Internet cafes and computer gaming centers line every major street in Bangkok. With that, Thailand’s new generation of innovators are no strangers to Information & Communication Technology (ICT). But what’s more, they are not satisfied in using these important ICT skills for just pursuing monetary returns.

Thailand is fast becoming a breeding ground for young social entrepreneurs who are harnessing the power of Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D).

Social enterprises like Thoth Media and Chivalry silk are examples of innovative social enterprises that are leveraging new online medias in support of sustainable development.

Dr Kongkiat Kespechara, a self-taught computer programmer, medical doctor and social entrepreneur from Thailand, shares his experience setting up and running Hospital OS with SEforum. Hospital OS is an open-source software that enables small rural hospitals to more effective employ their resources to serve and to address the health issues of disadvantaged groups. In the course of the past seven years, Hospital OS has been adopted by about 100 healthcare centres in Thailand and adapted by countless to benefit an underserved population.

Dialogue in the Dark Singapore

SEforum chats with Shiao Yin, one of three founders of social enterprise Food For Thought (FFT), for the new happenings and vision of the newly launched FFT @8Q.

“Our senior colleagues are very diligent and always give 100% to their work. Customers love senior waiters because they always have funny stories about their lives to share. And to be frank, a lot of them have a better attitude then some of the younger people today.”