"Foei Patara" Shares His Adventurous Eco-Perspective and Inspires Youth Climate Action at "Green Mission by Chula x GULF Year 3"

Moving forward continuously into its third year, the "Green Mission by Chula x GULF" project stems from the mutual determination of Gulf Development Public Company Limited, or GULF, and the Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University (Chula Engineering). This initiative serves as a strategic platform for high school students to pitch creative innovations aimed at climate change mitigation and adaptation under the theme: “Resilient LAB: Think for Our Home.” The program offers participants an enriching, multi-dimensional experience. Teams qualifying for the final round will gain exclusive, firsthand insights through site visits to GULF group's power plants and the Thaicom satellite station. This educational journey leads into an intensive four-day, three-night bootcamp, where students will refine their localized environmental solutions, competing for a total prize pool of over 100,000 Baht. To ensure long-term impact, this year's edition introduces a new milestone where the top three winning teams will receive exclusive development funding under a Sandbox Pilot Project. This initiative will transition their conceptual proposals into tangible, working innovations, fostering a new generation of green leaders equipped to drive Thailand toward a low-carbon society.

In addition to the program's structured activities, the kick-off press conference featured a prominent guest speaker, "Foei" Patara Eksangkul, a well-known actor, YouTuber, and outdoor enthusiast. Drawing from his extensive experience in hiking and outdoor activities, Foei shared his personal observations regarding environmental degradation to inspire and motivate Gen Z participants. He expressed great honor in participating, noting that this event marked his first formal public address dedicated entirely to environmental conservation.

Having traveled extensively since childhood, Foei has witnessed the direct impact of climate change on local communities, including severe forest fires and recurring floods. As an avid surfer, he also frequently observes marine debris washing ashore, particularly during monsoon seasons. Similarly, growing tourist numbers have led to increased littering, even in deep forest areas. These experiences have shaped his belief that travel should move beyond minimizing negative impacts toward regenerative tourism, which refers to travel practices that actively contribute to restoring local ecosystems.

During his panel session, Foei commended the project's core framework, expressing strong appreciation for the theme "Resilient LAB: Think for Our Home." He explained that this theme is highly effective because it prompts youth to recognize that climate change directly affects their immediate surroundings. The concept of home varies for each individual, ranging from one's household to their neighborhood, country, or the planet. Because each home faces unique environmental challenges, the solutions required must also be diverse, which fosters varied perspectives and inspires practical, creative solutions tailored to specific local needs.

Foei concluded with an encouraging message, thanking GULF for providing him with this opportunity to formally share his environmental journey. He urged the younger generation who possess the passion to make a difference not to let age limit their potential, emphasizing that GULF has created this platform to let them explore, learn, and experiment. He encouraged everyone to step out, observe the challenges in their communities, and transform their ideas into a powerful force for sustainable change. He wished them all the best and left his hopes with all the young participants.

High school students interested in participating in the "Green Mission by Chula x GULF" project can submit their applications online from now until July 3, 2026. The application can be completed via the official Google Form at eng.chula.ac.th or by scanning the project's QR Code.

For further inquiries, interested applicants may contact the coordination team directly at 092-997-4606, 086-522-3844, or 02-218-7850-2. Additionally, project updates, highlights, and movement can be followed on Facebook at GULF Spark and TikTok at @GULFspark.