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Published on July 26, 2007

Microsoft (Thailand) is continuing its Thai social development commitment by launching the 'Web Site Makeover' Competition, inviting Thai developers to develop any website of the 10 NGOs in an attempt to support the 10 NGOs with standard technical website development and offer them a chance to select one newly-developed website for actual use in the future.

The 'Web Site Makeover' competition has been initiated by Microsoft (Thailand) to offer Thai developers a chance to publicly demonstrate their technical development skills and creativity. The company has selected 10 NGOs in Thailand with established websites to join the project. Competition participants will be invited to select any website(s) of the 10 NGOs they prefer to develop. After an award announcement, the 10 NGOs will be eligible to select one developed website each to replace their existing ones for future benefit.

The 10 NGOs participating in this project include Friends-of-the-Arts Foundation www.friends-of-the-arts.info, Folk Doctor Foundation www.doctor.or.th,  AIDS Access Foundation www.aidsaccess.com,  Empower Foundation www.empowerfoundation.org, Green World Foundation www.greenworld.or.th,  Hope Worldwide (Thailand) Foundation www.hopewwthailand.org, Goodwill Group Foundation www.goodwillbangkok.org,  Bird Conservation Society of Thailand www.bcst.or.th, Ashoka: Innovators for the Public (www.ashokathai.org) and the Center for the protection of Children's Rights Foundation www.thaichildrights.org.

Thai developers who join the 'Web Site Makeover' competition will be required to choose one NGO website out of the ten mentioned above and develop it for that particular NGO. All applicants will receive Microsoft development tools such as free licensed SQL Server, Microsoft Website Starter Kit and free hosting for website development throughout the competition period. The committee will select a total of three entries for the top three prizes of a laptop, a PDA Phone HTC Touch Windows Mobile and a Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 for the third prize.

Sanguan Thammarojsakul, Developer Evangelist, Microsoft (Thailand) added that Microsoft is committed to support Thai software developers, especially new ones in developing their skills. The company has continuously launched many community projects; for example, training, supporting them with development tools and software development competitions to promote their skills in the national setting. The 'Web Site Makeover' competition is the latest project to be initiated by Microsoft in an attempt to encourage Thai developers to enhance their skills while making a social contribution. The benefit that the 10 NGOs will receive is a chance to select the most satisfactory website to replace their existing website for future social benefit. Additionally, they will be supported with a free one-year hosting service from Microsoft.

Interested Thai developers can acquire more information on this project at www.narisa.com, www.pantip.com and www.microsoft.com/thailand/msdn/websitemakeover. Application is available at www.ThaiPlayground.net and www.microsoft.com/thailand/msdn/websitemakeover, from now until September 28, 2007.