Volunteering that makes a difference

12 Sept 03:52 Key points summarised by AI

**Empowering Visually Impaired Students**: The "Get Lost in BKK and Beyond" expat volunteer group dedicates time to teach English and provide cultural exchange to visually impaired children at the Bangkok School for the Blind, offering tailored, engaging activities.
**Fostering Practical Skills and Experiences**: Volunteers focus on practical life skills like making soaps and tying shoelaces, alongside fun activities, aiming to equip students with abilities not typically taught in classrooms and create lasting, enriching experiences.
**Mutual Growth and Cultural Exchange**: Volunteers, including Liisu and Kimberly, adapt their interaction methods to connect effectively with the children, finding the experience profoundly rewarding as it offers mutual learning, cultural insight, and a strong sense of community inclusion.
**Collective Impact for Real-Life Preparation**: Founded by Rinna, the initiative prepares children for real-life challenges by imparting essential skills, underscoring that the collective efforts of diverse volunteers are crucial in creating significant positive change for these youngsters.

Examining Thailand’s four-part education revolution

Today 14:22 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Education Ministry is implementing a four-pronged strategy to address its students' below-average performance in PISA 2025 and tackle significant educational inequality.
The plan prioritizes closing performance gaps by increasing funding for small and low-income schools, overhauling the curriculum to foster critical thinking, and adopting a data-driven management system to reduce teacher workload.
Key initiatives include enhancing school safety, combating cyberbullying, and expanding mental health support through peer-to-peer networks, recognizing the severe impact of distress on academic performance.
An education expert advises verifying if PISA improvements stem from structural changes, advocating for a revived STEM curriculum with practical 'learn by doing' methods, and urging bureaucratic reform to link teacher evaluations to student development.