Health Outreach Programme for Local Communities
One of SWU’s key outreach initiatives for local communities was implemented by the Faculty of Physical Education, Sports and Health (PESH) through a school-based activity under the Physical Activity and Sports Promotion for Good Health Project at Wat Sawang Arom (Sriwatthananukul) School, Ongkharak District, Nakhon Nayok Province.
The programme was designed to promote health and well-being among children and young people through an integrated combination of recreational activities, basic health assessments, physical fitness testing, and health education. Recreational activities encouraged enjoyment, social interaction, teamwork, and active participation, while basic health assessments included body weight and height measurements, oral health screening, and eye health assessment.
Participants also engaged in age-appropriate physical fitness assessments, including activities such as the standing long jump, sit-ups, and ball-throwing tests. These activities were used not only to assess physical fitness but also to raise awareness among children about the importance of regular physical activity, sports, exercise, and healthy behaviours.
By bringing health promotion activities directly into a local school, the programme enabled children and their surrounding community to gain practical knowledge and experience related to preventive health care and active lifestyles. The initiative reflects SWU’s commitment to promoting sustainable health behaviours from an early age and strengthening the health and well-being of local communities.
Health Outreach Programmes for Disadvantaged Older People
Recognising that older adults represent an important population requiring additional health and social support, SWU also implements outreach programmes specifically addressing the health and well-being of disadvantaged people, particularly older persons living in local communities.
SWU, in collaboration with the Faculty of Physical Education, Sports and Health, organised the “Ongkharak Model: Hydrotherapy Workshop to Promote Holistic Health Care for the Elderly.” Participants included representatives and community members associated with the SWU Chalermphrakiat Elderly Care Center, Pho Thaen Subdistrict, and Bang Plakot Subdistrict.
A key component of the programme was a practical hydrotherapy workshop, through which participants gained knowledge and practical skills in using water-based activities to support the physical health, mobility, functional capacity, and overall well-being of older adults. The programme was designed to strengthen the capacity of individuals, families, caregivers, and communities to provide appropriate and holistic care for ageing populations.
Through the integration of health education and practical training, the programme contributes to healthy ageing, promotes greater independence among older adults, and supports a sustainable improvement in their quality of life.
SWU and PESH additionally organised a workshop on “Holistic Health Assessment for Older Adults” for older people and community members in Si Sa Krabue Subdistrict, Ongkharak District, Nakhon Nayok Province, as part of an integrated university–society engagement project focusing on holistic health development and management.
The programme provided participants with knowledge and practical skills to better understand and assess their own health and well-being across several dimensions, including physical health, mental well-being, and mobility and functional capacity. Developing this capacity is particularly important for older adults because early recognition of health risks, appropriate self-care, continued physical activity, and preventive health practices can help reduce the risk of illness and functional decline.
Together, these initiatives demonstrate SWU’s commitment to improving access to health promotion and preventive care among older adults and other disadvantaged populations, while supporting ageing with dignity, independence, and improved quality of life.
Health Outreach for Refugee/Immigrant and Ethnic Minority Communities
In addition to health outreach activities for local and disadvantaged communities, SWU extends its programmes to refugee/immigrant and ethnic minority communities living in remote border areas.
Under the Integrated University–Society Engagement Project (Asoke Model), Srinakharinwirot University implemented the Social and Environmental Well-being Promotion Programme: Volunteer Activities and Collaborative Network Development on 20–21 December 2025 at the Early Childhood Development Center in the Makkasan Railway Community. The programme mobilised student and youth volunteers to improve the physical environment and learning spaces for young children, some of whom are children of migrant workers living and working in Thailand.
The programme placed particular emphasis on creating a safe, supportive, and health-promoting environment for early childhood development. Guided by the concept of a Healthy Environment, the activities focused on improving the safety, organisation, and suitability of spaces used for children’s daily activities, learning, play, and social interaction. These environmental improvements were intended to support not only children’s physical well-being, but also their mental well-being, emotional development, and overall quality of life.
The initiative also recognised that children from migrant-worker families may experience limitations in living conditions and unequal access to appropriate learning and developmental resources. By improving the environment of the early childhood development centre, SWU addressed an important social and environmental determinant of health and helped create more equitable opportunities for children from migrant and immigrant-background communities to grow, learn, and develop in a supportive setting.
In addition, the project incorporated Service Learning by engaging students and young volunteers directly with the community. This approach enabled participants to better understand the social conditions of urban communities and migrant-worker families while developing teamwork, social responsibility, and awareness of cultural and socioeconomic diversity. The activity also strengthened collaboration between the University, volunteers, the early childhood development centre, and the surrounding community in promoting children’s health and well-being.
Alongside this urban outreach initiative, SWU also implements health promotion activities for migrant-background and ethnic minority communities in remote border areas.
One such initiative was conducted in Omkoi District, Chiang Mai Province, where communities in geographically remote and socially marginalised areas include ethnic minority and migrant populations originating from neighbouring countries. Limited geographical accessibility and socioeconomic circumstances may create additional barriers to health information, preventive health services, and opportunities for health promotion among children and families in these communities.
SWU therefore delivered a range of community-based health promotion activities tailored to the needs of children and community members from refugee/immigrant and ethnic minority backgrounds. Activities included oral health and tooth-brushing education for children, physical activity and exercise sessions, and education on personal and physical health care.
The oral health activities provided children with practical guidance on correct tooth-brushing techniques and the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene. Physical activity and exercise sessions encouraged active lifestyles and promoted awareness of the role of regular exercise in maintaining physical fitness and preventing health problems. Health education activities further strengthened participants’ understanding of basic self-care and healthy behaviours.
By delivering these programmes directly within remote communities, SWU helps reduce barriers to health knowledge and promotes more equitable opportunities for health and well-being among populations who may otherwise have limited access to health promotion resources.
