The Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand provided support to the Association of Children and Youth for the Peace in the Southernmost Provinces of Thailand (“Luuk Rieang”) to organise a Workshop on “Creating Local Menus to Represent the Values and Delicacies of Local Cuisine of the Thai, Chinese, and Malay Cultures for the Next Generation” during 22 - 24 July 2023 at Baan Luuk Rieang, Yala Province. Participants included 35 youths from Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat Provinces, as well as international students from Fatoni University, Pattani Campus.

The Workshop consisted of lectures and knowledge-sharing sessions on the diversity of cultures and local cuisines, past to present, by Yala Vocational College, and a cooking class, including instructions on hygiene, the use of cooking utensils, selection and access to raw materials and cost management by chefs, local gurus and entrepreneurs. Participants gained knowledge on menus which reflected the local characteristics.

This activity is part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ initiative to raise awareness and understanding towards a multi-cultural society, by creating opportunities for youths and local communities to better understand multi-culturalism through culinary culture, while preserving and adding value to local wisdom as a channel for a sustainable employment and livelihoods in the future.