“Chula ARi” Expands Network to Empower Community Workers 

The Chulalongkorn University Platform for Research Innovation (“Chula ARi”), College of Population Studies, Chulalongkorn University, in collaboration with the Community Organizations Development Institute (CODI) under the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, organized a workshop to equip community workers with universal design skills on May 28, 2025, at Social Innovation Hub, Visid Prachuabmoh Building, Chulalongkorn University. The workshop was attended by over 60 participants. Prof. Dr. Vipan Prachuabmoh from the College of Population Studies, Mr. Kritsada Somprasong, Director of CODI, and Ms. Chalermsri Radakul, Deputy Director of CODI, led the workshop, along with engineers and architects from CODI, community workers, and community leaders in Bangkok and its vicinity, joined by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trirat Jarutach, Environmental Leader of Chula ARi, and a team from the Universal Design Center, Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University, as speakers. 

This workshop serves to expand the network between Chula ARi and CODI through knowledge transfer on environmental management for community well-being in the context of an aging society. It aims to develop the potential of community workers who have experience working or volunteering in building or repairing homes, giving them skills in universal design principles. This will be beneficial for constructing and improving elderly family housing in communities, as well as community common areas, making them suitable for members of all ages while considering convenience and safety. 

This activity is part of the project to drive and develop a support system for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration‘s elderly action plan in pilot communities, which is a collaboration between Chula ARi and the Bangkok Metropolitan Health Department, with support from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation.