The Princess presided over the official opening of the ‘To Be Number One Club and ‘To Be Number One Friends Club at Phuket Rajabhat University in Ratsada.
Her Royal Highness was welcomed by local officials, university staff, student leaders and members of the project, which has been a cornerstone of Phuket’s community and youth development efforts since 2002.
In her remarks, the Princess praised the province’s sustained commitment to the campaign and its role as a national model for drug prevention.
Phuket’s efforts have earned it recognition as a ‘To Be Number One’ Diamond Prototype Province for six consecutive years. The province boasts a remarkable 99.48% membership rate among young people aged 6-24, with 503 clubs operating across schools, communities, juvenile detention centres, prisons and probation offices.
There are also 60 ‘To Be Number One Friend Centers actively providing peer support and creative programming.
Phuket is also the first province in Thailand to have all of its districts fully participate in the project, a milestone Her Royal Highness noted as a testament to strong local leadership and community involvement.
At Phuket Rajabhat University, the ‘To Be Number One Club has become a hub for positive youth development since its establishment in 2020. The club organises a wide range of activities, including the annual ‘To Be Number One Idol’ contest, life-skills training and participation in the national ‘To Be Number One Camp at The Pine Resort in Bangkok.
The university’s approach emphasises collaboration among faculty, students, parents and public agencies to create a drug-free campus environment, said an official report of the event.
Her Royal Highness also visited the ‘To Be Number One Friend Center’, which operates with 20 volunteers and offers peer counseling, emotional support and activities such as music, dance, art and cognitive development games.
In a powerful moment during her visit, the Princess granted an audience to members of the ‘Who’s Addicted to Drugs, Raise Your Hand’ group from the Phuket Juvenile Observation and Protection Center and the Phuket Probation Office.
These individuals, once involved in drug use, are now committed to rehabilitation. The Princess offered them encouragement and personal advice to help them stay on a positive path.
Her Royal Highness also answered questions from students representing various schools and institutions, providing guidance on managing challenges related to drug use and youth development.
The visit underscored the Princess’s unwavering dedication to empowering young people across Thailand and fostering a future free from drugs through the principles of self-worth, peer support and community collaboration, the report noted.