518 Announces Successful Participants for the 2008 Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk Schoo

Now on its 5th year, The May 18 Memorial Foundation will be hosting the 2008 Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School on August 11-29, 2008 in Gwangju, Republic of Korea. Twenty-five (25) participants from 14 Asian countries were chosen to attend the folk school.


Popularized by NFS Grundtvig, folk school is a pedagogy emulated all over the world as an alternative, democratic and popular medium of education. The aim of the folk school is to contribute to the development of democracy and human rights throughout Asia and provide participants an opportunity to learn and experience Korea's history and the development process of its human rights and democracy. The Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School will be conducted both on a theoretical and practical experiences through seminars, workshops, discussions, and field trips to Korea's sites of democratization movements.


Participants of the folk school were chosen among applicants who work for human rights, advocates democracy and peace and social development workers. They belong to different fields and sectors such as the academe, media, cultural workers, informal sector, urban poor group, youth and the like.


For the past two (2) years the foundation has supported 10 scholars to Sungkonghoe University for their Master of Arts in Inter-Asia NGO Studies (MAINS) Programme. Those scholars were previous participants of the folk school who applied for admission to the MAINS Programme. They were endorsed by the foundation based on their active performance and participation in the folk school.


The following are the Lists of Participants to the 2008 Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folks School:


A. Senior

1) Ataur Rahman BMSF - Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadhik Forum (Bangladesh Human Rights Journalist Forum)

2) Ihagama Gedara Mudiyanselage Asela Bandara Commission for Justice Peace Human Development Human Rights Secretariate

3) Jessica E. Amon COM - Community Organizers Multiversity

4) Rowena Legaspi Children’s Legal Rights and Development Center, Inc.


B. Middle Manager

1) Md. Sazzad Hussain Odhikar

2) Pitttiya Gedara Chameera Eroshana Perera AFMD - Association of Family Members of the Dissapeared

3) Mohammad Nasir Karimi UNAMA - Organization Nations Assistance Mission for Afghanistan

4) Kshetrimayum Onil Reachout

5) Prashatn Singh - People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights

6) Dhiah Hartini Voice of Human Rights News Centre

7) Meng Jiuan Chen - Taiwan Tati Cultural and Ecuational Foundation

8) Vince Aureflor Cinches - Central Visayas Fisherfolk Development Center Inc.

9) Muhammad Imran Afridi FRSO - Frontier Rural Support Organization




C. Junior

1) Bhawana Bhatta Youth Action Nepal

2) Paudyal Mahesh National Human Rights Commission, Nepal

3) Nai-Wei Cheng The Memorial Foundation of 228

4) Ti Hooi Neow DEMA - Malaysia Youth and Student Democratic Movement

5) Niabdhulghafar Tohming - Asian Resource Foundation

6) Jiranan Hanthamrongwit - Foundation for Community Educational Media

7) Gufron IMPARSIAL - The Indonesian Human Rights Monitor

8) Kuy Rumduol Youth for Peace

9) Kong Keo Sokunthea CCIM - Cambodia Center for Independent Media

10) Janet B. Macailing Workers Assistance Center, Inc.