10 interesting things about “TK Kids”

10 interesting things about “TK Kids” 

3. In the graphic and multimedia field, TK park in collaboration with educational institutes organised animation training programmes on polishing process in 2010 and 2011 to enhance animation skills for university students. In 2012, we joined hands with the Software Industry Promotion Agency (Sipa) and The Monk Studio, an animation and visual effects studio based in Bangkok, launched the “Animation Master Class” for students and people working in the industry.

Another initiative was held in the following year in which young talented animation and computer graphic artists were invited to design packaging for seven local commercial brands under the government’s One Tambon One Product (Otop) scheme.

Last year, TK park arranged a seminar for illustrators and character designers to hear experiences from and exchange views with acclaimed creators of cartoon characters. Participants also competed in a contest to design a cartoon character to promote reading. 

4. Filmmaking is another well-received field. We offered three major training programs on screenwriting, cinematography, film editing and film production management from industry professionals in 2009 and 2010 as well as activities to showcase the work of young amateur filmmakers in 2011 and 2012.

In a special project, TK park invited young people to submit short films made from great Thai novels and short stories in the TK park library.

5. In writing category, TK park initially founded “The Dream Molding Force” in 2005 to train youngsters interested in writing careers and working in the publishing business. The group produced 28 TK monthly journals and a number of articles which can be read on www.tkpark.or.th before its name was changed to TK Young Writer in 2008.

Every year, participants learn how to write a good documentary script, feature article, fictional story, and interview-type article including how to make a magazine. After the workshops, a special pocketbook and magazine are published to showcase their write-ups. Readers can also read their work in an online magazine Read Me Egazine. 

6. The TK Marketer training unit first organised its marketing strategy workshop in 2011 under the name “TK Social Enterprises: Knowledge No Limit!”.The participants were required to submit business plan that promoted endless learning opportunities. A prize winner received scholarship and a start-up budget for business. In 2012, a workshop dubbed “When Marketing Makes Learning Fun” attended by students from six universities was conducted to help create business models aimed at encouraging Thai children to read more. The 2013 project called “Let’s Build That Dream and Brand Together” invited students to work together to design products for their dream store.  It allowed them to usecreativity in graphic design to do store logo and signage as well ashelp put together a fully developed strategic marketing plan to attract customers. The participants’ dream store opened at TK Pop Up Store at the end of the project.

7. TK Band has reputation to provide music making opportunities for young adults who love music. Class registration for songwriting, composing and performing opens every year under the supervision of Su Boonliang and other experts. The youngsters are given a rare chance to co-produce an album per year with music professionals. Five such albums have been made so far. Their titles are “Sing Tee Took MongKharm” (Neglected Things), “Kid Buak” (Think Positive), “Share”, RuamSamai (Contemporary), and “Barn…Barn Pleng” (Home style Music). All songs in these album very well represent critical and creative views of TK kids.

Similar workshops were also held in five southern provinces of Songkhla, Satun, Yala, Pannati and Narathiwat as well as five eastern provinces of Chachoengsaon, Chon Buri, Rayong, Trat and PrachinBuri. The two albums co-produced separately by the young musicians from the South and the East have their own interesting vibe and reflect the participants’ local identity.

8. We cannot miss mentioning TK kids from Yala province where our first model of regional office is situated. Established in 2005 in collaboration with Yala Municipality to promote reading among local youth and communal harmony, TK park Yala has initiated many successful projects. For example, the “A Day@Yala” project persuaded young creative people to submit photographed images, short films, handmade books and souvenirs that told stories about how Yala being a pleasant town to live in. TK park Yala also organized a creative design workshop on the theme of “Reduce & Reuse” and challenged students to propose a campaign aimed at promoting reading to receive funds to implement it. 

9. After 10 years, TK kids are now working in numerous companies and organizations. Some work independently as writers, marketers, hosts, film directors, musicians, songwriters, etc.