Peace Volunteer Program.

The violence in South Thailand began in 2004 and has showed little signs of subsiding. In an effort to reverse the trend, The Southern Border Province Administration Centre (SBPAC) and Mahidol University established a peace training program in 2007. The 3 month course would train 125 local officials in South Thailand in peacebuilding techniques. In 2008, SBPAC and Mahidol University took 69 of the participants to become ‘Peace Volunteers’ to put what they had learned into practice in their local areas.

Peace Volunteers in South Thailand

The peace volunteers are local people, who live and work in the areas affected by the violence. Around 60% are teachers – others come are deputy district officers, or come from community development authorities. Because they are from the area they know the culture, religion and nature of the people, better than any outsider. The training they have received has allowed them to built upon this local knowledge, using it alongside peacebuilding skills.

Peace Volunteers in South Thailand

By 2010, these 69 volunteers will have established a peace building project that extends in to high schools and villages (particularly villages that are experiencing religious based conflict).

Posted by Kokaew Wongphan, 21 December 2009

The Southern Border Province Administrative Centre (SBPAC)

SBPAC has been working for peace in South Thailand since October 2006 with the goal of increasing the participation of people across Thai society in the establishment of peace.