Empowering Volunteerism in Transitional Society in Mekong Region

Regional Exchange Forum
Empowering Volunteerism in Transitional Society in Mekong Region
by Kratae, Somkid and Netting

July 2-10, 2009 - This regional exchange forum of 'Empowering Volunteerism in Transitional Society in Mekong Region, was organised by Thai Volunteer Service (TVS), under the project of the Collaboration for Young Generation in Mekong Region (CYM)', in collaboration with Partnership for Community Development (PCD) from China and Cambodian Volunteer for Society (CVS). The forum was held in Nakhon Nayok and Chiang Mai.

Part I: Lesson learned and exchange forum, Wongsanit Ashram, Nakhon Nayok

Volunteerism is practiced world wide. Volunteers have contributed to the betterment of society in all corners of the world. According to GPI Atlantic estimates that Canadian volunteers contribute the equivalent of $64.9 billion ($2007) worth of services annually to the national economy either through voluntary organizations or by informal volunteer work—far more than a wide range of other industries.

On July 2-5, 2009, Thai Volunteer Service Foundation (TVS) working on volunteerism for about 30 years brought together about 25 participants from organizations working on volunteerism, host organizations and volunteers themselves from Partnership from community development (PCD) in China and Cambodia for Volunteer Service (CVS), Cambodia.

The main aim is to share lessons learned from empowering volunteerism in the Mekong region’s transitional societies. After three days of sharing experiences at the Ashram (alternative community) in Nakornayok, Thailand, all participants who have direct experiences working on volunteerism mentioned that volunteers are change agents for the betterment of society. While being volunteers, they were able to understand social problems, building up their own life skills. Beyond that they have a strong commitment and have devoted themselves to social development work.

Most young participants who are volunteers expressed that they want to have further collaboration with young volunteers in Mekong countries in order to share experiences as volunteers and learn from each other. We strongly believe that volunteers will be an alternative strategy to lead our region toward peace, justice and equality.

Part II: Study trip in Chiang Mai and Chaing Rai

A Visit to Ban Huay Hin Lad Nai Community: Faithful to Live to Sustainable Life

For more than hundred years, Ban Hin Lad Nai , a Karen Community in Chiang Rai, has been established behind the high mountainous area with no electricity and dark forest. People are living in harmony and happiness. Time by time they had gone through many problems facing humanity in the modern world; forest concession, land right, identity, consumerism and etc. With the strong belief and Buddhism faithful of living made the villager tiding up, struggling and closing with the spirit of nature since then up to now.

Harmony with nature as a way of living

ALL visitors from China, Cambodia and Thai friends had a strong felling of how happy the villager are sustainable living with the nature. They also very impressed with the commitment of youth to protect and respect for nature.

“It is the consciousness developed through life experience that brings understanding for the interconnectedness between human beings and nature.” Absolutely!! we learned a lot from the villager’s spirit on the simple way of life, Buddhism economic practice, strong solidarity among youth and adult, nature education, grass-root democracy and self reliance. Great experiences!! Great happy life model!!

Visit to Pun Pun Organic Farming

PUN PUN is an organic farm, seed-saving operation, and sustainable living and learning center, located in Mae Taeng district, Chiang Mai province. Through natural cultivation its displays way of transitioning and living more sustainable life.

CVS and PCD participants enjoy preparing the soil for the earhhouse building.

We discover the practices that work well for people and are practical like mud house, appropriate technology, organic farming, organic fertirizer and ect.


You can learn more about Punpun Organic Farming at www.punpunthailand.org (both English and Thai)

Visit to Lanna local Wisdom School

Everyone were worried that the local wisdom may get lost amidst the rapid change and the mass tourism. Meanwhile how to balance the growth of mainstream development and sustainable living is the key point of our discussion with Ajarn Chatchawan, a school advisor.

“Understand our root Undertake globalization and Shape our own destiny” is the core answer.!


Informal Exchange with Northern Youth Network

We ended our trip by visiting 'the northern activist community' in Chiang Mai, kindly led by our former TVS staff 'Ae Aphatsorn' and the group of young northern activists. The group visited Northern NGO-COD, Friends of Burma, Nada Activist Coffee Shop and YT (Youth Training for Development Programme). We learned, shared and discussed our work experience and life as 'social development workers'. At the same time, our friendship across border among the young heart activists in Mekong region has been growing up. We filled each other with hopes and dreams to keep on working on this walk of life - young social activists of the Mekong Region!