Some 19 students and teachers from Sophia University in Tokyo visited Xavier Learning Community (XLC) in Chiang Rai to learn about the situation of ethnic minorities in Thailand.
For six days, from 19 to 24 February, Sophia students with the help of Xavier students learnt the history of Chiang Rai province and the life of ethnic minorities. For their first activity, they visited the Ahka hill tribe to study the agriculture practices of the Ahka people and their lifestyle. In Chiang Rai, Ahka is the majority ethnic group. They have preserved their traditional language, clothes, writing, and philosophy. Many of them do not have Thai citizenship. As stateless people, they are not protected by the government. Sophia students learnt this issue while visiting the tribe.
On the second and third days, the students spent some time visiting Tham Luang Nang Non, a cave that gained international attention in 2018 when 12 members of a junior association football team and their assistant coach were trapped inside due to monsoonal flooding. A rescue effort succeeded in bringing them out safely, but two Thai rescue divers died during the process. The visit to the cave allowed the students to learn about the geology and history of the cave, and the story of the rescue of the football team.
One of the important cultural practices in Thailand is basket weaving. So XLC students taught Sophia students how to weave baskets. In Chiang Rai, many ethnic villagers sell good quality handmade baskets, and they are able to get a good income from it. Some of them have even set up online classes for those who want to learn the skill of basket weaving.
In the evening, Sophia students learnt how to cook papaya salad and pad Thai, two of the most popular Thai dishes. Pad Thai is also one of the Thailand’s national dishes.
On the fourth and fifth days, Sophia and XLC students reflected on the activities of the past three days, sharing their impressions and learning. After the sharing, they went to Ban Tab Kuman Tong School where XLC often sends their students and Australian volunteers to teach English every weekend. The students joined the classes and taught English. They also shared lunch with the local children at the school.
On the last day of the programme, XLC students held a simple farewell activity filled with traditional dances and songs for their new friends from Sophia.
“It was wonderful to participate in activities with my friends who come from Sophia University, Japan. I tried to be a good host and a good friend to them. We laughed together. It was a good opportunity to share my culture with them, and a great memory for me,” shared XLC student Pransong.
