ACE in Place Thailand 2023

 

Student-athletes virtually supported Shark Guardian, a UK-based organization dedicated to advancing the conservation of sharks and the natural environment in Thailand through conservation, education, and research projects.

The ACE team helped Shark Guardian by driving an awareness campaign targeting Thailand Dive Center staff and customers, to encourage them to use the eOceans app, and therefore become part of an extremely valuable marine citizen science project for shark and marine conservation.

This program is all about uniting a diverse group of individuals that are committed to understanding others, being driving forces for good, serving as leaders in their communities—and most importantly for me—are open to new experiences. If I could offer one piece of advice to student-athletes considering ACE, it would be this: just apply. ACE not only exposed me to different parts of the world and unique people with powerful stories, but it also guided me along a path of personal development for which I am forever grateful.

– Conor Bohrer, Duke Cross Country and Track & Field

In addition to their service project work, students learned how to cook traditional Thai pad see ew from a local community-based NGO, met with other international leaders working in the field of marine conservation, participated in a virtual Muay Thai martial arts class, and were immersed in Thai culture through conversations with community experts about Buddhism and refugees in Thailand.

[Before the program], I doubted the impact a virtual program could have on conservation efforts. But after the meeting, I realized the global impact of our program, something that made the entire experience far more meaningful… Through the virtual experience, I realize now that I can have an impact on communities near or far away, even while continuing to carry out daily activities.

– Henry Morrissey, Stanford Men’s Swimming & Diving