CIEE Khon Kaen

A community for students, staff, and friends of CIEE Khon Kaen. CIEE Khon Kaen was established at Khon Kaen University in 1991.

The Development and Globalization program began in the summer of 1995. The Public Health program, based at the Faculty of Public Health of Khon Kaen University initiated in the Spring of 2010. Both programs have a strong experiential learning aspect to them with a significant connection to communities in NE Thailand. If you have been a participation either program feel free to use this page to tel

l your story (post pictures, tell use what you have been up to after the program, etc.) If you have not been a participant, but you are interested you can see information here. Read more about the Public Health Program:

http://www.ciee.org/study-abroad/thailand/khon-kaen/community-public-health/

Read more about the Development and Globalization program:

http://www.ciee.org/study-abroad/thailand/khon-kaen/development-globalization/

01/04/2020

For CIEE students, the past week came with unprecedented changes to their experience with grassroots issues in Thailand. As the number of confirmed cases surges worldwide, the now global pandemic, COVID-19, has called international travelers to return to their country of citizenship. Following this protocol, CIEE suspended all of its international programs, leaving DG students disconnected from their network in Isaan. Even so, as they returned to the states, DG students continued to foster relationships with communities and partnerships working to acknowledge land rights in the Northeast.

Staying connected through online lectures and virtual exchanges, students had the opportunity to speak with the Homeless Foundation and the Four Region Slum Network, but also to touch base, once more, with P’Kowit—an activist and NGO who has worked with both slum communities in Khon Kaen and sugarcane farmers in Loei. Aiming to explore a topic close to what was their new home, students examined the effects of urban development initiatives on slum communities local to Khon Kaen. Using what they learned, students spent the end of the week reflecting on what it means to occupy land legally in Thailand. Furthermore, thinking about how Thais of all statuses can work to coexist in newly cosmopolitan spaces.

17/03/2020

Khon Kaen Green Market provides chemical-free, affordable produce on Fridays and Saturdays. Farmers bring items from local farms, selling raw ingredients or meals and drinks. The majority of the market’s customers are older, health-conscious individuals.

17/03/2020

(Feb 15) Masked faces have become a common sight in Khon Kaen, due to concerns about the city’s worsening air quality, along with panic surrounding the recent coronavirus outbreak. In January, the World Air Quality Project reported that the air quality in Khon Kaen was considered unhealthy for 22 out of 31 days. There are currently 19 reported cases of coronavirus in Thailand.

17/03/2020

This past week, CIEE Khon Kaen students visited Na Nong B**g, where they got the chance to model ’s clothing and scarves during a mini photoshoot. These vibrant colored scarves and cute clothing pieces fund the Na Nong B**g community fighting against mining in their community. Proceeds go towards environmental justice and community projects. These talented grandma’s are brilliant weavers and pretty rad! For more information visit their website and instagram. Links and handles below:

http://www.radicalgrandmacollective.com/

Facebook & Instagram:

17/03/2020

The Love to Live campus tour event took place on Friday, 21 February at Khon Kaen University (KKU) complex. CIEE study abroad student, Nancy Gomez attended this event to learn more about mental health counseling and mental health in Thailand.

The event aimed to increase students' knowledge and awareness of mental illness and mental health at KKU. Staff from Northeastern Institute of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Sanju, app developer of Santi, psychiatrist Kanda and students speakers were all present for the event and part of an educational forum speaking on mental health.

The evening wrapped up with a special concert from Season five band and booths with common misconceptions of various mental illness, the power of listening and love, how students can help themselves and friends and resources for how to get help

17/03/2020

CIEE Khon Kaen’s DG (Development & Globalization) and CPH (Community & Public Health) students took a trip to Phu Pha Maan District, a province with beautiful wildlife and stunning landscape. Students hiked, camped, and ate smores as part of their experience.

Most memorable was the rocky trek up the Phu Pha Man Bat cave where they were rewarded with a wonderful view and many many bats. The strenuous journey up the cave and various adventures throughout the weekend was all worth it in the end!

17/03/2020

From ordering “ghin J” and getting eggs accidentally to trying to find Som Tam without fish sauce, being vegan in Thailand is hard! Two students on the CIEE Khon Kaen program this semester have spent their time searching up the best vegan/vegetarian restuarants in Khon Kaen and they’ve reached a concensus - 100% of CIEE Khon Kaen vegetarians agree is the best place to ghin J in Khon Kaen.

17/03/2020

After watching the buffaloes return to their pens after a long day of work in the field CIEE student Nancy Gomez poses with the vibrant sunset in Kaen Lawa Northeast Thailand 📷Jay Falk

18/02/2020

This past week DG students traveled to Yasothon province to learn about organic farming, traditional medicine, and sustainable agriculture through the Alternative Agriculture Network (AAN). Students had the unique opportunity to have meaningful conversations with leaders of the AAN, green market organizers, chemical farmers, and beyond. Students had a blast exploring the traditional Thai medicine section of a hospital and learning about different herbal products and their uses. You can see a student taking advantage of these herbal products, by smelling a combination of herbs which are known to help improve the purification of blood and circulation throughout the body. Some students even went home with some Thai traditional remedies of their own!

Through spending the afternoon on P’Kriangs farm, a self-sustaining organic farmer and member of the AAN, students practiced mindful eating and learned that food is more than just fuel for your body. In the words of P’Kriang himself, the varied plants on his land and their extensive benefits make it so that his farm is a restaurant, a hospital, and a cosmetic salon all at once. For example, you can see a student in one of the pictures attached smelling a passionfruit, which has health benefits including improving digestion.

In reflecting on the visit, the students settled on the theme of change to encapsulate their experience in Yasothon. This was reflected in documented narratives of four residents of the Yasothon community. Each resident that was interviewed provided an object relating to their personal experience with the land they grew up on and explained it’s nostalgic value. Creating these narratives allowed students to not only reflect on their experience during the community visit but also allows for a glimpse into the mindset of the local community. The aim is for this collection of narratives to be passed down to future CIEE students, so before they visit this community they will have the opportunity to hear the stories and voices of the residents.

18/02/2020

Before starting her semester at CIEE Khon Kaen, study abroad student Jay Falk travelled around Southeast Asia solo. In two weeks she met monkeys at Angkor Wat, and ate snails in Ho Chi Minh City, and discovered the beautiful beaches of Koh Rong among many other adventures

28/11/2019

Wrap-up day of this semester's Social Research Methods of the Development and Globalization program. Kudos to our instructor, Aj. Paul, and the students!

At CIEE Office Khonkaen. November 22 at 4:34 PM

Paul Jhitsayarat: Yeah! That’s a wrap✅ . As a lecturer, I am so proud of you. You have made an incredible progress. Also, thank you Dr. David Streckfuss and Ajarn John Mark Belardo for the opportunity given me teaching this course. Good Luck !!!

ปิดคอร์ส วิชาวิจัยทางสังคมศาสตร์ ดีใจที่ได้รับโอกาสมาสอน ขอบคุณอาจารย์เดฟ อาจารย์จอน สำหรับโอกาสมากๆครับ เจอกันใหม่ เทอมหน้า ฟ้าอมร

19/10/2019

CPH students spend the next few weeks in Lao PDR studying NGOs and attending the 11th International Conference on Public Health among Greater Mekong Sub-Regional countries at Vientiane Capital