THE PARTICIPATION OF THE ELDERLY IN THE CREATION OF SOCIAL INNOVATION IN KHLONG HA SUBDISTRICT, KHLONG LUANG DISTRICT PATHUM THANI PROVINCE

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to create participatory social innovation for the elderly members of the Buaban Ruamrom Club. Qualitative research and participatory action research (PAR) were used. Key informants were selected using purposive sampling, including 40 representatives from the Buaban Ruamrom Club for the elderly, and 5 representatives from village headmen, village elders, or members of the Tambon Administrative Organization, totaling 45 people. Analyze content information within context.

          The study found that the results of the SWOT and TOWS MATRIX analysis can be used for the strategy of leveraging strengths to create advantages and opportunities (SO), specifically SO1, which involves the group's products that can be upgraded and developed with support from various agencies (S1, O1, O2). This will be used to create social innovation in the community through a participatory process between the research team and the elderly group of the Bua Ban Rueng Rom Club. They jointly considered the need to create social innovation for the community, and the elderly group of the Bua Ban Rueng Rom Club decided that they wanted to develop their existing skills, namely artificial flower and sandalwood flower wreath making, to improve their skills and increase the value of artificial flower wreath arrangements. They also wanted new skills, such as developing skills in making brooms and coconut leaf brooms with the help of local wisdom. The research team then used the needs of the elderly group of the Bua Ban Rueng Rom Club to create the following activities: 1) developing skills and increasing the value of artificial flower wreath arrangements, and 2) developing skills in making brooms and coconut leaf brooms through practical training activities to create participatory social innovation.