I'm Possible is changing the Impossible

This year YIY held its marketing event, the Youth Innovation Marketplace3, to entice young students into submitting innovative projects to win recognition and financial sponsorship.

For many, finding the time and commitment to volunteer while at university seems impossible. But for I'm Possible, a student volunteer group committed to promoting social services, volunteer work is not just about donating one's free time, its about the spirit of making positive changes and promoting education by example.

Kritaya Sreesunpagit, director of YIY ("Why I, Why?"), an innovative youth organization, believes the spirit of volunteering is rewarding, even though the results may not be apparent at first. Kritaya works with hundreds of students each year. Together they share the same optimism and commitment to make a difference through direct action.

Designed by YIY the I'm Possible campaign encourages young people aged from 15 to 25 to generate innovative ideas that improve their society. Each I'm Possible project must have at least three participants. No time limit is imposed on completing the projects. "Participants choose when and where to help at their own convenience," Krittaya explains.

Youth Innovation Marketplace 3 is YIY's annual marketing event where various teams submit competing projects to win recognition and financial sponsorship. This year 62 teams entered projects and the eight finalist were awarded funding by such groups as Unicef, the Thai Health Promotion Fund, and the Banpu Co. The eight winners comprise I'm Possible.

"Youth Innovation Marketplace initiates opportunities for young adults to be involved in social development. Our job is to work together with them to implement the projects," says Udomlux Olarn, the communications vice-president of the Banpu Co.

Sirisak Chaiyathet, Mplus Youth Group leader raises questions on behalf of New Generation Boys Health about safe sex among gay men.

Two of the eight projects are outreach programs from the south. The Kon Hin Group from Yala province collects and preserves numerous local folktales for the community; and the Chanseo Group is producing a theatrical performance entitled "Anasyid: Song for Peace" for their school, the Prince of Songkla University, Pattani campus. Hares Maschay, 21, is one of the developers of the play. The project includes performing in the play and exercising some directorial responsibilities in the theatre. Members write songs for peace in different languages, including Thai, English and Yawi (a Bahasa or Melayu Patani dialect of Malay spoken in southern Thailand).

"We aim to help our community with understanding and love. It's what we intend to give to people. And it's what we can do with our own hands, " Hares says.

For Hares, understanding and caring for the needs of others are the keys to life.

Prasert Abdul, Lalita Yangpaknam, Hares Maschay, Chanseo Group members produce "Anasyid: Song for Peace" for their school, the Prince of Songkla University, Pattani campus.

In the north, Mplus Youth Group on behalf of New Generation Boys Health, has set up a centre on a Payap University campus in Chiang Mai to raise AIDS awareness and educate youths about safe sex among gay men.

Sirisak Chaiyathet, a third year student at Payap and the leader of Mplus Youth Group, recognizes the importance of sex education and preventing sexually transmitted diseases among gay men through education. "There isn't enough sex education generally in schools, let alone about safe sex among homosexual men," he said.

Such sentiments evidence the changes in the younger generation's attitude towards freer sexual expression. At the same time, it raises questions of how much people know about sex and homosexuality. And studies show sexually transmitted diseases are spreading at an alarming rate among gay men. "It can be discouraging sometimes, because no matter how intense your efforts are, you can't change other people," Sirisak says. "You can't always measure your progress, and you can't force people to help."

Jutathip Ngamkaew, Khomkhum Kansuwan, and Kanawut Inkaew, studying at Mahasarakham University, have set up Folk Dance and Music Club to promote local arts and music.

At Mahasarakham University, the Folk Dance and Music Club has set up a culture centre to promote local arts and music. The culture centre acts as a school and media centre for people to study their heritage at no charge.

Kanawut Inkaew, co-founder of Folk Dance and Music Club says, "We're living in a world of wealth and prosperity. The world's changing. And it seems our traditional arts and music [have been] forgotten."

Kanawut and his fellow students expect in the next few months to launch a club website. Soon the pubic will be able to download audio files and listen to their music. Furthermore, about 78 students are planning to promote the traditional arts and music of the northeast through various monthly activities.

Seeing is believing. Young people today are becoming more actively and pro-actively involved in volunteer efforts to promote their heritage and culture, and to educate others about the timeless richness of valued traditions. And through it all they're addressing the issues that are important to them, such as those raised in the "Anasyid" play or wrought by the AIDS crisis.

Through volunteerism, education and example, some groups are making it easier and more attractive for others to address difficult and complex issues.

Kritaya has earned public recognition for her social works. Most recently Ashoka, a US-based organisation that supports the idea of social entrepreneurship, presented her with an Ashoka Fellowship Award.

Since 2003, YIY has been guiding youthful volunteers toward social entrepreneurship. The organization works closely with various NGOs such as the Mirror Foundation and Greenpeace. For additional information, visit www.youthinnovation.org.