Harmonics of Wisdom: Music as a catalyst for listening with the heart

By Chainarong Monthienvichienchai

Weerapong Taweesak, dancing his fingers over wine glasses filled with water, created delicate melodies as the children listened intently. The glass harpist then recounted a memory of playing inside a Bangkok prison, sharing how art and quiet listening can penetrate even the most guarded human hearts.

Taweesak was performing as one of four “mentors” at the third season of MISSION POSSIBLE Youth Social Hackathon, running from July 25 to 27.

Co-organized by the Catholic Education Council of Thailand and LiCAS News, the three-day initiative at the Salesian Retreat House and the Hua Hin Vittayalai School provided a space for inspiration, collaborative problem-solving and shared hope under the overarching synodal theme, “Together We Make a Better World Possible.”

At the end of the three days, 12 teams from Catholic schools across Thailand will pitch for seed funding to make their dream solutions a reality.

A Synodal Spirit Across Traditions

Although rooted in Catholic tradition, the hackathon drew a diverse group of participants, the majority of whom are Buddhists.

Despite their different religious backgrounds, the young delegates embraced the spirit of synodality – a concept championed by the late Pope Francis that calls for a Church and a human family that listens deeply, walks together and acts in hope.

Modulating mindsets

The opening day on July 25 focused on grounding the students in purpose. Social innovators, acting as mentors to the young “hackers”, shared personal stories of life challenges, resilience and finding hope, offering guidance as the teams began refining their project concepts.

One mentor shared her experience of confronting cancer three times, emphasizing how an unflappable positive attitude can transform seemingly unbearable suffering into strength.

Another mentor recalled engaging directly with protesters outside Government House, demonstrating the transformative power of standing alongside people and listening deeply to the injustices they endure.

Among the day’s highlights was Taweesak’s performance on his glass harp and reflection.

“Getting the attention of prisoners is one thing, but getting their trust that you are there for them is very difficult,” shared Taweeskak. “But when I play the glass harp in front of them, they can feel that I am really there for them, and it is then when we are ready to listen to each other.”

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The young participants at the youth social hackathon felt the same.

“Music got our full attention and helped us listen deeply to what he said,” said Korn, a Grade 11 student from St. Peter’s School in Thonburi. “It taught us to use genuine wisdom in our hacking – not just technical intelligence.”

Korn’s classmate, Noppanant, echoed the sentiment, saying the unconventional medium of the glass harp opened their eyes to creative ways of touching lives through social projects.

Youths taking inspiration from mentors at MISSION POSSIBLE Thailand Season 3, July 25, 2026. (Photo by Catholic Social Communications of Thailand)

From Ideas to Action: The Path Ahead

As the intensive “hacking” sessions reached full stride on July 26, professional speaking coaches worked side by side with the youth teams, guiding them from initial brainstorming toward structured and implementable solutions.

New friendships formed across school boundaries and regional divides, turning individual insights into collective momentum.

As the hackathon moved toward its final showcase on July 27, the young participants began moving beyond theory and taking steps toward active citizenship.

Addressing the young participants, the organizers offered advice as the teams prepared to pitch their projects:

“I truly believe that when you pitch your idea and secure the funding to actually implement it, you can change your life, lives of others and the wider society. But receiving funding is not a reward, it is a burden and responsibility, a mission to make a better world a reality.”

By combining creative technology with humanistic empathy – championing the magnificence of humanity – the young participants of MISSION POSSIBLE are demonstrating how deep listening can guide innovation toward a more just and harmonious world.

Fr. Thomas Nattawut Kitsawad, Vice Rector, Hua Hin Vitthayalai School, welcomes the participants of MISSION POSSIBLE Thailand Season 3, July 25, 2026. (Photo by Catholic Social Communications of Thailand)

This article was originally published on https://www.licas.news/. All rights reserved. Unauthorized republication by third parties is not permitted.