.
These positive changes were sustained even six months after the pilot concluded.
Youth participants began to see adults not as authority figures, but as individuals with valuable insights and shared experiences. This shift broke down generational stereotypes, fostering mutual respect and understanding.

Why This Matters
According to research by the World Health Organization, ASEAN countries, including Thailand, face some of the highest levels of ageism globally, with rates reaching up to 86.4%. This underscores the urgency of addressing age-related biases and finding innovative solutions to bridge generational divides.

The Prasopkarn project’s Connector approach provides a scalable model for fostering empathy and inclusivity. By creating environments rooted in respect and understanding, this initiative lays the groundwork for cultural transformation.

https://www.sidekick.asia/prasopkarn-blog

06/01/2025

Sidekick partnered with RECOFTC to highlight the impactful work being done through their Community-Based Fire Management Project across the region.

We started by listening to RECOFTC’s experts and the stories of local communities—their experiences, traditional knowledge, and expertise in sustainable fire management. From there, we worked on storyboarding, scripting, filming, and production to bring their voices to life.

It’s inspiring to see how communities combine traditional wisdom with innovative practices to protect their livelihoods, forests, and future. This collaboration is a strong reminder of what’s possible when people work together toward a shared goal.

We’re excited to help amplify these efforts and share their stories with a wider audience. 🎥🌍

The video here showcases the work in Thailand, where communities and local governments are adopting holistic fire management approaches and innovative methods like prescribed burning to improve fire resilience and reduce the risks and impacts of wildfires.

In Nan province, Thailand, highland communities have long relied on fire for farming and foraging. However, uncontrolled fires can inadvertently lead to wild...

12/12/2024

Exciting times ahead! 🌍 Over the past decade, we've worked with diverse partners, from grassroots networks to UN organizations, government agencies, and businesses across South and Southeast Asia. Together, we've driven impactful campaigns focused on women's safety, community resilience, and sustainable land and forest development.

Our efforts include action research, testing innovative approaches, and creating award-winning PSAs, documentaries, and programs tackling critical issues like mental health, road safety, and women empowerment.

We’re proud to embark on our next big step: a 14-month partnership with USAID Enhance, working with almost 40 CSOs across Thailand to train and mentor our partners in the Constructive Advocacy approach. This project is all about building capacity, supporting communities, and driving long-lasting, systemic change. Our first online meeting with all CSO partners was just the beginning—soon, we’ll be in the field, working side-by-side to create impactful solutions.

Stay tuned as we continue to connect, create, and expand our impact across the region! 💡

09/11/2024

After recently launching our latest research on connecting generations, the Sidekick team has shifted focus to northern Thailand near the Lao border, where we’re filming a documentary. This project explores how scientific methods are being introduced to create a more controlled approach to burning, aiming to reduce forest fires and haze. Watch this space—more to come soon!

04/11/2024

Media Launch "SideKick : Decoding Connection Across Generations"

Over the past two years, Sidekick has partnered with the ThaiHealth Promotion Foundation (สสส.) on a pilot initiative to develop innovative ways to reduce age-related bias across Thailand. This effort began with research on a diverse group of 611 people spanning age groups (15-18, 19-30, 31-50, and 51-70) to identify a unique group we call “Connectors”—the 20% of people who naturally demonstrate openness, empathy, and respect for perspectives regardless of age.

Our study highlighted four key behaviors that define these Connectors:

- Appreciating the efforts of others
- Actively listening to diverse perspectives
- Openly sharing personal mistakes
- Creating safe spaces for meaningful exchange

Using these insights, we crafted hands-on programs where youth can connect with adults who embody these Connector traits. The goal? To introduce young participants to positive role models, break down generational stereotypes, and encourage them to cultivate their own Connector traits for the future.

The impact has been powerful. Youth who once felt hesitant to engage with adults are now eager to share ideas, realizing that age does not define values or outlooks. They’re connecting with adults as individuals, and longstanding biases are fading.

The World Health Organization’s research on ageism reveals that ASEAN faces the world’s highest levels of age-related bias, with rates as high as 86.4% in surveys conducted in Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia. This underscores the importance of finding new models for bridging generational divides, like our Connector approach. We believe the program has the potential to shift culture on a larger scale, creating environments rooted in respect, empathy, and inclusivity.

Going forward, Sidekick is looking to work with ThaiHealth Promotion Foundation to expand this pilot into mainstream education, laying a foundation for a more understanding, inclusive culture.

Find out more on our project website (in Thai) https://www.sidekick.asia/prasopkarn (which means Expereince)

Here’s to a more connected ASEAN!

25/10/2024

We were thrilled to be part of an inspiration project aimed at helping students at Satit PIM High School explore different career paths and broaden their interests.

Our team, engaged the students in a fun and interactive activity called "Match Your Cartoon Character with Your Identity." Each student created their own cartoon character to represent their inspirations and aspirations, as you can see in the photos. We identified Sidekick as "Robin"—the ultimate sidekick to the incredible social impact organizations we collaborate with.

It was inspiring to see students embrace their uniqueness and creativity while learning about how we uniquely combine media, social change campaigning, and human-centered research to drive meaningful change.

Thank you, Satit PIM, for the opportunity to connect with the next generation of changemakers!

11/10/2024

🎉 We just wrapped up an incredible Data-Driven Storytelling Workshop with civil society organizations, and the feedback has been truly inspiring!

Participants highlighted how the structured templates and visual canvases provided a clear framework for defining their topics, making data and statistics more relatable. They especially appreciated the hands-on approach, which allowed them to test their ideas in real-time before full implementation.

With these practical tools, broken down into easy steps, they now have a clearer vision of their goals and are better equipped to effectively communicate their collective knowledge to their audiences.

Here are some of the interview highlights 📽️

Learn more about this and other workshops and trainings hosted by Sidekick at this link: https://www.sidekick.asia/creativeworkshop

A big thank you to everyone who participated and made this workshop a success.

Special thanks to our partners from USAID Thailand Counter Trafficking in Persons project and to:

- Khun Veerawat Kamkom, Senior Communications and Campaign Officer, Human Rights and Development Foundation

- Khun Taywee, Project Assistant, Asylum Access Thailand

- Khun Tuangsiri Kanisthananda, International Partnerships Coordinator, Alliance Anti Trafic

for being part of the video!

10/10/2024

🌟 Exciting Milestone! 🌟

We’re thrilled to have partnered with USAID Thailand Counter Trafficking in Persons on the Data-Driven Storytelling Training Program for civil society organizations (CSOs) across Thailand over the past 4 months! 🎉

It’s been inspiring to watch each organization’s growth throughout this journey—seeing them adopt the tools and techniques we developed and apply them in real-life storytelling. 🙌

From interview simulations to data collection and story crafting, our team was amazed by how each participant embraced the tools to gather impactful stories, highlighting their critical work in human trafficking and migration. 🌍✍️

Even more exciting is knowing that many organizations are already planning to use these resources to create transformative campaigns going forward into this year and beyond! 🚀

We’re incredibly proud of the progress made and look forward to seeing the ripple effect of their stories in shaping a better future. Stay tuned for more updates!

27/08/2024

We’re excited to have participated in Singapore Management University's (SMU) Overseas Internship Programme and to have hosted our first intern, Ezenn!

It’s been a great experience providing students with hands-on opportunities in the impact sector through strategic communications.

We were also pleased to welcome the overseas internship program team to our office, further strengthening our collaboration. We're looking forward to working with more talented students in future cohorts and continuing this valuable cultural exchange.

23/08/2024

🌟 We’re thrilled to share the success of our first Data-Driven Storytelling workshop! 🚀

Over two days, participants from various NGOs working on migration issues came together in Bangkok to dive deep into the art of storytelling, backed by robust data. From learning how to craft compelling case stories to mastering the integration of impactful visuals, the energy and enthusiasm were incredible!

Key Highlights:

- Hands-on Learning: Participants practiced real-life scenarios, refining their storytelling techniques.

- Expert Insights: Our guest speakers shared invaluable knowledge on using data to amplify narratives.

- Community Building: The collaborative spirit was strong, with participants supporting each other in mastering new skills.

This workshop is just the beginning! We’re excited to see how these newly acquired skills will translate into powerful stories that drive real impact. Next up: our virtual mentorship sessions!

29/07/2024

We are seeking an experienced Program Advocacy Officer to work on a new and exciting initiative to promote constructive advocacy to grassroots organizations across Thailand.

We are seeking an experienced Program Advocacy Officer to work on a new and exciting initiative to promote constructive advocacy to grassroots organizations across Thailand.

07/05/2024

Proud to contribute our expertise to the SoSafe workshop with and partners! Excited to support the development of the SoSafe platform for accessible knowledge and social support services.

28/04/2024

Our film team has landed in Malaysia for a week-long collaboration with UNDP's Business and Human Rights team. We're filming the latest episode of Asia in Focus, focusing on ESG Investing! 🎥 Stay tuned as we meet, interview, and film experts in ESG investing, sustainable finance, and corporate governance in Asia.

19/04/2024

🌍 Sidekick is thrilled to announce our collaboration with UNDP's Business and Human Rights team for the latest episode of Asia in Focus. Premiering online this Monday , we delve into the crucial topic of Just Transitions and the business and human rights agenda, exploring how these intersecting themes shape our regional landscape.

Our team has crafted a dynamic TV-style episode, set to air next Monday on UNDP's YouTube channel. We're excited to bring you insightful discussions and thought-provoking insights from industry experts and leaders.

Can a into renewable energy and out of fossil fuels be achieved in a region as energy hungry as Asia?

Stay tuned to find out.

🌏💼

16/04/2024

Exciting news! Our Sidekick team just got back from a recce in Malaysia to check out the venue for our upcoming TV-style production for UNDP's YouTube channel next month. Everything is coming together for an amazing shoot! Stay tuned for exclusive behind-the-scenes content and updates as we prepare for this impactful event.

09/04/2024

🌟 Join Our Team! 🌟

We're hiring an Associate Project Planner at Sidekick! If you're passionate about driving social change and have strong coordination skills, we want to hear from you!

Sidekick is looking for a dynamic Associate Project Planner to coordinate between in-house teams, vendors, freelancers, and consultants, and work closely with senior management to ensure seamless project ex*****on within established milestones and timelines.