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from a small experiment to national recognition: How "connectors" helped bridge Thailand's Age divide
Winner of Thailand's Prime Minister's Award for Health Promotion Innovation 2025 (Best Process Innovation)
During our early visits to classrooms and community spaces, we observed that many young people in Thailand grow up with few spaces that encourage meaningful interaction with older adults outside their families.
Without these everyday encounters, misunderstandings grow, perspectives narrow, and age-based stereotypes deepen — quietly but consistently.
Research by the World Health Organization shows that Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines, have some of the highest levels of ageist attitudes globally. Ageism affects mental health, social cohesion, productivity, and national development. It may be a silent problem, but its impact is loud.
This led to a simple but powerful question:
What if young people could see older adults differently — not through lectures, but through lived experiences?
Introducing Connectors: A New Generation of Bridge-Builders
With support from ThaiHealth, Sidekick began working with students who often lack access to extracurricular activities due to household income constraints.
Many had never joined clubs, camps, or creative workshops. They were invited to participate in a small experiment: learning through real conversations and shared experiences with older adults — who we call the Connectors.
These older adults possess four key skills that we call the ALMO framework:
These four skills shaped every activity in the programme.
What began as a small experiment grew into the Connectors programme, a youth-led model designed to reduce generational bias through the ALMO framework.
Activities That Change Minds
Photography walks. Story exchanges. Community visits.
Each activity was simple, low-cost, and enjoyable — but carefully designed.
Students met older adults, shared stories, asked questions, and listened with intention. For many, it was the first time they had spoken openly with someone from a different generation who wasn’t in their family.
The impact was immediate.
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Here are some reflections shared by young participants:
Realizing not all adults are the same
I used to think most adults were toxic because that’s all I had ever encountered. But through this programme, I met adults with warmth and positive attitudes. It made me realise there is an entirely different group of adults out there — people who genuinely care and treat young people with sincerity
A space where age hierarchy disappears
In daily life, interactions often follow a strict hierarchy — senior–junior, employer–employee. But here, those layers disappeared. Everyone felt equal. We listened together, learned together, and adapted together. It was a completely new experience for me.
Meeting an adult who listens without judgment
This was the first time I met an adult who was calm, approachable, and genuinely listened. Back home or at school, many adults don’t understand small things or let emotions get in the way. But this adult listened openly and didn’t judge. It changed how I see adults.
These shifts extended beyond the activities. Students began changing how they interacted with family members, teachers, and community elders back home.
When Behaviour Changes, Society Changes
The project revealed a meaningful ripple effect:
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Individually, students developed more confidence and empathy.
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Socially, they built new patterns of interaction that encouraged mutual learning.
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Professionally, these skills support the future workforce — strengthening communication, collaboration, and well-being.
From Idea to Award-Winning Innovation
What started as a research experiment has now received national recognition. In 2025, the project was awarded the Prime Minister’s Award for Health Promotion Innovation – Best Process Innovation.
This achievement represents more than a successful programme. It shows that Thailand is ready for new approaches that address ageism, mental well-being, and social cohesion through genuine human connection.
Scaling Up: Creating a Platform for Shared Experiences
Sidekick plans to develop a digital platform that brings together activities led by Connectors of all ages — from art and nature to storytelling, community visits, and sports. The platform will curate and deliver these experiences to students across different school systems.
To ensure fair access, parents from well-resourced schools can purchase activities that also fund opportunities for municipal schools, while companies can support through CSR or employee-engagement programmes.
Year 1 will focus on a proof of concept, with the long-term goal of creating a sustainable system where all young people can access meaningful intergenerational experiences.
Looking Ahead
The long-term vision:
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Build the ALMO Network connecting schools, parents, and companies.
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Integrate intergenerational learning into municipal school programmes.
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Grow a new generation of Connectors nationwide.
Small conversations can spark big change. And often, bridging generations begins with simply sitting together — to appreciate, listen, learn from mistakes, and remain open.