Between Jan 30 and Feb 1, 2009, Service For Peace in Thailand joined hands with Thaksin University and Ratchabhat Songkla University to hold a project called “Love and Share for the Learners of the South” at Songkla Province. SFP brought together 40 students and 16 teachers from the 4 provinces in the South of Thailand that were affected by conflict. Fifteen students from Thaksin University and 15 students from Rachabhat Songkla University served as volunteers and participated in various activities with the children.

The main goal of the project was to help students from the four southern provinces get inspired and dream of a peaceful place to live. They also received a lecture on Service For Peace’s mission and joined discussions on how to be compassionate and helpful to those in need. Due to the conflict in these provinces, some of the children have lost their parents and the meetings with the university students helped them feel appreciated and important.

The program included walk rally activities, planting trees, a Night of Dream program and drawing a peace picture together on the theme of “Peace and Unity .”

At the end, volunteers and children shared their feelings about the program. One of the volunteers put it short “Thanks to the project, I now now love. I tried to care for young children because we came from the same parents “Thai Parents.” I want to restore peace in the country and want the youth to have the opportunity to learn and have a brighter future. I tried to share the warmth of love and peace and equality with the young people in the camp. I want to commit myself to the project.”

Volunteers during the program activities