Monks and Promoting the Quality of Life of Vulnerable Youth Groups: Experience from Wat Mai Si Muen Community Development, Damnoen Saduak District, Ratchaburi Province

Abstract

The paradigm of improving the quality of life of a changing country must be integrated in all aspects to accommodate complex and ever - changing issues. The temple is an important center for community development and quality of life for the people of Thailand. This article aims to study monks and the quality of life promotion for vulnerable youth groups, the experience of improving the quality of life of Wat Mai Si Muen, collected data by interviews and focus groups. The tool was a structured guideline of questions. The sample consisted of 1 monk, 10 children and youths, by purposive selection. The criteria for selecting informants were. - 1) being involved in the quality of life development for children and youth for at least 3 years, 2) being able to provide information during and after the conversation in order to complete the information, and 3) willing to provide information according to the objectives of the study. Data were analyzed by content analysis and check with the triangulation technique. and descriptive presentation. The study found that Wat Mai Si Muen, Damnoen Saduak District, Ratchaburi province had adhered to the principles of coexistence with love, kindness, generosity, respect for each other’s differences, and creative learning together. The main goal was to improve the quality of life, namely physical, mental, social and intellectual, and had three development approaches. - 1) equity, 2) diversity, and 3) community engagement. applied to promote the quality of life for vulnerable youth groups enabling them to coexist peacefully.

Keywords

• quality of life
• community development
• ulnerable youth groups