Sixteen Daemen University students representing a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs spent two weeks traveling through Northern Thailand during the winter recess. 
Dr. Diane Bessel, MSW program director and chair, social work and sociology, accompanied students to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Mae Sai where they learned about Thai culture and worked with at-risk children impacted by the Myanmar crisis.
Students facilitated more than twenty teaching workshops, including conversational English, health and well-being, positive relationships, and social skill building for 35 children of various backgrounds, ages, and language abilities.
“As a future educator, getting hands-on practice interacting with students who don’t speak the same language was a learning experience for all, and I know I will take what I learned from this trip into my professional career,” said adolescent English education student Elliot Stephenson.
Physical therapy student Autumn Gambino said, “This was my second time going on this trip, and the experience was incredibly eye-opening. Being able to see the societal norms of another country was truly incredible.”
“This experience was like no other I’ve had before,” said biology major Sabrina Adamson. “While working at the center, I really valued spending time and connecting with the kids, especially since many of them come from low-income families or challenging home environments. Despite the challenges they faced, they were some of the kindest and most generous kids you could ever meet.”
“Global experiential opportunities like this help broaden students’ perspectives while deepening their empathy and understanding about the importance of international support,” said Bessel. “While Daemen students taught children in the local communities, they learned so much more just by being close to them. I believe that this was a life-changing experience for everyone involved.”
This is the fifth time Daemen students traveled to Thailand.