Bangkok--19 Feb--Assumption University
On Friday February 15, 2013 students from the Department of Public Relations, Albert Laurence School of Communication Arts, Assumption University led by Assistant Prof. Dr. Nuchada Dumrongsiri, as Chairman of Department of Public Relations organized social contribution exhibition titled “Where Wealth Can Help” at Mega Bangna to showcase their social contribution campaigns, including their efforts to help 6 well-known non-profit organizations such as Thai Health Promotion Foundation, The Organ Donation Center under the Thai Red Cross Society, Amnesty International Thailand, Habitat for Humanity Thailand, Baan Dek Rei Ron (Baan Kru Mui), and The Fight Against Child Exploitation (FACE Foundation).
The Department of Public Relations, Albert Laurence School of Communication Arts, had initiated social contribution campaigns under the theme “Where Wealth Can Help” since 2007. Every year, Public Relations students, Assumption University participate in graduation workshop which aims to encourage their active contributions as well as improving their engagement with the local communities. The workshop allow students to gain hands-on Public Relation work experience and also create a platform for social contributions as students help non-profit organization to achieve their missions. Previous campaigns were successful in gaining media attention and sponsorship from major companies in Thailand.
A group called Amnesty's Shield, by Mr. Patrick Thorpe, a third-year student and his group organized a campaign for Amnasty International Thailand on tackled Human Rights issue.
"Amnesty International is a political and religious independent organization with over 3 million supporters and more than 80 countries worldwide. Its program is appealing though Human Rights is one of the issue that Thailand still feel uncomfortable to deal with. We want to raise awareness among Thai people on Human Rights."
Their campaign slogan "Protecting Everyone's Treasure" reflects Amnasty International's work on Human Rights.
"Everyone has a treasure, which is their dignity and that what supposed to protect this dignity are the Human Rights. Since human dignity and rights are violated by many countries, Amnesty International and also our campaign try to protect everyone’s dignity by collecting signatures for individuals at risk or by simply educating people on their rights, event the small thing like domestic violence."
Though at the very beginning the people were not much interested because they were simply not aware of Human Rights and of our organizations, but Mr. Thorpe and his group explained them about their campaign, the Human Rights idea and about some tragically cases they often became very sensitive and felt urged to take action by signing our petitions for some cases of Human Rights violations. Amnasty's Shield was able to urged the concerned public to join their petition to Chinese government for a case regarding Mr. Gao Zhisheng Chinese Human Rights lawyer who disappeared in 2011 which Amnesty's Shield will submit the signatures to Amnesty International Thailand and they will forward them to their designated destination. The signatures for the will go to the Chinese Embassy on Tuesday, February 19th 2013
"Although the exhibition was a one-day event, we consider the overall "Where Wealth Can Help" a success. As for our Amnesty's Shield campaign, we achieved our goals to raise awareness on Human Rights among Thai people and we hope that the event will lead to a "caring" attitude towards people in need and stop this "looking away" mentality." Mr. Thorpe said.
[Photo caption: Assistant Prof. Dr. Nuchada Dumrongsiri, Chairman of Department of Public Relations (front row, third from right) and Mr. Krit Densaramithep, "Where Wealth Can Help" exhibition coordinator (front row, first from right)welcomed Ms. Prinya Boonritrutaikul, Director of Amnesty Intermational Thailand (front row, second from right) at Amnesty's Shield campaign]