Mekong Bound: Voices of the Next-Gen

The Mekong — a lifeline of food, livelihoods, and tradition for millions — has long been a living archive of history, culture, and survival. Yet, as the river faces unprecedented environmental shifts, from climate change and food insecurity to chemical pollution, the urgency to tell its story has never been greater. Enter a new generation, determined to make their voices heard

Empowering the Next Generation through Creative Media was born out of this necessity. Spanning seven provinces along the Mekong in Northeastern Thailand — from Loei to Ubon Ratchathani — the initiative opened its doors to young adults aged 15 to 25.

Supported by the Thai Media Fund and a coalition network of local civil society and public media — including the Northeast Community Network in Seven Provinces of Mekong River Basin (ComNet Mekong), Thai PBS Locals, Hug Mekong Youth, Kratibbai Home Studio, Lens Tai Baan, and Sound Isan — the project drew applications from 47 youth teams, ultimately selecting 14 to embark on a transformative journey.

The project featured a three-part on-site workshop series: starting in Nong Khai to connect culture with the environment, then moving to Nakhon Phanom for technical media training, and finalizing all concepts in Ubon Ratchathani.

Following orientation in early 2026 and the intensive workshops that followed, the core of the project unfolded between April and July. Armed with cameras, microphones, and local knowledge, the youth returned to their home communities. Under the mentorship of professional journalists and photographers as well as experienced creative media practitioners, they dove into fieldwork, conducting interviews, filming landscapes, and editing footage that captured the pulse of their hometowns.

As their final works — ranging from music videos, short films, documentaries and photo essays — begin rolling out to the public, the true impact of the project comes into focus. This was never just about teaching kids how to operate a camera or edit a video. It is a profound shift from passive consumption to active creation.

Through these 14 teams, young people along the Mekong are no longer just watching history unfold on a screen; they are holding their cameras, recording the realities of their communities, and stepping up as the new vanguard for the lifeline of Southeast Asia.

(A summary based on an article by Decha Khambaomueang, published on www.thaipbs.or.th/locals/contents/qs9yesd5atish3v54pjqt3fs-14-ทีม-อีกครั้ง-เสียงจากเยาวชนนักสื่อสารสร้างสรรค์ริมโขงอีสาน-ส่งผ่านไปยังสุผู้สุคน-เอยยย?)

Here are the 14 works from the project. Check them out!