THE BUDDHIST DEVELOPMENT OF VOLUNTEER SPIRIT AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF EXAMPLARY EXEMPLARY YOUTH IN KHON KAEN PROVINCE

Abstract

This research aimed to: 1) Examine the patterns of volunteer spirit and social responsibility among model youth in Khon Kaen Province; 2) Develop a Buddhist-oriented prototype curriculum for enhancing volunteerism and social responsibility among model youth in Khon Kaen Province; and 3) Develop learning activities to promote Buddhist-based volunteer spirit and social responsibility among model youth in Khon Kaen Province. The study employed a mixed-methods research design using a research and development (R&D) process. The key informants constituted the study sample. Research instruments included in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, workshop-based activities, and participant observation. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and activity implementation, and were analyzed using descriptive and inductive content analysis. The findings revealed that the model of volunteer spirit and social responsibility among model youth in Khon Kaen Province comprises three components: Part 1) The characteristics of volunteer spirit and social responsibility of model youth; Part 2) The personal qualifications of youth with volunteer spirit and social responsibility, which must encompass both psychological and physical well-being; and Part 3) The supporting factors that foster youth volunteerism and social responsibility. The developed Buddhist-oriented prototype curriculum for youth development consists of three programs: youth ceremonial and religious protocol facilitators, youth recreation leaders, and youth community communicators. Moreover, the learning activities developed to promote a Buddhist-based volunteer spirit and social responsibility among model youth comprise three types of activities: those promoting youth volunteerism through ceremonial and protocol facilitation, those promoting youth volunteerism through community communication, and those promoting youth volunteerism through recreation leadership.