Introduction

Asia Pacific

The primary role of the new FI office in Bangkok is the strengthening of capacity building activities for human rights and environmental advocacy. Activities centered on training grassroots Franciscans, thereby complementing the focus on advocacy of FI Geneva, and the networking activities at the
UN of FI New York.

In March 2008, the official inauguration of the office was presided over by His Excellency, Archbishop Salvatore Pennachio, the Papal Nuncio to Thailand, Fr John Celichowski, President of the International Board of Directors from 2006 to 2008 and Sr Denise Boyle FMDM, the new Executive Director of FI. The opening ceremony was also attended by the participants from the first human rights training offered by the new office.

The first year of operations for an NGO office is often characterized by exciting highpoints and challenges. This statement is certainly true of the first year of FI Bangkok.  FI Bangkok was able to offer and run all the trainings, advocacy workshops and animation activities because of the generosity of many Franciscan communities throughout the region, whose generosity enabled the infrastructure upon which the programmes were built and launched.

Contact bangkok@fiop.org for more information on FI's Asia Pacific programme.