Project News

During 29 January – 3 February, the Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) 2017 which is an annual international conference focusing on policy-related health issues of global significance hosted by the Prince Mahidol Award Foundation, the Royal Thai Government, and other international co-hosts including JICA, was held at Centara Grand at Central World Hotel in Bangkok with the theme of ‘Addressing the Health of Vulnerable Populations for an Inclusive Society'.

At the main conference, there were Keynote speeches, Plenary sessions, Parallel sessions, Synthesis (Summary and Recommendation), and Poster display. The mentioned events and activities are related to the issues of ‘Vulnerable Populations and Inclusive Society' in many aspects, in particular the health perspective at many levels including local, national and global.

With regard to this, JICA organized one parallel session titled ‘Mobilizing for Social Inclusion: Persons with Vulnerability as Agents of Change' with the aim to transform the social perception of vulnerable people from passive receivers of social protection to active agents of change, in order that the empowerment approach is highlighted as the effective measure for creation and promotion of social inclusion in any society. In this honored occasion, two representatives from LTOP site in Chiangrai, namely Mr. Rod as an Agent of Change and Ms. Krissana as a Supporter to the Agent of Change were on the stage as panelists together with the other three representatives from Malaysia and Bangladesh. As the change agent, Mr. Rod told his story and inspiration why he has become an elderly care volunteer working for the elderly and community, and shared his experiences, challenges, barriers as well as the support he has received for being the agent of change. Similarly, as the supporter or co-worker of the change agent, Ms. Krissana narrated her works operated for the elderly and vulnerable persons. She pointed out the challenges and the means in encouraging and empowering the persons who are claimed being as the people with vulnerability to become the helper or changer for the community and society.

This session was so inspiring. The participants realized that any people with any condition has the potential to become the giver and can change the society one way or another if they are given the place and opportunity. It might be true that not all vulnerable persons can become the change agent but it might be happened the society has more and more change agents from the group of vulnerable people.

The panelists in parallel session

Presentation by Mr. Rod, an elderly care volunteer