How to save a life: give an organ

Every five minutes, another name is added to the organ transplant waiting list. This has caused a large gap between the donors and the wait-listed patients.

The 'Give Life Through Love' project has increased public understanding about the Organ Donation Center (ODC) under the Thai Red Cross Society, and a lot of misconceptions about donating the organs have been cleared up.

People who've considered donating their organs but have not had a chance to do so were provided with full details of the whole process. The details gave them a different insight about organ donating in a positive way.

The project has implemented different activities and there have now been nearly 100 donor cards filled out.

The project runs from December 2012 to February 2013. It aims to educate and persuade more people to register as a donor and reduce their fear about organ donating via social media such as Facebook and Instagram.

At Chamchuri Square, passers-by were told about organ donation. Subjects such as transplantation, brain death, and experience of the recipients who have been through the transplantation process were shared with the public.

Every week an interview clip with a doctor is uploaded via Facebook and YouTube. These clips share facts about organ donation, experiences doctors have had concerning organ donation and to clear any misconceptions the public has regarding donating.

Other activities included a slogan contest for ODC. Famous celebrities in Thailand were given the project's T-shirt to wear and upload on their Instagram under the Celeb-stagram activity to reach young adults.

This project has been created by students from Assumption University, Albert Laurence School of Communication Arts in the Public Relations Department in cooperation with ODC.

Organ donation is a great merit and is highly praised. Keeping that in mind, the projects also aim to get Thai people to sign the donor card and donate their organs to help save a life. If you would like to show your support you can start by following "Give Life Through Love" page on Facebook.