On 7 February 2026, World Vision Foundation of Thailand participated in SoilBox Season 2: Light Up Bangkok at Siam Paragon. The event marked the final round of the Christian Hackathon, a platform that encourages young people to develop innovative ideas to address urban social issues in Bangkok. The aim was to bring together young Christians with a heart for serving the city, supporting them in developing their ideas into actionable and practical projects. These covered issues such as mental health, environmental challenges, inequality, and overall quality of life—under a shared belief that “Christians can be a light to the city” through concrete, hands-on action.
The project’s concepts encompassed key social concerns, including mental health, ending trafficking in persons, care for vulnerable groups, family strengthening, and environmental stewardship—issues that Bangkok faces daily and require fresh, youth-led solutions. All of these themes align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), which collectively aim to improve quality of life and promote equity across society.
Ahead of the final round, World Vision Foundation of Thailand served as one of the programme mentors, offering guidance on proposal writing and strategic project planning. Drawing on more than 50 years of community development experience, the organisation provided key approaches such as analysing root problems, setting clear objectives, designing targeted interventions, monitoring and evaluation, and aligning projects with the SDGs to ensure long-term sustainability. This support helped participating teams develop feasible, community-ready solutions that could be implemented in real-world contexts.
On the presentation day, SoilBox Season 2: Light Up Bangkok was honoured by a judging panel comprising Rev Mahaporn Chukiattiwongkul, representative of Maclellan Foundation; Mr Pachara Chirathivat, representing the business sector; Ms Monsicha Pongrujikorn, Cambridge Society of Thailand; and Ms Jariya Mungwattana, Founder of SoilBox Hackathon. Ten finalist teams presented their ideas, competing for a total funding pool of over 175,000 baht. The atmosphere throughout the event was filled with creativity, hope, and a strong belief that the passion of young people can truly transform the city.
At the award ceremony, in addition to the winning team, first runner-up, and second runner-up, a special prize was presented for the Most Improved Team to recognise exceptional growth in idea development and presentation quality. Nonetheless, all submissions demonstrated strong problem understanding, thoughtful solution design, and genuine dedication to social development. World Vision Foundation of Thailand commends all participating teams for their meaningful ideas that contribute to the well-being of Bangkok and Thai society—helping the city truly “light up,” in keeping with the spirit of the Christian Hackathon.
World Vision Foundation of Thailand’s participation in this event reflects the organisation’s vision of fostering sustainable societal transformation by empowering young people to become changemakers at both community and city levels. Equipping youth with an understanding of development frameworks in alignment with the SDGs not only elevates the professionalism of their projects but also lays the foundation for long-term scalability—ensuring that their ideas can grow into initiatives with real, positive impact on people’s lives.
Ultimately, SoilBox Season 2: Light Up Bangkok was more than a competition—it was a nurturing ground for seeds of hope, faith, and creativity among Thai youth. It stands as proof that when good intentions receive the right support, Bangkok can indeed shine brighter through the collective power of young people committed to building a better society—echoing the SDG principle of “leaving no one behind.”
