REACHING OUT TO Muslim THAI Community

A Friendship Lunch with Muslim Community Leaders

Pre-Departure Homestay is Just the Beginning for Thai Exchange Students Going to the U.S. (March 27, 2009)

More than two dozen secondary school students from the predominantly Muslim south of Thailand spent March 22 to 28 living with American host families in Bangkok to prepare for their high school exchange program in the United States next year.  Dozens of Americans opened their homes and hearts to these energetic and excited students to offer them a bit of American life in Bangkok.  Trying new food, practicing their English, and even an evening out to a local Bangkok bowling alley were some of the experiences the students shared with their hosts.  (More)

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alina L. Romanowski Visits Thailand (July 6, 2008)

Ms. Alina L. Romanowski , Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Professional and Cultural Exchanges in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, visited Thailand from July 6-10, 2008, to review professional, youth, and sports exchange programs between Thailand and the United States.  She concluded her visit by meeting with Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program alumni at the AFS-Thailand offices, who briefed her on their experiences as high school exchange students in the United States. (More) 

AUA Hosts a Special Cultural and Language Orientation Program for AFS Students (March 16, 2008)

Counselor for Public Affairs Anne Casper and her husband Karl Deringer meet their two AFS home stay students.

Ambassador Eric G. John opened the annual week-long language and cultural orientation program for Thai Muslim high school students going to the U.S. on scholarships provided by the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, and the U.S. Department of State's Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program. AFS Thailand and the AUA Lanugage Center coordinate this annual orientation program to introduce the scholarship students to American culture and provide them with an in-depth English language experience. 

The 31 scholarship students are staying with fourteen American host families in Bangkok during the week, giving them additional insights into American culture before they leave for the United States in August. The students come from around Thailand, including the far south, and passed the annual AFS Thailand exam allowing them to spend one year at an American high school as an AFS exchange student.

Imam Dr. Mohamad Bashar Arafat in Thailand reaching out to Thai Muslim audiences in Bangkok and four provinces in the south (March 3-7, 2008)

Imam Dr. Mohamad Bashar Arafat spent March 3-7, 2008, in Thailand reaching out to Thai Muslim audiences in Bangkok and four provinces in the south. 

Through presentations and discussions, Imam Arafat brought an Arab-American perspective to his interactions.  Imam Arafat discussed how Islam and other faiths can live peacefully together in a multicultural society; described the normalcy and opportunities, as well as the challenges, of Muslim life in America; and stressed the importance of religious freedom, multiculturalism, ethnic and cultural diversity. 

During his five-day visit, Imam Arafat, accompanied by the Counselor for Public Affairs Anne Casper and Cultural Affairs Officer Ken Foster, reached out to Thai Muslim religious leaders, Provincial Islamic Councils, Muslim academics, International Visitor Leadership Program alumni, media, and students at several public and Islamic universities and schools. On his last day in Thailand, Imam Arafat attended Friday prayers at the Central Mosque of Bangkok, an opportunity that allowed the Imam to introduce Muslim life in America to the large audience that remained afterwards to hear his presentation.  

Click here to read more about other past events and activities.

Computer Donations in the South (August 28-29, 2007)

Three computers and book shelves were donated to organizations and schools in Pattani and Narathiwat by Counselor for Public Affairs Anne Casper and Assistant Information Officer Cynthia Brown. The trip was part of the U.S. Embassy's outreach program to Muslim communities in the deep South.

Muslim Students Life in the U.S. (August 28, 2007)

To promote a mutual understanding among Muslim communities in Thailand, Public Affairs Bangkok organized a digital video conference (DVC) program on “Muslim Students Life in the U.S.” with Ball State University in Indiana and connected to American Corners in Pattani and Nakhon Si Thammarat on August 28, 2007. Ball State University gave a presentation and invited five Muslim students who are studying at the University to give insightful information on their daily life in the U.S. and how they adjust to American culture. DVC participants learned directly from Ball State University students about how they live and study in the U.S. without bias information from other sources.


Opening Ceremony of “Sacred Legacy” Photographic Exhibition at Thailand Knowledge Park (August 25, 2007)

Counselor for Public Affairs Anne Casper(on stage) and Thailand Knowledge (TK) Park Manager Tatsanai Wongpisethkul presided over the opening of the “Sacred Legacy: Edward S. Curtis and the North American Indian” photo exhibition at TK Park on August 25, 2007. The event was attended by TK Park members and 35 senior high-school students from Yannavej Wittayakom School and the Islamic College of Thailand. The exhibition celebrates America’s Native peoples, their history and culture, and illustrates the broad and extraordinary diversity among the North American tribes and pays homage to the famed photographer Edward Sheriff Curtis. This unique exhibition is being displayed at TK Park, 8th Floor of CentralWorld, until September 2, and will then move to the Lanna Architecture Center in Chiang Mai on September 7. For more information on the exhibit, please call TK Park 02-257-4300 and the Lanna Architecture Center in Chiang Mai 053-277-855.

Special Presentation on “Native American Heritage and Spirituality” at Thailand Knowledge (TK) Park (August 25, 2007)

Following the opening ceremony of the “Sacred Legacy” photo exhibition at Thailand Knowledge (TK) Park on August 25, Consular Associate Faith Shehane gave a special presentation on “Native American Heritage and Spirituality” to 50 TK Park visitors/members and senior high-school students from the Islamic College of Thailand and Yanavej Wittayakom School. Ms. Shehane talked about her experience as a Native American and explained different aspects of Native American culture, including the medicine wheel, the great law of peace, the Mohawk Nation, and Native American influence on American culture. Ms. Shehane's demonstration of a Native American Round Dance delighted the audience, and everyone joined her in the dance. Participants also made their own Native American souvenirs including feather headdresses, key chains and necklaces. If you are interested in inviting an Embassy officer to speak at your high-school or university, please contact bangkokPD@state.gov

University Outreach Activities in Nakhon Si Thammarat (August 16-17, 2007)

Public Affairs Bangkok continued its university outreach through the Embassy Speaker's Program and a visit to the American Corner (AC) at Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University during the institution's 50th anniversary celebration on August 16-17, 2007. Three Embassy summer interns, Zane Arpan, Rachel Busenitz and Daniel VerSchneider jointly gave a presentation on "Students' Life in the U.S." while Public Diplomacy Officer Tack Lim gave a lively talk about "Work, Study, and Travel in the United States. There was also an award ceremony for the winners of the AC English Essay Contest on "Why I Study English," in which the winners and their parents enjoy the recognition and prizes for their achievements.

Special Talk on “American Society and Values” at Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai Campus (August 8, 2007)

On August 8, Cultural Affairs Officer Kenneth Foster gave a special talk in Thai on “American Society and Values” to another group of 80 students from PSU and the Hat Yai Somboon Kulkalya School. Mr. Foster's presentation was accompanied by slides that demonstrated different aspects of American culture and values, such as democracy, freedom of speech, performing and visual arts, and education. The talk was given in the afternoon, following the opening ceremony of the "Sacred Legacy" photo exhibit (below) in the Raphiphan Hall of the Faculty of Liberal Arts, Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Hat Yai. Mr. Foster and Liberal Arts Dean Asst. Prof. Dr. Sujitra Jorajit presided over the opening, which was attended by PSU lecturers and more than 70 undergraduate and high-school students from PSU. If you are interested in inviting an Embassy officer to speak at your high-school or university, please contact bangkokPD@state.gov

“Sacred Legacy: Edward S. Curtis and THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN” Photo Exhibition (August 8-17, 2007)

This unique photographic exhibition celebrates America's Native peoples, and their history and culture. The exhibition illustrates the broad and extraordinary diversity among the North American tribes and pays homage to the famed photographer and ethnographer Edward Sheriff Curtis. The images are representative of the different cultural and geographic regions in which Curtis photographed and illustrate his artistry in portrait, landscape, and still life photography. These compelling works are drawn from the archive and personal collection of Christopher Cardozo, widely recognized as one the world’s leading authorities on Curtis and his photography. Mr. Cardozo is the author of six books on Curtis and is the Founder/Chair of the Edward S. Curtis Foundation. This exhibition is curently being shown in Hat Yai, and will then move to Bangkok on August 25 and Chiang Mai on September 7. Free admission. For more information, please contact bangkokPD@state.gov Venues: Raphiphan Hall, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai Campus (August 8-17), Thailand Knowledge (TK) Park, Central World, 8th Floor, Dazzle Zone (August 25-September 2), and Lanna Architecture Center, Faculty of Architecture, Chiang Mai University (September 7-21)

Students from Islamic College of Thailand Visit “After the Flood” Exhibit (July 20, 2007)

Over 60 teacher and students from the Islamic College of Thailand came to view an exhibit on sustainable architecture entitled, “After the Flood: Building on Higher Ground” on July 20, 2007 at Bangkok CODE Gallery. Featuring a range of architectural responses to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, the exhibit includes housing plans and model homes submitted in an international competition sponsored by Architectural Record magazine and the Tulane University School of Architecture. Bangkok CODE, the city campus of King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, hosts the exhibit from June 20 through August 19, 2007.

American Diversity and Studying in the U.S. (June 2007)

During the last week of June, Embassy Speakers Matthew Ference and Kamonrat Chayamarit traveled to Nakhon Si Thammarat to talk about studying in the USA and diversity of American culture. Focusing on how the diversity of America’s constituent cultural traditions has shaped and continues to shape American identity, and how multicultural environment in American schools and colleges will benefit international students, the presentations attracted huge audience: 170 students from Walailuck University, Prateepsasana Islamic School and Kanlayanee Sithammarat School. If your organization is interested in hosting an Embassy Speakers program, please email BangkokPD@state.gov

Exposure to American Culture in Surin Province (May 24-25, 2007)

Cultural Affairs Officer Ken Foster visited Surin Province May 24-25, 2007, and gave presentations about American culture, society and values to students at Sirindhorn High School, one of the largest schools in Surin Province, as well as during two radio broadcasts of the “MCOT for the Community” radio program on MCOT Surin 99.75 MHz. Students had an opportunity to practice their English and enjoyed a Q & A, where they won prizes for demonstrating knowledge of U.S. history and culture, while radio listeners learned more about American culture and enjoyed selections of American music.

American Corner Directors come to Bangkok (February 22-23, 2007) 

On February 23, 2007, Vice-Consuls Mary-Gardner Coppola and Rebecca Kinyon traveled to Chiang Rai and Trang provinces respectively to give special presentations in celebration of Women’s History Month in March and distribute book sets dealing with American education and culture.  Mary-Gardner (1st picture) spoke to more than 250 Thai students from Damrongratsongkroh School and Chiang Rai Rajabhat University on the topic of “Generations of Women Moving History Forward."  Rebecca (2nd picture)traveled to the Huay Yod School and Trang Rangsarit School in Trang to speak about Rosa Parks, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and the 1964 Civil Rights Act. 

Computer for Southern Schools (February 13-15, 2007)

On February 13-15, 2007, Embassy staff traveled to Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala in the South of Thailand to present computers and books about America to schools and Development organizations. These activities were part of an ongoing program to promote education and understanding of U.S. society and culture among students and educators in Muslim-dominated communities in the Southern part of Thailand.

Ambassador hosts Thai Leaders (January 30, 2007)

On January 30, 2007, Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce hosted a reception for 45 alumni of the Embassy's International Visitor Leadership Program at his residence.  The alumni came from across Thai society, including the media, NGOs, government, the private sector, educational institutes, and Islamic religious organizations.   For many in attendance, this was a rare opportunity to meet and network across disciplines.