On 24 November 2025 at 8:55 a.m., Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously presided over the opening of the 2025 Academic Conference on the Development of Children and Youth in Remote Areas under Royal Initiative, entitled “70th Auspicious Birthday Anniversary: Children and Youth Upholding Agriculture and Environmental Conservation,” at Bangkok Thonburi Hall, Bangkok Thonburi University, Thawi Watthana District, Bangkok.
The event was attended by Mr. Songsak Thongsri, Deputy Minister of Interior, along with advisors to the royal initiative projects, heads of government agencies, and civil servants. This was the 11th annual conference, held during 23–24 November 2025, with the Department of Local Administration serving as the principal host in collaboration with educational institutions under the Royal Initiative for the Development of Children and Youth in Remote Areas. A total of 1,400 participants, including educational personnel and project practitioners, attended the conference.
On this occasion, Her Royal Highness viewed exhibitions honoring Her Majesty Queen Sirikit,The Queen Mother and commemorating the auspicious 70th birthday anniversary. She then graciously presented certificates of honor to 42 Buddhist monks and teachers who received first-prize awards for best practices. Her Royal Highness also delivered the opening royal address.
In her address, Her Royal Highness expressed her pleasure in presiding over the conference and congratulated all recipients of best-practice awards. She emphasized that the School Lunch Agriculture Project aims to ensure that students receive nutritious meals to promote good health and prevent malnutrition, which can hinder learning. The project also enables students to gain hands-on agricultural knowledge, develop academic skills across disciplines, learn teamwork, and cultivate positive interpersonal relationships.
Her Royal Highness further noted that participation in the School Lunch Agriculture Project enhances students’ understanding of nature, natural resources, and the environment, fostering environmental conservation awareness from an early age. The project also contributes to the development of critical thinking, observation skills, responsibility, and problem-solving abilities, which are beneficial for both education and daily life as students grow older.
She expressed her appreciation to all agencies and individuals who have continuously supported the School Lunch Agriculture Project, enabling it to achieve tangible benefits for Thai children and youth, and extended her best wishes for happiness, success, and prosperity to all involved. She then formally declared the conference open.
Following this, Her Royal Highness observed a student performance entitled “Nareeratana: Harmony and Peace for the People” by Ban Nai Wong School under the Ranong Provincial Administrative Organization. She also viewed presentations of best practices in six areas under the theme “Environmentally Friendly Agriculture,” showcased by educational institutions from seven agencies under royal initiative projects: the Department of Local Administration, the Border Patrol Police Bureau, the Office of the Basic Education Commission, the Department of Learning Promotion, the Office of the Private Education Commission, the National Office of Buddhism, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. In addition, Her Royal Highness visited the exhibitions on “Environmentally Friendly Agriculture” presented by the same seven agencies.
