With a focus on at-risk youth and underserved communities, Thai social entrepreneur Sakson ‘Saks’ Rouypirom is determined to ignite change.
At 45, Sakson ‘Saks’ Rouypirom, finds labels completely unnecessary. Variously described as a social entrepreneur, philanthropist and businessman, Saks views himself simply as ‘in the moment’.
“What I am is what I need to be at that moment, to do what needs to be done. That dictates who I am,” he says.
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What Rouypirom needs to do at any given time is dictated by the ecosystem he’s created with SATI, a grassroots non-profit based out of Thailand, at its core. The founder and director focuses on at-risk and underserved youth’s healthcare and educational needs.
He is also the driving force behind Broccoli Revolution, a trailblazing plant-based chain of restaurants in Thailand focused on health, social consciousness, and environmental responsibility. As its CEO, he hopes to ignite an interest in a more sustainable future. Rouypirom is additionally the force behind Na Projects, which harnesses the power of food and beverage to foster creativity and drive social impact, as well as a partner at creative social impact venue CASE Space Revolution.
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Addressing Societal Challenges
The 120-year-old house where we meet is another passion project, Na Café at Bangkok 1899. The former residence of Chaophraya Thammasakmontri, or ‘The Father of Modern Education in Thailand’, now serves as a collaborative space bringing people together to positively impact society, using food as a medium. The café aims to help youth and refugees with vocational training as baristas, wait staff, and cooks. “In a way, we honour Chaophraya by what we do here,” he says.
What does being a social entrepreneur mean? “It’s about creating something meaningful, and if that means continuously starting businesses that offer solutions to address societal challenges, so be it.”
Born and brought up in the US, with a psychology degree from NYU, Rouypirom returned to Thailand a decade ago to establish SATI.
“I grew up fortunate. My younger self was focused on attaining success. That changed as I got older. Now one of my practices is to stray away from the self.” Part of that comes from his Buddhist education. “I’m not religious; to me, it’s more about spirituality and Buddhist philosophy. A lot of suffering comes from clinging to this image of who you are: you have to be famous and successful. I meditate and focus on the ‘non-self’ and not being ‘that’ person, or any person. Who I am now revolves around my society, my job, my family and the role I play at that moment to have a positive effect.”
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Rouypirom doesn’t want to be bound by conventional descriptions and hopes his endeavours will transcend boundaries. Twice a novice monk, he draws easily on Buddhist philosophy. “My name keeps changing too. In the US, my friends call me Saxson or Saks; in Thailand, I am called by my Thai nickname, ‘Great’. I’m all those, or none of them,” he adds with a laugh.
Finding Balance
Bringing Buddhist ethos into play while navigating life’s intricacies is what drives him. “It has brought more balance to my life. I can’t deny the experiences that I’ve had or my education; that’s part of who I am. My parents moved to the US, where my father was an engineer, and my mother was an accountant. We grew up very Thai. Theirs was a traditional love story – my dad was from ‘the other side of the tracks’ while my mother had a very privileged upbringing. She’s a devout Buddhist who believes that if you’re a good person, then good things will happen. My dad taught me to work hard for what I want.”
Today, Rouypirom’s parents live in Arizona, where his younger brother, a genetics researcher, is based. “We are quite different,” he says of his sibling. “He is the ‘balance’ in our family.”
The social entrepreneur says he doesn’t take ‘a single penny’ from the NGO. That’s what his five restaurants are for, with Na Café a regular café by day and a bar on the weekends. “It’s a very casual space, a place people just go to for a nice vibe, and nice music.”
Why the NGO, though? “I was planning a career in health care, in psychology, but soon realised I’m not a traditional, hospital-type person. I always knew I wanted to use that learning and one day start an NGO, but I thought it would be in my 50s or 60s. But when the opportunity came up, I knew I had to do it.” Rouypirom was in his early 30s, a few decades ahead of schedule.
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The social entrepreneur observes that a lot of people have this dream of making a lot of money then opening a foundation, but don’t get around to it because they start a family. He, however, had the time to start a non-profit. His parents were very supportive and understanding, almost expecting it.. But others were curious about his motivations. “I’d be asked: ‘Is something wrong? Did you go through trauma? Were you abused? Like, how come I want to help these kids?’ My childhood was very happy; I grew up so loved and supported that I knew I wanted to reach out and help those who weren’t getting that.”
Making a Difference
As Rouypirom shares heartbreaking stories of neglected and traumatised youth, teenage pregnancies, and drug addictions, he notes that there are also success stories and that he can see the difference the non-profit is making. “I meet so many people who have a lot of things, but because they are still trying to fill a hole, they want to be loved, made to feel important. But I never needed that because my parents always gave me all that love.”
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Dealing with the traumatised 24/7 isn’t easy, he acknowledges. “I deal with so much failure and unhappiness, but I try to make myself strong physically and mentally through meditation – it’s a learning process. My wife, a doctor, has brought balance, and I’ve learnt from her. Together we are writing our own story. We love travelling and have a French bulldog that we love.” A private person, he will share no more, but the smile says it all.
When it comes to troubled youth, this social entrepreneur is an eternal optimist. “When I see youth ravaged by drugs or prostitution, I only see them as having a better life and being empowered to make the right choice for them. These kids were born fighters; they have seen a lot and you just need to show them the options, not tell them what to do.” There’s no judgement here, though. Saks’ successes are as much a part of the narrative as the ‘failures’.
During the pandemic, Rouypirom offered additional assistance to those in need via his Covid Relief Bangkok initiative. “We distributed more than a million meals, and offered upskilling and mental health training,” he explains.
As the interview draws to a close, we return to the roles people play and the persona we create to fit societal expectations. “Carl Jung got it right, didn’t he?” he smiles, “People wear masks and play roles. For me, it’s not about playing a role; it’s always about the people, the kids. It’s just about getting the job done.”
