Elevator Pitch: Charkhris Phomyoth, CEO and Co-Founder of YoungHappy

What kind of life awaits the ageing population?

For an "aged society" like Thailand, where at least 14% of its population is aged 65 and over and is also predicted to become a "super-aged society" in 2036, it seems an inescapable question.

It is a question that also dawned on Charkhris Phomyoth, who did not have to look far in calcifying the "why" behind YoungHappy.

As the CEO and co-founder of the social enterprise in Bangkok, the mission has always been to offer a joyful community for the Thai elderly to stay healthy, happy, and socially engaged through in-person and online initiatives. The organisation is moored in the founders' own experiences with their ageing family members, who struggled with using technology and experienced depression and loneliness upon retirement.

With its team of young individuals passionate about elderly care and partners who hold dear the same cause, YoungHappy has utilised technology and community building to create spaces and opportunities for the ageing population, such as activity hub Happy Space, live online learning platform YoungHappy Place, and Happy Space Plus to expand activities in other cities in Thailand.

Much has been done seven years on, and it’s a meaningful journey that compels Charkhris and his team to forge on because much, still, can and has to be done for Thailand's seniors. The Beat Asia recently caught up with Charkhris to learn more about YoungHappy's mission, the joys of the work, his dream for the social enterprise, and its positive impact on its elderly members.

How would you introduce your social enterprise, YoungHappy, to the unknowing?

Have you ever paused to picture your retirement days, or what you wish for your parents' golden years? Imagine waking up with no work pressures, having the freedom to engage in hobbies, socialise, and live each day with purpose and joy. That's exactly what we aim for at YoungHappy. We're all about making those retirement dreams come true, offering a space where the elderly can stay active, connected, and fully enjoy their well-deserved rest. It's about making sure retirement is not just a phase of life, but a chapter filled with new adventures and friendships.

What inspired you to establish YoungHappy and what pain point does it hope to address?

The creation of YoungHappy was deeply influenced by the personal experiences of loneliness and depression faced by our own family members in retirement. This shared struggle among the founders highlighted a significant gap in social activities and spaces tailored for the elderly. Coupled with my passion for societal change through a social enterprise model, YoungHappy was developed. We believe in the power of community and technology as key tools for addressing these issues, aiming to provide a sustainable solution for the elderly community in urban areas, following a community-based theory.

What drives your passion and dedication to this cause?

Facing ageing issues is a shared journey that touches us multiple times throughout life, first as we navigate our youth and working years alongside ageing family members, and again as we, hopefully, reach old age ourselves. This cycle, potentially repeating three times if we and our parents age together, underlines the universal nature of these challenges. It's a powerful reminder and inspiration for us at YoungHappy to create solutions today that care for our loved ones and prepare a supportive future for ourselves, ensuring a community that stands ready to support us in return as we age.

What were the trials that you experienced in getting YoungHappy from concept to reality?

Talking about all the challenges we faced with YoungHappy might take more than just this interview! One key lesson was our initial belief that technology could solve everything, aiming to craft an app that would be a one-stop solution for seniors. However, we quickly learned that while technology is fantastic, it's ultimately just a tool to help find what truly matters to the elderly — happiness, community, and engaging hobbies. This realisation led us to develop a hybrid model that values both technology and social interaction, ensuring we cater to the real needs of our senior community.

How does YoungHappy address the technological and social needs of Thailand’s elderly, such as social integration, accessibility, and ease of use?

We recognise technology's role in enhancing life and promoting activity among seniors. Observing simple interactions, like their difficulty with touchscreen phones due to a lifetime of using push-button devices, has been enlightening. Such insights have guided us to develop and design user-friendly interfaces specifically for the elderly. Continuously improving, we've also expanded access through platforms like LINE, the most popular messaging app among Thailand's seniors, making technology not just accessible but also a meaningful part of their daily lives.

How do you come up with online and physical activities to organise for YoungHappy's elderly community? Can you share some examples?

Over the past year, YoungHappy successfully launched Happy Space, a vibrant activity hub for seniors located within a shopping mall, attracting an average of 600 to 1,000 visitors monthly. Additionally, we introduced YoungHappy Plus, a live online learning platform perfect for those unable to attend in-person or residing outside the city, offering a variety of daily lessons from languages to technology and hobbies. Launched mid-last year, it has already welcomed over 3,000 trial members. Furthermore, we tested a new model called Happy Space Plus, expanding our activity spaces through community leader collaboration while utilising YoungHappy's curriculum, starting with over 200 participants in Chiang Mai's urban area. This year, we plan to extend this initiative to more than 10 locations.

How does YoungHappy ensure the security and privacy of its elderly users while using its mobile application?

YoungHappy strictly adheres to Thailand's Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) regulations, ensuring user data security and privacy. Beyond compliance, we emphasise educating our elderly users on cybersecurity risks, recognising that continuous learning and practice are essential for understanding and maintaining security. This dual approach of following legal requirements and proactive education forms the cornerstone of our commitment to safeguarding our users' privacy and safety in the digital realm.

Can you share a memorable success case or story to us that shows YoungHappy’s positive impact on the well-being outcomes of Thai elderly?

As we move into our seventh year, YoungHappy continues to evolve and research the impact of our initiatives, aligning with the WHO's active aging framework. Currently, we're developing the YoungHappy Index in collaboration with a leading Thai university to measure the social impact of community group integration. A highlight from our findings is that new members, after joining us for over six months, make an average of 18 new friends, reflecting positively on increased social interactions and community engagement as they age.

What would you say are the biggest challenges that Thailand’s elderly community is facing?

From my perspective, a major challenge for Thailand's ageing population, not just YoungHappy's target group but all 14 million seniors, is the equitable distribution of welfare budgets for elderly care. As Thailand is still developing, future labour shortages could impact tax revenues, which in turn affect funding for the rising medical care costs of the elderly.

What institutional changes, policies, or initiatives do you hope to see to improve the welfare of Thailand’s elderly population?

YoungHappy is actively working towards empowering the elderly, expanding activity spaces, and bridging generational gaps through volunteer projects. This year, we're focused on promoting creative and suitable employment opportunities for seniors, highlighting their valuable traits like punctuality, discipline, and vast experience. We believe in recognising the beneficial qualities of the elderly and advocate for policy changes to encourage their employment and support employers in developing creative roles that cater to an ageing society.

What are your goals for YoungHappy this 2024?

For YoungHappy in 2024, our goals revolve around enhancing our impact and reach within the elderly community. We aim to expand our activity offerings, both online and in physical spaces, to accommodate a broader range of interests and needs. This includes further development of our YoungHappy Plus platform to offer more diverse learning opportunities and creative jobs for seniors.

Additionally, we plan to extend our Happy Space and Happy Space Plus concept[s] to new locations, fostering more inclusive and accessible community hubs. A key objective is to deepen our research and development efforts, particularly with the YoungHappy Index, to better measure and understand the social impacts of our initiatives. Overall, our focus is on creating more engaging, empowering, and supportive environments for Thailand's seniors, contributing to their overall well-being and happiness.

What are the joys of your work? How would you measure personal success and fulfillment in your role as YoungHappy’s CEO and co-founder?

The joy in my work comes from seeing the smiles and active participation of the elderly in our programmes, and witnessing many of them evolve into leaders who further support and care for other seniors. Measuring success, for me, goes beyond these moments to establishing YoungHappy as a sustainable entity with clear, professional management. My dream is for YoungHappy to grow as a profitable social enterprise that can innovatively respond to the evolving needs of the ageing society, ensuring longevity and prosperity for our mission, team, and society.

This article has been edited for clarity. To be updated on the latest news from YoungHappy, follow its Facebook page and check out its website.

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