Dharma Drum Mountain Partners with Assumption University to Guide Northern Thai Students on a Journey of Growth

To help students in remote areas broaden their horizons and explore new learning opportunities, the Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation (hereinafter referred to as the Foundation), in collaboration with the Dharma Drum Mountain Thailand Branch and Assumption University (ABAC) in Bangkok, Thailand, organized a “student growth camp” for students from Pui Ying School in Phadang Village, Chiang Rai Province, northern Thailand. The camp invited students to step beyond their familiar mountain communities and travel to Bangkok, where they could experience a different learning environment, discover the wider world, and interact with university students.

The camp officially opened on October 26. Venerable Chang Jyu (常炬法師), a guiding Dharma teacher serving the Dharma Drum Singapore and Dharma Drum Mountain Thailand Branch, and Ms. Lin Shuzhen (林淑珍), President of the Dharma Drum Mountain Thailand Branch, attended the opening ceremony on behalf of the Foundation. They offered their blessings and encouragement to the teachers and students of Pui Ying School, expressing their hope that the students would cherish this valuable learning opportunity and discover new possibilities for their future.
 
Located in the mountainous region of northern Thailand, Pui Ying School serves students who mostly come from nearby highland communities. These students have relatively few opportunities to experience different cultures and educational environments. For this camp, Principal Ching Tai-ying (景泰英) personally led the teachers and students to Bangkok to participate in the camp, making the trip a rare and meaningful opportunity for learning and personal growth. Following the opening ceremony, Principal Ching sent a message via LINE to Venerable Chang Xing (常惺法師), Secretary General of the Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation, who was in Taipei, to express his gratitude. He wrote, “We are very grateful to the Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation for giving Pui Ying School this opportunity, allowing children from the mountains to venture beyond their home communities and see the world outside.” His simple yet heartfelt words reflected the teachers’ appreciation for the opportunity their students had to explore beyond their mountain villages and broaden their horizons. They also underscored the significance of educational support and companionship for children in remote areas.

Assumption University helped design the camp’s curriculum, drawing on the expertise of university faculty and students as well as campus resources to provide a diverse range of engaging learning experiences. Through a financial literacy activity combining the Monopoly board game with artificial intelligence (AI) technology, students will learn to think critically and work collaboratively through interactive play. Students will also take part in swimming, soccer, and other ball games to develop teamwork and cooperation through sports. In addition, the camp includes visits to Wat Saket (Temple of the Golden Mount), the Grand Palace, and Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn), giving students firsthand opportunities to learn about Bangkok’s history and culture. Through these varied experiences, they can gradually deepen their understanding of the wider world.

Through this collaboration with Assumption University as well as the the Dharma Drum Mountain Thailand Branch, the Foundation hopes to help students in remote areas build confidence and resilience as they grow, while bringing the inspiration and positive memories of this experience back to their hometowns. Looking ahead, the Foundation will continue to bring together local partners and resources from different sectors to support more children in remote communities. By providing a caring environment where children can learn with confidence and gain broader perspectives through diverse experiences, the Foundation hopes to sow the seeds of hope for their future.

◎ Photos and original text in Chinese: Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation
◎ Translation: Patricia Yang 
◎ Editing: Keith Brown