High School
Student Life and Service
Clubs Operation Smile
A reflection by the club co-president on the club’s medical mission: I wanted to go on the medical mission because I wanted to get experience on how cleft lip and cleft palate are treated and what a government hospital is like compared to a private hospital. I was also really curious about how a surgery is operated since I have never seen one before. This mission provided a lot of memorable experiences for me, like when I was able to get into the operating room and see the technique that surgeons use to stitch the wounds and also do surgery on the patients. I was also able to play with the children in the wards and make them feel happier. This made the trip very meaningful and enjoyable, as it made me realize how lucky I am to have a chance to come to this medical mission. This made me want to become a dentist even more to be able to help underprivileged children. This trip helped me to understand the scale at which Operation Smile could help others as they contribute in many countries, not just in Thailand. I realize that the hard work that is done by the various clubs in school can be used to help impact the lives of many around the world, ensuring that children receive the best Habitat for Humanity care. This year, our club has carried out Habitat for Humanity’s mission Theetat - G11 - Operation Smile Co-president through two site builds that allowed members to serve communities directly. In October, we took part in a home restoration project in Ayutthaya, repainting walls and helping refresh living spaces for a small family. Although repainting may sound simple, the experience required careful coordination and teamwork to ensure the work was completed to a high standard. In December, we traveled to Khlong Kwang School in Chachoensao to design and build a functioning aquaponics system to introduce a sustainable farming method for the community. Working together, we potted plants, assembled planting structures, installed water circulation components, and tested the system to ensure it could sustainably support both fish and crops.
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CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 46
These hands-on projects contributed to improving local educational environments while giving us the opportunity to develop practical skills in planning, collaboration, and problem-solving. Through these site builds, H4H members experienced the impact of service firsthand while strengthening their commitment to addressing housing and community development challenges. - H4H Officers