Chulalongkorn University and NUS Foster Youth Engagement and Sustainability at International Friendship Camp in Saraburi 

The Centre of Learning Network for Region (CLNR) Chulalongkorn University, in collaboration with its partner organizations, organized the International Friendship Camp to strengthen university engagement with local communities and the global society during June 3-5, 2025, at Chulalongkorn University Saraburi, Cham Phak Phaeo, Kaeng Khoi District, Saraburi. The camp aimed to develop and build the value of student life through activity-based learning for sustainable social development.

The International Friendship Camp was born out of a collaboration in community engagement missions between Chulalongkorn University’s Centre of Learning Network for Region (CLNR) and the College of Alice and Peter Tan, National University of Singapore (NUS). The camp began with youth development activities where NUS students served as mentors for secondary school students from Queensway School in Singapore before traveling to Thailand for more camp activities. At Chulalongkorn University, parallel activities were organized with students from the Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology International Program (BBTech), Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, who served as mentors to teach English to secondary school students in Saraburi Province, including Kaeng Khoi School and Suankularb Wittayalai Saraburi School, as preparation before entering the International Friendship Camp. 

Throughout the 3-day camp period, school and university students from Thailand and Singapore developed teamwork skills to exchange ideas, learn management skills, and share knowledge with society through learning about Chulalongkorn University’s Saraburi Forest Restoration project. The camp utilized the core concept of “Native Forest Restoration for Carbon Neutrality,” including activities such as surveying native plant species, mushrooms, and ectomycorrhizal fungi; propagating native plants; monitoring growth and assessing carbon accumulation in trees; calculating their own personal carbon footprints; and proposing approaches toward carbon neutrality. Participants also developed friendships through student-led group activities and practiced cooking local dishes to foster awareness of cultural diversity. 

The International Friendship Camp helps create international awareness of the university’s role in generating knowledge for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG4, SDG11, SDG13, SDG15, SDG17). Additionally, it enhances the university’s regional role by utilizing Chulalongkorn University Saraburi as a support unit to promote development activities and create value in university student life. 

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