A Model of Youth Leader Development Volunteerism in Accordance with the Buddhist Peace Method: A Case Study at Mueang Trang District, Trang Province

Abstract

The research article consists of the following objectives: 1) to study the conditions of prototype volunteer youth leaders according to modern science; 2) to study the development of prototype volunteer youth leaders according to Buddhist peaceful means; and 3) to propose a model for the development of prototype volunteer youth leaders according to Buddhist peaceful means of Mueang Trang District, Trang Province. The study applies research and development method by field study and focus group discussion with 11 experts. Before the experiment, the target group consists of 30 persons. The in-depth interview was conducted with 30 persons. The participants’ satisfaction level was evaluated and the data were analyzed using the content analysis method. The results of the research are found as follows: 1) Presently there are various problems with youth in many areas in Trang province e.g., lack of responsibility, selfishness, lack of gratitude, etc., which are due to the diversity of cultures, religions, and traditions. Therefore, the development of prototype volunteer youth leaders in peace is a link that will connect people in society to have unity and bring about peace in peoples’ minds and society; 2) The development of prototype volunteer youth leaders requires knowledge and understanding of inner peace and conflict management by Buddhist peaceful means through the development tools based on Theravada Buddhism i.e., Saṅgahavatthu (the four bases of social solidarity) which consist of Dāna (giving), Piyavācā (kindly speech), Atthacariyā (useful conduct), and Samānattatā (participation and behaving oneself properly in all circumstances); 3) The presentation of a model for the development of prototype volunteer youth leaders according to the Buddhist peaceful means is called “M-V-P-U-T-C” model which consists of the development process in 6 aspects: 1) The building of inner peace; 2) Prototype volunteer; 3) Tools for Buddhist peaceful means; 4) An understanding of multicultural differences; 5) Teamwork and leadership; 6) Information communication. All of which results in Bhāvit (Bhāvanā or the four developments) which are physical development, moral development, emotional development, and intellectual development.