I originally wrote this article in May, 2018.

I work at the International Community School (ICS) in Bangkok, Thailand. There are a dozen nations and cultures represented in my classroom and dozens more throughout the school. Because of the private nature of my school, most of the students come from either wealthy backgrounds or have scholarships in order to pay tuition.

To raise student awareness about the 22.5 million of refugees around the world (UNHCR, 2018) ICS participated in the World Vision, 40 Hour Famine Backpack Challenge. This challenge is not just informational, it involves several action steps for students to take. These valuable action steps are in agreement with best practices suggested by Egbo (2009). The backpack challenge consisted of students spending 40 hours living out of their backpacks. Students were only permitted to use, eat, and wear whatever they could fit in their school backpacks. The challenge took place on a Friday and lasted until Saturday afternoon. Participating students went without essential items like: desks, chairs, computers, pillows, blankets, healthy food, and showers. Don’t worry, water was provided and available for students at all times.

The backpack challenge served as a valuable lesson for our students to see how refugees and migrants have almost nothing to call their own. It taught the students, many of which are from the dominant Thai culture and others from the dominant Eurocentric school culture, about the real life struggles of refugees and migrants.

The challenge didn’t end with simulations and information, through partnerships with local organizations like Construction of Hope, students visited and played with the children of migrant workers. Other students painted the walls of a tutoring center in a rural area of Thailand. Through the Backpack Challenge and ensuing service activities, our students were challenged to live like, respect, and serve vulnerable populations that are much different than themselves.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. It was a pleasure spending time with you today.

Peace & Blessings, 

– Josiah 

References

Egbo, B. (2009). Education and Diversity: Framing the Issues, Teaching for Diversity in Canadian Schools. Windsor: ON: Pearson Education Canada.

Construction of Hope. (2021). About. Construction of Hope. https://constructionofhope.org/about/

UNHCR. (2018). Figures at a Glance. UNHCR. http://www.unhcr.org/figures-at-a-glance.html

World Vision. (2021). 40 Hour Famine. World Vision. https://www.worldvision.com.au/40hf-2021