Bangkok--22 Jul--UNISBKK
Over 400 children and youth from across Thailand, including many with disabilities, art teachers and volunteers, will converge in the United Nations Conference Centre tomorrow Friday, 23 July for the opening ceremony of the annual Art for All Camp.
Held under the theme “Art for All: Improving the Quality of Life”, the Camp will last till 27 July and will be held at Arayana Phupimarn Resort and Spa, Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima province of Thailand.
Organized by the Art for All Foundation, in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Ministry of Culture of Thailand and the authority of Nakhon Ratchasima province, the Art for All Camp will bring together children and youth with different disabilities as well as non-disabled children, young people from the three Southern most provinces of Thailand, and youth from different ethnic tribes.
Participants will take part in a wide range of classes, including visual and performing arts (drawing, painting, crafts and music and dance), as well as literature, aimed to enhance their all-round development and skills, learning how to complement each other’s strength to overcome barriers.
“If the methods employed and the activities designed are conducive to learning and to changing behaviours, the participants will greatly benefit and be able ultimately to improve their own quality of life and self-reliance”, commented Mr. Channarong Pornrungroj, Founder and President of the Art for All Foundation, ahead of the Art Camp.
Organized for the 13th consecutive year, the Art for All Camp will this year include a contest, with the winning artwork expected to feature in promotional and advocacy materials leading to the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Final Review of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons to be hosted by the Republic of Korea in October 2012.
“ESCAP is proud to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities and have this as a priority area of our work”, commented Mr. Shigeru Mochida, Deputy Executive Secretary of ESCAP. “As an organization, we are committed to promoting inclusive and sustainable development. For this to be a reality, we have to involve all people, including children and youth with disabilities. Such young people can be critical agents of change and valuable resources for the Asian and Pacific region,” Mr. Mochida noted.
The Opening Ceremony of the Art for All Camp will be held on Friday, 23 July from 8.30 to 11.00 at ESCAP Hall, United Nations Conference Centre. It is to be presided over by H.E. Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, Prime Minister of Thailand and Mr. Shigeru Mochida, Deputy Executive Secretary of ESCAP.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
You or your representatives are cordially invited to attend this event. The programme is attached herewith.
For further information, please contact:
Victoria Ayer
Associate Social Affairs Officer
Social Development Division
United Nations ESCAP
Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Tel: 66-2-288-1588
Fax: 662-288-3031
Email:
[email protected]
or
Thawadi Pachariyangkun
UN ESCAP Information Services
Tel: 02- 288-1861
Mobile: 0816343876Email:
[email protected]