Panasonic Group in Thailand, in collaboration with BIG CAMERA, presented the Green Content Creator Awards to young winners of the short documentary competition under the “Young Rak(sa) Samut Sakhon” activity, part of the Panasonic Cares initiative. The program aims to elevate content creation skills among the younger generation in Samut Sakhon, enabling them to “Learn – Explore – Discover – Communicate” through hands-on fieldwork exploring local ways of life and the natural resources of their hometown. 

Participants also learned professional content creation and production techniques from experts from LUMIX Thailand, BIG CAMERA, and leading content creators before transforming their experiences into short documentaries. The works showcase local stories through the perspectives of a new generation while inspiring greater public participation in environmental conservation and sustainable action.

Over the course of more than one month, students from all eight participating teams gained hands-on experience across various aspects of content creation and production. The program included workshops on storytelling, photography, and video production, followed by opportunities for the students to explore communities across Samut Sakhon and gather first-hand information on local environmental issues and ways of life. Throughout the process, the students received guidance from experts from LUMIX Thailand, BIG CAMERA, and renowned content creators who served as mentors, before developing their findings into short documentaries presenting different dimensions of Samut Sakhon:

1. Samutsakhon Wittayalai School presented a documentary under the theme of culture, history, and local identity, telling the story of the Tha Chalom pedal tricycle — an eco-friendly form of local transportation that is gradually disappearing. 
2. Samutsakhonburana School presented a documentary under the theme of nature and rare species, exploring the story of the Mahachai wild betta fish and how abandoned land has become a habitat for an endangered species. 
3. Chalermprakiat Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Samut Sakhon School presented a documentary under the theme of water, sea, canals, and coastal areas, highlighting coastal erosion and how human actions may be threatening the homes and habitats of many living creatures. 
4. Samutsakhon Wuttichai School presented a documentary under the theme of culture, history, and local identity, portraying the Thai-Raman community and a way of life closely connected to nature amid the surrounding industrial city. 
5. Krathumbaen (Wiset Samutthakhun) School presented a documentary under the theme of nature and rare species, telling the story of Pla Yi Son, a fish once used in local cuisine that is gradually disappearing as the marine ecosystem deteriorates. 
6. Wat Thammajariyaphirom School presented a documentary under the theme of youth and the future of their hometown, telling the story of Damnoen Saduak Canal as a waterway rich in cultural heritage. 
7. Laksong Songserm Wittaya School presented a documentary under the theme of agriculture, orchards, canals, and green spaces, highlighting Ban Phaeo aromatic coconuts, regarded as the “King of Aromatic Coconuts.” 
8. Phanthai Norasing Wittaya School presented a documentary under the theme of ordinary people taking action, telling the story of mangrove forests as natural coastal defenses that serve both as habitats for wildlife and sources of food for local communities.

Award-winning teams included:

• Winner: Laksong Songserm Wittaya School, for the documentary “Ban Phaeo Aromatic Coconuts: The King of Aromatic Coconuts”, presented under the theme of agriculture, orchards, canals, and green spaces. The documentary tells the story of Ban Phaeo aromatic coconuts through the livelihoods and occupations of the local community, while highlighting how different parts of the coconut can be repurposed and transformed into a wide range of useful products—from discarded materials creatively turned into handicrafts to household products. The story reflects efforts to minimize waste, create added value from local resources, and promote the responsible and efficient use of resources alongside strengthening the local community. The winning team received a Panasonic LUMIX DC-G97 digital camera (THB 34,680) , a THB 10,000 voucher from BIG CAMERA

• First Runner-up: Wat Thammajariyaphirom School, for the documentary “Damnoen Saduak: A Waterway of Cultural Heritage”, presented under the theme of youth and the future of their hometown. The documentary tells the story of Damnoen Saduak Canal, once a thriving waterway deeply intertwined with the local way of life, and explores the changes it has undergone due to waste and water pollution. It also highlights approaches to waste management and canal conservation, alongside the traditions and way of life of the local community that are gradually fading away, encouraging greater appreciation of the waterway and collective efforts to preserve the community’s heritage for future generations. The team received a THB 10,000 voucher from BIG CAMERA .

• Second Runner-up: Phanthai Norasing Wittaya School, for the documentary “Mangrove Forests: Coastal Defenses, Homes for Wildlife and Sources of Food for Communities”, presented under the theme of ordinary people taking action. The documentary portrays mangrove forests as a vital natural defense against coastal erosion and a crucial barrier that helps protect the land and homes of local communities. It also highlights their role as habitats for wildlife and sources of food for local communities, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts to protect and restore mangrove forests in order to safeguard coastal areas and natural resources for generations to come. The team received a THB 5,000 voucher from BIG CAMERA.

In addition, all participating Teams received certificates and award trophies. in recognition of their efforts and achievements. 

The award ceremony was honored by the presence of Mr. Hidekazu Ito, CEO of Panasonic Group in Thailand, and Mr. Chitchai Thienkanjanawong, Sales & Marketing Director of BIG Camera Corporation PCL., who jointly presented the awards and congratulated the winning youth teams.

The event was also attended by Ms. Pranee Faikhammee, Deputy Education Officer of Samut Sakhon Province, who viewed the students’ short documentary works and extended her congratulations to the participants. She also expressed her appreciation to Panasonic and BIG CAMERA for bringing a creative initiative to the province and providing young people in Samut Sakhon with valuable opportunities to learn beyond the classroom.

The initiative represents an important step in empowering a new generation to think boldly, take action, and become a voice for their communities. By transforming stories from their hometown into content told through the perspectives of young people, the program helps foster local pride while encouraging tangible action to protect and care for Samut Sakhon.

The short documentaries created by participating students are available to watch via Facebook: LUMIX Thailand and Panasonic Thailand.