© 2010 The Ayui Foundation

The Australia-Thailand Institute (ATI) was established in 2005 to promote bilateral relations between Thailand and Australia and to expand institutional and people-to-people links - the ATI supports programs that strengthen links between the two countires and aims to raise awareness and understanding in Australia and Thailand of each other's culture, values and traditions.

(http://www.dfat.gov.au/ati/)

The Ayui Foundation applied (and has received) a grant from the ATI for a traditional dancing project which will provide the girls at the hostel with materials to make their full traditional dress, and teach them traditional Akha dances and songs.

The young people living at Baan Ayui hostel will be able to share their traditional dances with visiting volunteers – the majority of who are Australians.

The project will be documented by Julianne Cowley, Ayui Board Member, who will travel to Chiang Rai as a photojournalist and will use the images to further promote Thailand and the hilltribe people of Northern Thailand in ongoing work for The Ayui Foundation.

We are very excited about the project and have arranged for two elders to come and stay at the hostel and teach the children traditional sewing techniques as well as pass down Akha dances and songs.  Julianne will visit the hostel in February 2010 and we will share updates and information with you in our upcoming newsletters.