THE WALK TOGETHER INITIATIVE,
UNITING THAIS AND BELGIANS.
The origins of the project:
Since a very long time, both in Thailand and Belgium, various groups of people, Thai-Belgian organizations, or government administrations, have worked hard to nurture and further develop the relations between the two countries and the two peoples. These efforts have succeeded in establishing a long history of friendly relations between the two nations.
In 2014, the Chao Phya Abhai Raja Foundation, embarked on a new and ambitious project: The Thai-Belgian Friendship Celebrations.
This project aimed at celebrating the everlasting good relations between Thailand and Belgium in a series of events which would take place a year later in Bangkok, and would be spread over a period of 9 days. The Chao Phya Abhai Raja Foundation aimed at creating highly memorable events, and included an exhibition of Thai and Belgian royal visits, a charity gala dinner, an economic forum, and several other commemorative or festive events.
While the project was initiated by the Foundation itself, it was important to celebrate the Thai-Belgian Friendship not only in the best possible way, but also all together, by associating as many people as possible to its organization. The preparations soon became a wonderful team work, and it is truly united that Thai and Belgian organizations, as well as countless Thais and Belgians, succeeded in turning the Celebrations into a memorable success. HRH Princess Maria-Esmeralda of Belgium presided over the Commemorative Brooches Gala Dinner together with HRH Princess Soamsawali Krom Muen Suddhanarinatha. The Exhibition of the Royal Visits was inaugurated by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and all the other events were equally highly successful.
Following this first success of a true multi-level collaboration, making things happen together, the Chao Phya Abhai Raja Foundation decided to go on with similar projects over the years, such as the Thailand-Belgium 150 Years commemoration, in 2018, the Simply Exceptional Gala Dinner, in 2019, or even, more recently, Covid 19 related activities to help the society. Most events united the Thai and Belgian communities, with many Thai-Belgian organizations and companies having an important part in their success.
These past wide-ranging and successful collaborations have contributed in making Belgium shine in Thailand. It has also encouraged the Thai and Belgian communities to work more closely together, to the benefit of both countries. It was also a confirmation that by being united the Thai and Belgians communities can achieve much more.
For these reasons, in 2021 the Chao Phya Abhai Raja Foundation has initiated the Walk Together Initiative, with the aim of nurture the collaborations which developed over time between the various Thai-Belgian entities, promote the Thai-Belgian friendship, and... walk together to build a good and successful future.
Walk Together... to build the future.
By being together we are stronger.
Over the years, the Chao Phya Abhai Raja Foundation has closely collaborated with many entities, such as other foundations, the Belgian-Luxembourg/Thai Chamber of Commerce, Embassies and administrations of Thailand and Belgium, important companies such as CP Group, Minor Group or Gallothai, universities, and much more. Besides these entities, countless friends and partners of the Foundation, artists, academics, government officials, historians, actors of the civil society, important personalities, and many more, have also joined hands to make its projects successful.
The directors of the Chao Phya Abhai Raja Foundation have thus taken the initiative to contribute in increasing even more this great collaboration, by launching the Walk Together Initiative, and the Walk Together App.
The Walk Together Initiative.
The Walk Together Initiative is about encouraging all the stakeholders of the Thai-Belgian communities to meet in the real world, while the Walk Together App will be used as a mean to consolidate this unity and collaboration in the digital world.
Under the Walk Together Initiative, the various entities and responsible persons of Thai-Belgian related groups are invited to join regular meeting sessions, in which they can present their projects. The other participants can then judge if and how they can bring added value to the presented projects, to the mutual benefit of all involved. As an example, a "Study in Belgium" student fair, organized in Thailand by the Alumni Association, can be promoted together with other Thai-Belgian entities, such as the BeLuThai Chamber of Commerce, whose business members may be interested in recruiting Thai students who went to study in Belgium. Similarly, an economic forum organized by the BeLuThai Chamber of Commerce can be even more successful if organized with the help of other entities or business groups. A charity campaign set up by a foundation can be more successful if both the Thai and Belgian communities are actively engaged, etc...
Through the Walk Together Initiative's regular meetings, all parties involved are encouraged to suggest constructive ideas on how to add extra value to each-other's projects, make these projects bigger and even more successful, and help each-other in establishing a strong and united Thai-Belgian community.
The Walk Together App.
The Walk Together App serves as a wonderful tool to bring even more added value to the activities taking place under the Walk Together Initiative. Indeed, by using the app, the various participating entities and individuals can share news about their projects, not only within their own focused group, but with everyone in both the Thai and the Belgian communities. This exchange of information to a wider group fosters better understanding between all the parties involved, and leads to more collaboration and unity. By knowing each-other better, the various entities are better prepared to assist each-other's activities, and even co-organize events. Besides sharing news and stories, the app also offers ways to collaborate in donation campaigns, in order to offer an additional channel to help the society.
Walk Together to the benefit of Thailand and Belgium.
It is important to emphasize that the Walk Together Initiative and the Walk Together App are two non-profit projects. The projects are funded directly with donations from the Chairman and the directors of the Chao Phya Abhai Raja Foundation. The ultimate goal of the project is to contribute to the friendship between Thailand and Belgium, and between the Thai and Belgian people.
