It's such a natural train of thought for most of us: study hard to get the high grades, to get the good job, to take home the highest salary possible, to live comfortably with the money we've worked hard for.

Kritaya Sreesunpagit, though, has taken her own path - the graduate in economics has chosen to sacrifice the big bucks for the life she first fell in love with at university. "I did all sorts of volunteer activities in my time at Thammasat, including a trip to a rural development camp. It was great to see the wider world, and the trips changed me every time. It was just so much fun."

On leaving university three years ago, Kritaya and her friends decided to found Youth Innovation Years (YIY), an independent organisation with a mission to introduce young people aged 15 to 25 to voluntary activities, giving them the chance to grow as individuals, while at the same time putting something back into society.

Before graduating, the same group of pals won the World Bank's Rural ICT Award for a project called Thai Rural Net, which introduced rural people to the potential of the Internet and gave them the know-how to access its information.

It was this experience that opened her eyes to the energy and creativity of young people, which she thought could be harnessed to help others. Instead of inviting youngsters to work under her direction, however, she chose to set up YIY, which finds ways to support ideas that they come up with themselves.

"It's impossible to realise - and then solve - all of society's problems from a single viewpoint. All issues are connected, so inviting younger members of society to help will be more effective," says Kritaya.

As YIY's director, Kritaya has been busy. Projects and activities created so far include the Youth Innovation Marketplace, which supports youngsters projects to initiate and implement social development projects with funds, training and consultation, and I'mpossible, a campaign to inspire the young to take an interest in various community service activities.

"Youngsters know what they want to do, they just don't know where to start or how to operate - we help them out with that."

Finding funding has been a crucial part of Kritaya's job so far. She points out that whereas in business, more clients means more money, for YIY, things work the other way round. However, the group is now receiving funding from organisations like Unicef, the Knowledge Network Institute of Thailand, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and Banpu Plc.

But along with the cash must come trust, says Kritaya.

"If they give us the money, but don't believe we can be successful with it, then it means nothing."

     In her work, she's observed how adults in positions of power often look down on the efforts of youngsters, sapping their confidence and courage to do something with their lives.

But Kritaya has chosen this path, and, though the work is sometimes tough, she keeps smiling.

"The happiness of doing this is that I get to do what I love. I have goals, and I enjoy finding ways to reach them, even if learn that things aren't so easy along the way. If it's too easy, it isn't any fun."

To learn more about YIY, visit www.deksiam.com or www.youthinnovations.org.

Thomtong Tongnok

The Nation