"At first, I did not have picture of myself doing any social work," said 18 year-old Angkana Juntha or Nok. "I just saw my friend who was a volunteer travelling to many places, and wanted to be like her."
"But since I have been in the group, I have learned a lot more about my own community. I realise there are number of problems about prostitution, AIDS and drugs."
Nok, who became a volunteer at the Centre for Girls two years ago, is now a member of a group called 'Khao Ji', producing and staging plays to raise awareness on child's rights especially among local youth. "I am happy with what I am doing."
A big group of young children sit together, eagerly awaiting their favourite play, is usually seen at the centre in Phan district, some 45 km from Chiang Rai city.
Asked if he understood what his senior friends were saying through the play being shown here one Saturday, a little boy in the audience said, "Sure". He then showed a piece of paper with some contact numbers and lists of child's rights. "I could even read it out loud for you!" he said.
The kids in the audience take active part in the plays and discussions, laughing and eagerly answering every question posed by their favourite play characters and enjoying the jokes that Khao Ji's performers crack on stage.
"At first people did not know about what we did, but as now we always receive warm welcome from audience. People seem to be more open with young performers like us," said Nok.
Khao Ji also performs in schools and markets in Chiang Rai and nearby provinces. "We get together after school, on the weekends and during vacation to think about the plots and practise our shows," said 16-year-old Kittiphan Kanjina or Taw, another talented young actor who wants to be a social activist where he grows older.
"I heard about the centre two years ago, but I first did not join because I thought, from its name (the earlier project was coordinated by the Foundation for Women), that the place was only for girls and I did not want to be teased by my friends," Taw added.
But Taw's interest—he was still going to the centre for typing lessons—continued to grow. "I started from reading the books out loud for the children," he said. "Later, we realised that it could be something more fun, so we started working on plays."
Of he many characters he plays, Taw says his favourite performance was in 'Grey Evil', a play about drug use, where he took on the role of a bad boy persuading his friends to get into misbehaviour.
"It was a colourful character," explained Taw. "Though we were not able to prepare well and some of us forgot their lines while performing, the whole show turned out to be so good. Some in the audience even cried at the end of the play."
"The problems are big, but they could happen to anyone, whether adult or children. We are just trying to do what we can," he said.
"I used to think of myself just an absurd girl. Now I am very proud of what I am doing," said 18 year-old Oi, a volunteer actress. Oi has told her friends she wants to continue to study in the community and not leave the place, so she can continue her volunteer work.
But besides their 'work', these kids are no different from other youngsters. They have fun playing and going camping—it's just that they often do them all together.
Nok says that the name of the play troupe, 'Khao Ji', comes from a type of traditional northern Thai food. "It is a sticky rice ball believed to be good for a mother's health after giving birth, she pointed out.
"Sticky rice represents our unity. When it is exposed to the heat, it binds even stronger," said the young volunteer.
