PARTICIPATION IN THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN’S OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS DURING CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 PANDEMIC SITUATION: A CASE STUDY OF WOMEN’S OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS OF PHON CHAROEN SUBDISTRICT, PHON CHAROEN DISTRICT, BUENG KAN PROVINCE

Abstract

The purposes of this study were as follows: 1) to examine current situation about the participation of people in community during Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic situation, and 2) to examine the supportive guideline in the participation of creating additional careers for women's occupational group in the community during Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic situation. This study is qualitative research. The population used in the study were 30 women occupational group of Phorn Chareon Sub-district, Phorn Chareon District, Bueng Kan Province. The data was collected by using structural-interview and used focus group discussion methodology selected by using purposive sampling that were 30 women from occupational group of Phorn Chareon Sub-district. The data was analyzed by means of qualitative data analysis using content analysis. The research results found that 1) the target group has a desire to develop their skills for career in order to gain additional income which they will be able to participate skills development activities for 1-2 times per month by choosing to participate in government sector project activities mainly during the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic situation. 2) Guidelines for developing women's groups should develop a group management system with the participation of everyone and should encourage people in the community to see the benefits of participation in creating concrete careers, such as receiving fair returns, increasing income from joining together to create participation and a sense of ownership in caring for their hometown and returning profits to society and communities in the form of various activities such as educational scholarships, and career scholarships, etc. As well as government sector should play a role in supporting budgets for the development of various occupational groups in the community to be strong and sustainable. The important guidelines that are the findings of this study is to develop a strong community, the community should be a learning community, meaning members learn together or in groups, with educational institutions in the area acting as mentors, giving advice, and transferring knowledge in terms of technology and innovation that are appropriate for the group and resources available in the area.