UWC Students Bring Energy, Service, and Friendship to Baan Unrak

June marks the beginning of the rainy season, and with the first rains of each year comes a group of UWC students eager to immerse themselves in the life of Baan Unrak. This year, nine students joined us for a meaningful volunteer experience, bringing enthusiasm, kindness, and a desire to learn.

For many of our newer children, who had had little or no contact with foreigners before, the students' arrival was a wonderful novelty. Everywhere the students went, curious eyes followed them, eager to discover who they were and to learn more about them.

At the same time, the students found themselves surrounded by children who wanted to talk, play, and share their lives. It was a beautiful meeting of two worlds.

This year presented particular challenges. Our lake, which serves as the main reservoir for our daily water needs, completely dried up due to the extreme heat of the dry season. Shortly before the students arrived, even the last remaining water disappeared, leaving us with no choice but to dig an artificial pond to collect and store water.

Fortunately, the rains arrived together with the students. While we were grateful for the rain, the powerful tropical storms quickly turned the river water muddy. This made their daily tasks and work much more difficult. Despite these challenges, the students accepted this unfamiliar experience with openness and good humor, embracing life as it is at Baan Unrak.

The weather did not stop the students from carrying out their plans. Before arriving, they had organized fundraising efforts to support 40 families in our outreach program. Despite spending much of the day in heavy rain, they remained committed to their mission and successfully visited all the families in a single day. Their determination and dedication were inspiring.

Back at Baan Unrak, friendships gradually grew. Through games, conversations, and shared daily activities, the students connected with our children. The first shy smiles soon turned into laughter, friendship, and mutual understanding.

While the younger children attended school, the students helped with many practical projects around the home. They assisted in harvesting and drying butterfly pea flowers, one of our most important sustainability projects.

They also helped build protective shelters to shield the flowers from the torrential rains before harvest. A particularly special aspect of this year's visit was the presence of our university students, who were home for their vacation.

We housed the university students together with the UWC group, allowing them to participate in all activities side by side. They worked together, shared stories, exchanged ideas, and learned from one another.

The UWC group worked alongside our university students to support Baan Unrak. They spent their days working and playing together as a team. For their first project, they helped lift and count the school desks and chairs that had been donated to our home.

They also painted the walls to make our recicling and the home bright and beautiful.

In the fields, they learned about farming and our important butterfly pea project. These beautiful flowers are much more than just a crop. Resources can be scarce, so we hope these flowers will bring a sustainable income to support the growing needs of our home.

There is something beautiful in the idea that flowers, grown with care and patience, can sustain a home built on love. The students worked hard in the soil and helped dig holes to build a protective roof for the butterfly pea plants. Through this, they learned how Baan Unrak works, lives, and creates an income to support itself.

Beyond the hard work, the students brought pure joy to our nursery. They spent wonderful quality time teaching lessons and doing fun activities with our youngest children. The room was filled with smiles and laughter as they sang songs, colored pictures, danced together, and shared sweet conversations.

Their biggest challenge was a relief trip to a faraway village. The journey was very hard because it rained almost the whole way. They walked through mud and slick paths to bring help to 40 poor families.

Even though the trip was difficult, everyone helped each other stay safe and move forward. At the village, the students listened closely to the stories of the local people. Through this trip, we hope the students truly understand the real struggles these families face every day. We hope it teaches them to show empathy to others, appreciate what they have, and work for the community for people's welfare. 

Aside from their hard work, they also enjoyed some relaxing time together by taking a trip to Sangkhlaburi. The Baan Unrak university students acted as tour guides, showing them around the beautiful town and helping them buy souvenirs to remember their wonderful time.

As the visit drew to a close, the children prepared a special performance for the students. They practiced enthusiastically, eager to share their talents and eager to be seen. Like all children, they long to know that they are valued, appreciated, and recognized.

The performance amazed everyone. The students applauded warmly, and our children shone with pride and happiness.

The mutual affection that developed during the visit was perhaps best expressed in a farewell letter written by Boling on behalf of the UWC students:

"We are truly grateful for everything you have shared with us. Lastly, we want to say thank you so much for everything, and please don't forget us."

Those simple words touched our hearts. We will certainly not forget them. Their service, friendship, resilience, and willingness to embrace our way of life left a lasting impression on all of us. We hope they carry a piece of Baan Unrak with them wherever they go, just as they have left a piece of themselves with us.