A unique nighttime volunteer activity in northern Thailand is drawing fresh attention to the vital, yet often invisible, role of Myanmar migrant garbage collectors who keep the city running after dark.

The event, affectionately titled “Night with Santa Claus,” took place on April 30 and brought around a dozen participants into the streets of Chiang Mai. Volunteers spent the evening exploring the city at night, which included riding tuk-tuks alongside Myanmar waste collectors as they carried out their regular shifts.

Organizers of the initiative say the goal is to challenge deeply ingrained social biases and highlight the essential contributions of migrant workers. Despite playing a foundational role in Chiang Mai’s daily operations and cleanliness, these workers are frequently marginalized and viewed as “outsiders” by the broader public.

“They are not ‘others.’ They are the ones cleaning the city. They are the ones moving to Chiang Mai,” said Kanokwan Meeprom, an organizer and manager of Serm Raeng Rian Chiang Mai.

The “Night with Santa Claus” program aims to break down prejudice through direct, humanizing experiences. For many volunteers, bridging the gap between residents and the migrant workforce proved to be a transformative experience.

“Going around with the trash collector [impacted] me a lot because I can hear their story, I feel empathy, and also, I feel proud of them,” said Thet, a volunteer participant. “I feel that they play an important role in environmental protection without knowing themselves or anything like that. They are also heroes of their family.”

To ensure the activity remains a positive experience for everyone involved, organizers established strict rules to protect the privacy and dignity of the waste collectors. The focus remains heavily on mutual respect rather than voyeurism.

“It’s a mutual respect. It’s like mutual exchange,” Meeprom added. “Maybe they have to improve, but at least this is the first time that [it opens] people’s minds to learn about this group of people.”