UNIST student voluntary group including 19 students built the houses in Chiang Mai, Thailand from January 12 to 20, 2016. Habitat is an international foundation that improves the lower-income group’s residential environment. This volunteer activity was processed with the Habitat Korea and a group of UNIST student volunteers who had received the scholarship from KyungDong City Gas.
UNIST student volunteers went to Thailand to help to build a better living environment. They were divided into two different groups with the local staffs and built two houses. They mainly did floors, set the water tanks and constructed the walls with bricks. The houses they built for a week were dedicated to two families. First was for Ms. Patcharapon, a single mother who is raising a four year old son, and second was for Mr. Tongchai, a local postman.
At the dedication ceremony, Ms. Patcharapon said, “I sincerely appreciate students who came to build our house. I will provide a warm place to stay next time they visit Thailand.” Mr. Tongchai also said, “I love a new house where my wife and children could stay safe. We will not forget the love UNIST students gave us.”
UNIST student volunteers also provided the additional programs for local children. On 18th, they taught Korean traditional plays to children at Wat Thung Luang School and performed the K-pop dance stage. Ms. Hoyoung Jung (School of Natural Science) said, “We could feel the local people’s hearts even though we did not understand their language. It was a very meaningful project and we were very happy to let them know about UNIST, Ulsan, and Korea.”
President Moo Young Jung says, “This voluntary program was a joint project with KyungDong Scholarship Foundation in order to dedicate UNIST’s ability to an international society. I hope that students will be able to grow as the international workers by participating in the international voluntary activities.”
