In 2020, Thammasat University, by Puey School of Development Studies (PSDS), collaborated with academic institutions and Non-governmental organizations to organize its 52st batch of Graduate Volunteer Program in 8 sites covering provinces from the North (Lamphun (2 sites), Lampang, Mae Hong Son, Phichit, Phayao ), the East (Rayong), and the South (Trang). In each area, the student organizes a development project to tackle development challenges in the area. The following table illustrates provinces, our partner local NGOs, activities, and related SDGs.
| Province | Local NGO partners | Projects | Related SDGs |
| Mae Hong Son Province | Ya Praek Salawin Learning Centre http://salween-center.weebly.com/ | Project: Ta-si Tee-ler-bor, Herbs in the household
Objective: Inviting youth to learn and utilize local biodiversity, i.e. herbs, as preliminary medicine. | SDG3 and SDG15 |
| Trang Province | Volunteer Group for Protection Dugong
| Project: Community-based waste management initiative, Baan Sai Kaew
Objective: Engaging the locals tomanage waste more effectively and more environmentally friendly. | SDG11 and SDG12 |
| Phayao Province | Moose group | Project: Youth empowerment in local waste management in Baan That Poo Sang.
Objective: Empowering local youth through trainings and activities and encouraging them to initiate a local waste management activity. | SDG 10 and SDG 12 |
| Rayong Province | Rak Kao Chamao Group FB:@RakkaochamaoGroup · | Project: A Sentol worm: Small pamphlet of Kao Chamao conservation youth group
Objective: Using journaling process with youth to cultivate awareness for natural resource and environmental conservation. | SDG 12 |
| Phichit Province | Pichit Development Foundation FB: @PhichitDevelopmentFoundation | Project: Improving positive communication skills in a family
Objective: Organizing trainings and reflection sessions for youth and family members to improve positive communication within a family to improve the family relationship | SDG 5 and SDG 16 |
| Lamphun Province | Hriphunchai Research Institute https://www.facebook.com/Hriphunchai.lamphun | Project: Promoting youth participation in reducing toxic substances in blood from agricultural chemicals
Objective: Engaging youth and providing them with training and education so that they can influence their parents to reduce the use of agricultural chemical pesticides. | SDG 2 and SDG 3 |
| Lampang Province | Hug Green FB: HugGreen.cafe | Project: Cultivating little entrepreneurs, Mae Tha watershed
Objective: Organizing entrepreneurship workshops and trainings based-on local organic farming and enterprise for youth in the area who came back home due to the loss of jobs from the COVID-19 pandemic. | SDG 8 |
| Lumphun Province | Coordination Center for Ecological Network, Mae Tha watershed. FB: @MaethaEcological | Project: The return of Indigo
Objective: Restoring a local cultural practice of creating traditional and natural indigo garments and textiles, linking them to community enterprise initiatives. | SDG 8 and SDG 12 |
The Graduate Volunteer Programme is one-year programme. The students spend 3 months for course work, 7 months for field studies, and 2 months for writing the thesis. It was established by Prof. Dr. Puey Ungphakorn in the late 1960s. This programme has been adopted by several universities all over Thailand.
Reference:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=GraduateVolunteerGen5.TU&set=a.700154193926054
