“Our Garden” Workshop 2025, August 18th-September 6th, at the Children’s Shelter Foundation River Farm, (CSF) Chiang Mai, Thailand

GloCAP returned to Chiang Mai (year 15 of the partnership). GloCAP artistic director Suzanne Grégoire (with colleagues – see below) facilitated an art and dance workshop with hill tribe students at CSF. The theme of flowers and their meanings drew on local traditions and the children’s imaginations. Earlier, a flood that caused serious damage to CSF was followed by an earthquake. The workshop’s objective was to bring back lightness and joy.

Nantapohn Pantah, CSF Project Manager of Administration and Education, and Leonie Phichsinee Meister, CSF Junior Manager and “Our Garden” Lead Organizers, with Glocap’s Suzanne Grégoire

Boys, girls and staff members learned a five-part dance touching on: planting seeds; growing buds; falling rain; blooming flowers; and the finale, “Our Garden”. They created props: oversized fabric flowers, ribbon wands representing rain, and a huge backdrop with 150 flower images. In the watercolor and drawing workshops older students co-created a large community painting and drew individual pieces.

Suzanne built cultural exchange and cooperation into the workshop and students exchanged ideas with the Taman Permata Hati Bali Orphan Center (BOC), in Ubud, Bali (see Bali posting). In keeping with GloCAP’s mission, students learned about each other’s native flowers, cultures, customs and favorite foods, and viewed footage of each other‘s work, shared images of where they lived, their landscapes and temples, thereby discovering differences and similarities.

The workshop culminated in a dance performance and exhibit open to the public. Audience members purchased drawings, including the large watercolor, and all funds went to CSF.

GloCAP’s Artistic director Suzanne Grégoire led the workshop and created the choreography, and artists Natchai Posrila, Worawuth Srakaeo, and Jarm Patcharee led the art portions of the program. They were assisted by artist volunteers Hansa Somjan, Khamron Inthadaeng, and Chira Deelee. Photographer Alex de Blonay volunteered her time and created beautiful photos, some seen here, of that magical day. GloCAP awarded dance/art scholarships to the children, and provided funds for art materials to last them through 2025.