More than 100 young international volunteers gathered at Santi Chai Prakan Park in Phra Nakhon district on Thursday and busied themselves cleaning the canal and planting trees as part of the “Service Day – Pay it Forward” project.

BMA deputy governor Sanon Wangsrangboon also took part in the event, which was co-hosted by Humanitarian Affairs Asia, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Thammasat University in the 8-rai park on the east bank of Chao Phraya River.

Sanon praised the participating youths for helping make Bangkok better, adding that the campaign will be a nice addition to the city’s 1-million tree planting project, which just surpassed the 400,000 milestone.

He added that the city is also improving the landscape and water quality in three canals in the Old Town areas, namely Phadung Krung Kasem, Bang Lamphu, and Khu Mueang Doem in a bid to turn them into tourist attractions.

“We have been treating these canals as backyard dumps for so long. It is time we made them presentable as our front yard to welcome visitors,” said Sanon.

The Service Day – Pay it Forward activities are part of the 11th University Scholars Leadership Symposium, held during August 1-4 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok and joined by over 200 college students from 46 countries.