UWC International Students Visit Baan Unrak

A new group of UWC International students came again to Baan Unrak.

We feel a deep affinity with this school because they, too, are involved in service. Many of the UWC students are here through scholarships, and they come from many different parts of the world. Despite their diverse backgrounds, they all have one thing in common: they know hardship, and their stories resonate with those of our children.

They are also the same age as our older teenagers. And you know, when youth come together, there is an instant connectional sense of recognition and peer association. There was so much to share and communicate with each other.

Although most of our children were at school during their visit, the UWC students took great care of our home-schooled children and even our little ones in the nursery. They painted our special room where we will now process and dry herbs for medical purposes and tea.

They also visited also one of our poorest Sangkhlaburi communities and offered donations and food to those in need. Their generosity touched many hearts and showed how deeply they care about making a difference.

Of course, they also took the opportunity to explore the beauty of Sangkhlaburi. They enjoyed their visit. Then they stopped at our restaurant, where they met the children in vocational training and enjoyed a delicious lunch fresh pastry from our very own bakery—adding a joyful and relaxing moment to their meaningful stay.

In the evening, we all gathered together. We played sports, danced, and sang. It was truly beautiful to spend time with our peers from other countries. We know that one day they will leave, but in that moment, we were just happy to meet our “relatives” from faraway lands. We connected in a deeply meaningful way. It felt like a gift of youthful purity—a genuine exchange and shared understanding of the struggles of teenage life..

We felt so alive, so happy, so excited. The most touching moment came during our final encounter in the activity room, where we performed together. It was a joyful event. It was amazing to see how working side by side with people we had just come to know brought out the best in each of us. Together, we created and shared the joy of producing, in such a short time, three incredible dance performances with stunning scenography. We laughed, we smiled—and yes, we cried.

They emotionally shared their deep thought and reflections that brought tears to our entire community. And finally, we released all our emotions in a wild, joyful dance at the end of getting  together evening performance.

The next day, we had to say goodbye to our friends. Many of our children would have cried, but a sudden rain prevented us from getting too close. Separated by a curtain of rain, we simply waved goodbye to each other with the promise that we would see them again in the future