Local Chef’s To Peace Project make peace between Thai-Buddhist, Muslim and Thai-Chinese in the South Through Local Food

By UNDP in Thailand
7 May 2022

 

In the midst of South Thailand insurgency, many departments are finding solutions to end the conflict including this group of youth from the South ; Phadlee Tohday, Arafa Buerangae, Iskanda Kuno, Tarmeesee Anansai, the winner from Youth Co:Lab Thailand 2019 competition. They are determined to change disagreements into peace among the turmoil in the South between  Thai-buddhist, Muslim and Thai-Chinese using local food.

 

 

We want everyone to understand diversity and live peacefully

Local Chef’s to Peace Project : We see the problems of local people in the South. We know that they don’t understand each others in the deeper dimension of life such as cultures, society, food and living. Therefore, we came up with solution to bond their living together through our project called ‘Local Chef’s to Peace Project’

 

 

 

A food which creates peace

Local Chef’s to Peace Project : We picked out an issue about eating culture in the South. Because we found out that the differences of eating culture can make people in the area feel distant and might lead to bigger trouble like discrimination. So, if we can make one dish out of several religions, everyone can have a meal together worries-free.

 

Ashure - the local dessert

 

Bond relationship and embrace diversity with “Ashure”

Local Chef’s to Peace Project : We chose “Ashure” because it’s a dessert that is mixed from several dishes and stirred thoroughly until the mixture is homogenous just like “Piakpoon” (black coconut sweet pudding). Traditionally, we set a day to make the dessert together in the village. On the day, everyone has to bring ingredients they have at home and help each other stir the pudding. So, we can say that the process harmonises everyone no matter what religion they are.

 

 

Food alone can’t stop all the conflicts, but at least, it can be a practice.

Local Chef’s to Peace Project : Food alone can’t stop all the conflicts, but at least, the food that we presented can be a bond that connects people from different areas, a practice to live together, to exchange experiences and most importantly to understand each other more.

 

People trusting each other is the dream we expect to become true.

Local Chef’s to Peace Project : We hope to see society that trusts one another,,, society that doesn’t have any kinds of discrimination. At last but not least we wish that everyone could live peacefully without suspicions and hatred.

 

 

The feeling to be part of the programme.

Local Chef’s to Peace Project : When the announcement came out that we are gonna be part of the programme, we felt super excited. Because we’re sure there’s something to look forward to. And after we attended the programme, we enjoyed it so much. We’ve met friends with the same interests and exchanged so many good experiences to each other.

 

And to accept the first price, it’s more than words to explain our feelings. We were never this happy in our life. First thing we know is that, we’ve broken the wall of expectations from people back at home, from our close one , and also from ourselves. Every team claps for us… it was the feeling of ultimate joy.

 

 

Local Chef's to Peace Project
Written By
UNDP in Thailand
United Nations Development Programme
See also