Internationally collaborative voluntary project between Laos and Thailand

The concept of volunteerism was strongly implanted in my heart during my rewarding fellowship year at Penn State, in America. I have participated in various numbers of volunteer opportunities.  I have gone out of my way to participate in each and every volunteer opportunity that I had heard, for example, volunteering at the Discovery Space Science Museum of Central Pennsylvania and Center Crest, helping out for Beaver Stadium Recycling Program and Santa to the senior: wrapping gifts party and so forth.   I was delighted to be recognized for my work when I received “the Public Service Award” on the closing ceremony day at Washington D.C. in May 2012.

My name is DiyapornWisamitanan,  lecturer of English and assistant to the dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences for Student’s Affairs in Thaksin University, Songkhla, Thailand.

 At present, I’m teaching a Foundation English Course, from May 5^th- June 6^th 2014, at Vanhkham Souligna's Soutsaka College of Management and Technology, Vientiane. As well as my teaching duties the main purpose of my role here is to help the director, Vanhkham Souligna,  develop the office of student's affairs and promote a volunteer spirit amongst the Laotian students. 

I got to know Vanhkham Souligna at Penn State University during our time studying the HHH program. We became very close friends as we are from neighboring countries and our languages are quite similar in many ways. Before leaving America, we discussed the idea of a future collaboration that might help develop our institutions, in terms of promoting volunteerism.  After returning back home, we began this collaboration with my university and her college, where she is the director, signing a MOU. We also arranged school visits and buddy programs together from 2013 onwards. 

So far, during my 1-month visit, 15 student leaders and I have done 3 weekly voluntary activities including visiting and playing with kids at SOS Children's Village and the Association for Autism, and on International Children’s Day we went to a remote school to set up booths for face painting, cloth bag painting and sand painting.  All activities were very successful.  Laughter and smiles were all around.  Happily, the kids wanted us to visit them again. More importantly, student volunteers would also like to continue doing voluntary activities.  We plan to spread this kind of activity to other students as well, by implementing a monthly program for those who are interested and available on weekends. 

I found that Laotian students loved doing voluntary work; they just needed someone to invite and lead them to do it.  Now they know that it is enriching to make a difference.  They said they would visit kids again and asked for the next program.

The expected outcomes of my work with Vanhkham’s college include strengthening the relationship between our institutions, and finding opportunities for students to learn to make a difference and gain knowledge of different cultures from neighboring countries. Most importantly, sharing my volunteer experience that I gained during the HHH program 2011-2012 and implementing voluntary programs that students can do on their own.  Both of us hope to continue in this work together on a long-term basis.

------------