April 2011

THE SYNC
1ST WORKSHOP SUMMARY

SYNC 1st
Workshop

WHAT IS THE SYNC?

A community and co-working space for social innovators, social entrepreneurs and supporters with
the ambition to inspire and support imaginative and enterprising initiatives for a better world.

Origins and activists, those working in CSR

The origins of The SYNC
movement was started over a
discussion among partners active
in the social innovation community
over the idea of co-working spaces
for social innovators in Thailand. All
of the core team saw successfully
examples of co-working spaces
around the world, such as ‘THE
HUB’ chain.
The question on everyone mind
was, “Why does Thailand not have
one?” Everyone unanimously
agreed for the need for a co-
working space that will unleash the
creative energies of people working
the social innovation community,
whether it be community architects,
social entrepreneurs, volunteers
and social sector organizations,
university students or enthusiastic
youths. Furthermore, the space will
allow individuals from cross-sectors
and cross-disciplines to talk,
connect and potentially collaborate
on projects that should improve the
scalability and success of these
ventures. Given that The SYNC is
designed to be a grassroots and
participatory movement, the Core
Team believes in engaging and
harnessing the creativeness and 2nd Workshop:
passion of the whole community
and to that realize that aim, the Early May 2011
SYNC 1st Workshop was
organized on April 2nd, 2011. Stay in touch with our movement via:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-
SYNC/139018202836526

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The Event
The SYNC 1st Workshop was
divided into three sessions: a panel
discussion by the Core Team,
f o l l o w e d b y a ‘ Wo r l d C a f é ’
discussion in smaller groups, and
ended with a group discussion and
summary by group moderators and
core team. For three hours,
participants whom are mostly
active members in the social
innovation community and are from
diverse professions were kept
engaged throughout the event.
The event was kicked off with a
laid-back panel discussion by the
core ‘initiators’ of the movement:
Khun Nad Chawanad Luansang
from Openspace Community
Architects, Khun Au Thawatchai
Saengthamchai from iCare media
communication agency for social
issues, and Khun Sunit Shrestha
from ChangeFusion Institute. As
the MC, Khun Au probed into the
origins of the co-working spaces,
why it was relevant and necessary
to have one in Thailand, what forms
can it take and why the SYNC
event will be the catalyst for a
grassroots movement for the co-
working space. Khun Sunit
answered such questions vividly by EVENT ATMOSPHERE
explaining the origins concept as
an evolutionary cultural movement
akin to cooperatives but has now
gone mainstream as a sweeping
trend in Europe and North
American. However, Khun Sunit
proposed that as a part of the
social innovation community, we
should design our own co-working
space that is more suited to
Thailand unique culture and local
environment.
Khun Sunit also further highlighted
the benefits beyond co-working
spaces beyond just working, since
these ‘co-spaces’ will also be a
place where people congregate
and connect potential partners
working on similar projects. Khun
Nad also shared his experiences
working in generating discussion
and creating co-spaces while
working with a community in
Penang, showing images of co-
working spaces design very local
architecture and challenging the
general notion that co-working
space has to look modern.
Core Team
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 World Café Discussions
WORLD CAFE
Modeled after the world-famous
DISCUSSIONS ‘World Café’ discussion format and
led by Khun Nad, the friendly and
informal atmosphere was full of
sparks, with dynamic and exciting
ideas on the co-working space
being thrown across the tables.
Participants were asked to fill up
ideas on a large piece of paper that
answered two questions: “If we
were to start the SYNC, who
functions should the space have?
And what actionable ideas we all
get started right away?”
SOME OF THE IDEAS GENERATED
co-shared
professional
green spaces
and natural
rooms: bed,
ventilation
studio, kitchen,
and lighting
quiet area,
locker, etc.
Location
Mapping
Activity
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Participants were asked to map out
their ideas over a funneled-shaped
diagram, with their wildest dreams
and imaginations on the wide end
and the actionable ideas on the
narrow end.
After almost 2 hours of lively
discussion, every participants had
the chance to mark over a large
map of Bangkok where they live,
where they worked and where they
like The SYNC to be located while
on the mean time, ideas from each
table were being sorted and
arranged by moderators.
flexible working
services time and space
arrangement
varieties
of
comfortable
chairs
NEXT STEP
Summary
In conclusion, many ideas for The
SYNC co-working space emerged,
not only in terms of functionality but
also programs within the space in
create a synergistic momentum
which will bring the community
closer together.
I n t e r m s o f T h e S Y N C ’s
f u n c t i o n a l i t y, m o s t p e o p l e
expressed a desire for a lifestyle
space and cultural hub that
represents the wide and differing
interest and lifestyles of people
within the social innovation
community. Furthermore, as for the
programs within The SYNC, all
participants unanimously agreed on
the importance of connecting and
collaborating with other members
in the community through events;
thus participants were supportive
of the ideas of meeting regularly to
create a real physical network that
will truly allow members to get to
know each other.
In terms of space, the
core team will be
actively look for
potential spaces to See you at
present to the the SYNC 2nd
network in every Workshop
meetings in the
Early May
future.
Joining The SYNC movement
1) Finding 2) Creating a The
a space for SYNC Network of If you would like to contribute to
the SYNC social innovators
The SYNC movement in any way,
especially in terms of spaces,
expertise, and sponsorship, please
feel free to let us know via:
As for the creation of the network, http://www.facebook.com/pages/
t o re s p o n s e o v e r w h e l m i n g l y The-SYNC/139018202836526
ecstatic feedback, the core team
intends to capture this creative and The 2nd Workshop is tentatively
collaborative spirit by personally scheduled for early May at the
inviting leading social innovators to same place: ASA Center, 5th floor
join The SYNC’s future workshops Siam Discovery. We will keep you
to share their projects, partnership informed by email and please stay
opportunities and success cases. tuned for The SYNC’s movement!

The Next SYNC 2nd Meeting
In conclusion, the discussion led
The SYNC to two parallel next
steps:
The next meeting will also feature
in-depth discussion groups into the
core aspects such as design,
facilities, activity, promotion and so
on.

FOR INQUIRIES
please contact:
K. Amarit
E: sync.bkk@gmail.com
T: +662 938 2636
F: +662 938 1877

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