Two students from the University of Hamburg had the privilege to participate in a study visit to Thailand organized by the Thai Embassy in Germany. The excursion themed “Exploiting Thailand ́s Sustainable Development Models and its way towards the ASEAN Economic Community 2015” mostly lead us to development projects under royal patronage in northern Thailand. One particular project, which we had the pleasure to visit and left a lasting impression on both of us, was the “Doi Tung Development Project” (DTDP), situated in Doi Tung, Chiang Rai. This flagship project of the “Mae Fah Luang Foundation” (MFLF) aims to improve the quality of life of Thailand ́s ethnic minorities in the Doi Tung area. The activities of the project include livelihood development, reforestation of watershed areas and the development of various social enterprises to benefit local people. In this presentation we would like to give a short outline of the project including its history, aims, accomplishments and future plans. Furthermore we would also like to convey our personal impressions of the project and of the study trip in general.

The presenters

Dominik Neef studies in the Bachelor program „Languages and Cultures of Southeast Asia“ with a focus on Thai Studies at the University of Hamburg. He completed two terms abroad at Khon Kaen University. Currently he is preparing his Bachelor Thesis. His fields of interest are Thai linguistics and folklore.

Singkha Grabowsky is a Graduate student at the History Department of the University of Hamburg. His special interest lies in medieval and early modern European travel writing of the East. Currently he focuses on Portuguese accounts of the Kingdom of Siam in the renaissance.

Donnerstag, den 12. November 2015

Zeit: 18 – 20 Uhr

Universität Hamburg
Asien-Afrika Institut
Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1,
Ort: Raum 222
Flügel Ost