Feb 25 / Thai Alumna Briefs US Embassy on YES Alumni Activities

Ms. Anissa Naksewee, YES 06-07 alumna from Thailand, met with Ms. Anne Casper, Counselor of Public Affairs, US Embassy, before leaving to attend the Sponsored Programs Training of Trainers in Los Angeles.

Anissa was one of 15 YES alumni from the 9 YES countries in the AFS consortium selected to join Sponsored Programs volunteers and staff for the Feb. 3-8th workshop, which focused on effective training skills and techniques.

During her Embassy visit, Anissa told Ms. Casper about the community service programs that Thai YES returnees organized for 12-14 year old students attending a small religious school in Pattani province, South Thailand. Because these students have a limited curriculum with no English, the YES scholarship returnee group held a fund raising event to support an English camp and sports day in cooperation with school officials.

“We prepared and sold french toast in the Pattani market and raised enough money for small school supplies, gifts and prizes and had fun with our new young Muslim neighbours. French toast is not usually found on Thai menus but my host family in Shaftsbury, Vermont, USA, taught me how to prepare this delicious treat. It sold well. The camp was a good opportunity to tell these students about our American host families and schools and our great experience living in the USA on the YES scholarship” Anissa said.

photo courtesy AFS Thailand. l. to r.: AFS-YES returnee Anissa Naksewe, Counselor Anne Casper, Rachaneekorn Bhusukho (AFS-THA Volunteer and Program Development Manager), and Anissa’s brother from Thammasat University