Student community empowerment approach

The objective of this documentary research was to analyze the empowerment approach of third year Thammasat University medical student health promotion projects in the academic years from 2003 to 2005. The data were extracted from six student group reports and a research report entitled “The Promise of Empowerment”. The approach began with knowledge/ideas of sharing and transparency in decision making. The community underwent the empowerment process by active participation. Provision of a local resource person is suggested for on-going activities for problem solving and the learning process to continue when the students and instructor leave the community. This model is the Strengthening of Community Action and the Developing of Personal Skills, following the Ottawa Charter strategy, whereby students themselves acquire community experience in the actual context.