Twenty young professionals within environmental journalism, fishfarming and seismic studies from nine Asian countries – including Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao PDR – participated in an introductory course in Bangkok to prepare themselves for the first south–south exchange programme of the new Norwegian Fredskorpset (Peace Corps).
This exchange programme is organized by Asia Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists (APFEJ) under the peace initiative of the new Norwegian Fredskorpset.
The two-week preparatory course started the last week of April at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok. On the course opening day, all the participants were warmly welcomed by Norwegian Ambassador to Thailand, Mrs. Ragne Birte Lund, and AIT President, Mr. Jean-Louis Armand.
This is the first time the preparatory course has been held outside Norway.
Ms. Grete Thingelstad and Ms. Ellen Linde from Fredskorpset Secretariat in Oslo, Norway attended the closing ceremony at the Amari Airport Hotel on May 2, after which these Fredskorps participants would work on their nine-month assignment in different Asian countries.
The Norwegian Fredskorpset is a separate body linked to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for partnership for development. The goal is to let young people from different parts of the world meet and work together, hopefully resulting in people learning from one another and enriching their experience.
