Mekong Institute : Words from Alumni

Words from Alumni


	2011: Strategic and Participatory Planning and Management I have come back to my hospital in Nanjing and everything is well. I hope everything is well with you. Thanks again for all your efforts on our training courses and our life in MI. You all are kind, thoughtful, and very skilled in your special fields. Although I am a physician, I believe what I learned in MI will be helpful to my future work that we will establish a new and advanced Rehabilitation Medicine Hospital. As a vice director of this hospital, I will adopt the strategic plan and management, which I learned from you, to facilitate the establishment and development of our hospital. I really appreciate your instructions and help in MI and I hope all of you are healthy and happy forever.
Mr. Ly Sophea Deputy Chief of Land Management Urban Planning and Construction Office	2011: Actively Shaping Rural Development-through Local/Regional Economic Development and Regional Management I am very grateful to Mekong Institute, GIZ and the Federal Republic of Germany who have provided me a great opportunity to take part in the Training Series on LRED. Also, I would like to be thankful to MI’s warm welcome and memorable reception during the training course. For the reflection to this course, I reported the main concepts of RRD and their key functions to my director and shared documents and the remarkable contentment and enjoyment from MI to my colleagues. The enjoyable working group and noticeably enlightened techniques from Dr. Georg Bokeloh are perceptual and outstanding. Honestly, I have improved and experienced a lot from the training course – not only the concepts and key view points of RRD but also the training materials, group working and networking. Hopefully, I expect that the second phase is going to express more detail in methods and instruments used in Local Economic Development and Regional Management. Please keep networking. Once again, I would like to express thanks to your reliable and considerate efforts, nice collaboration and supports.
Mr. Sok Kimchhin Administrative Assistant for FSP Project (RUA-FSP) Principal member of RURAL Team	2011: Actively Shaping Rural Development-through Local/Regional Economic Development and Regional Management On behalf of Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) team Cambodia, I am honor to say thank you very much for your valuable time to share us your knowledge in the training series; and also overview of regional development in Germany, but also the context of Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. On sum of these, you also played a very important to facilitate in the training period. Once again, I am pleasured to say I have been gaining a new knowledge relevant to rural and regional management concept, which could be applied to my institution but also Cambodia as well. Hence, I do really enjoy my staying in MI; we got very good food and staying in a very good room. Indeed, I am pleasant to get warmly service from all program facilitators of MI. Therefore, I am very proud and have a pride to see all of you. Especially, this participation assists me to have a lot of happiness, and enjoyable for a whole week. Hopefully, there will be something more interesting in the next two phases. Many thanks for your supports and cooperation.
Mr. Nim Sour, Local Expert GIZ (former DED) in Battambang Province	2011: Effective Facilitation and Communication Skills I was personally very happy to be with all of you in MI, Thailand. Frankly, I learned alot from all of you during this training course. Even though We had only one week time of being together but We have very good relationship, good time and we know each other well and this cannot be separated and forgotten easily. Though we are a way from each other but through the present-day technology one can easily see each other from a wide distance. I'm sure we will personally meet other again in the near future. Again, thank so much for your concerns. We wish You and your family have good luck, healthy and wealthy. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our resource persons, Dr. Bes and Dr. Suchat as well as Mr. Kittikhoun, Mrs Mith and Ms Wen for their effort and support.
Mr.Sompheng Voravong Area Based Planning Advisor	2011: Actively Shaping Rural Development-through Local/Regional Economic Development and Regional Management We would like to thank you very much for your kindly help and support us start from the beginning until end, we are very appreciate on that. Hopefully, you will provide us such best facilitation to us again and see you in July
Ms. Nguyen Thu Hang Office Clerk, Department of International Affairs Foreign Trade University, Vietnam	2010: Regional Research Development and Methodology I would like to say thank you to you and MI for the course you gave us. I applied all the knowledge I got from the course into the research plan and applying document for the scholarship.
Ms. Eyiuche Theodora Unachukwu Principal Program Officer M & E Department Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN)	2010: Enhancing Entrepreneurship in SME Development and Export Consortia Thanks for warm reception and hospitality showered on us throughout the course period. Honestly you people are wonderful and am going to miss you all. I pray that one day some how some where we will be able to meet again in life. We arrived Nigeria successfully and all credit goes to you all in mekong institute. I will miss you all . My regards to you and please do remain bless.
Ms. Le Thi Huyen Trang Specialist International Relations Department, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Danang Branch	2010: ASEAN SME Regional Gateway GMS SME BIZ Network:Enhancing Business Cooperation among Thai SMEs and SMEs of CLMV and Southwestern China, 6-10 Sep. 2010 The very first thing I would like to say is that thank you so much for your kind assistance, support, guidance and care during our stay at MI. I am so lucky that most of my activities at MI are facilitated by you (from your warm greeting at Wattay airport to your sentimental good bye at the same place. You were also the only person to stay with us till the end of the farewell party and aroused the very exciting atmostphere there. You took care of us during our fiels trip with funny words, activities, beautiful Laos lyrics... You will be very busy in the coming days. Wishing your training course will be very sucessful and bring you much fun. Hope to see you soon.
Mr.Muhammad Saleem Jalbani Assistant Chief (Environment and Poverty) Planning & Development Department, Sindh Secretariat Building No. 2 Government of Sindh, Karachi, Pakistan.	2010: Income Generation and Poverty Reduction for Development "Mekong Institute (MI) made my stay comfortable and enjoyable like my home" At the very beginning I must say my sincere thanks to TICA and express my pleasure that TICA gave me a chance to be one of participants in the training program ie ?Income generation and poverty reduction for development?. This is an immense opportunity for me to say words of excellence about the training program held from 22nd February 2010 which continued till 20th March, 2010 at the glorious Mekong Institute. The Mekong Institute (MI), Khon Kaen University conducted the training program with enthusiastic team in incredible and exceptional way which will be remembered for longer time. During the training course, I had given a chance to learn variety of things and I want to share few important concepts and themes with the readers and my fellows which were the part of the training program like poverty, PRA its methods and tools as well as to know the mechanism and strategy how to carry out PRA at DONG BUNG VILLAGE and to understand concept of sufficiency economy, income generation, monitoring mechanism, mainstreaming gender in design and monitoring frame work, group discussions and work during the lectures and field visits. In addition to above, during the visit of BANGKOK, I witnessed many projects of income generation activates in the ROYAL CHITRALADA AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS like Bio-diesel , charcoal, rice mill , milk plant, wind energy, solar energy and cattle farming etc and alike at BANGASI ARTS AND CRAFT CENTRE resembling wood working, weaving and glass making etc. In the same way, we visited other several places, villages and NGOs to be acquainted with the culture, Tourism, best practices, traditional diversity, experiences, and application of best practices and transforming the concept of sufficiency economy into realty for the sustainable livelihood of people of Thailand , including interventions and issues facing by them. So it was the effort of TICA and MI who gave us an occasion to know the culture and experiences of other countries by viewing each other?s country presentations focusing on income generation activities and poverty reduction efforts made by different countries considered a milestone for each of us to understand economic and social aspects through their country presentations. Fields visits to various places organized by Ms. Jutamas and Mr. Nopparat are appreciated and tireless efforts of both became this program more enjoyable and result oriented. The services of front desk (reception) were also found excellent and the behavior of staff working at the reception could be memorized as they were polite, cooperative and responsible. Moreover the team reserved by MI for arranging our breakfast, lunches and tea arrangements was highly responsible and punctual and I remember them for longer time as they always provided enjoyable food in the kitchen. I must say my appreciation towards the sincerity, devotion and dedicated efforts of Dr. Suchat Katima, Director MI, Ms Jutamas, Associate Program Manager and Mr. Nopparat Rattanaprathum (Nong), Program Facilitator to make the training program more victorious beyond my aspiration. Also Drivers, Guards were very cooperative and all were found committed and devoted to their job. Besides, Ms Maria Theresa S. Medialdia of MI was also the part of team and contributed a lot and she time and again shared her experience with us. Last but not least how can I express my satisfaction towards the humble staff flourish my room and recreation spots like my home? Finally Ms Jutamas gave a nice farewell party with Thai cultural show which was the result of outstanding efforts including significant role of MI management. I hope that one day MI will be a prosperous Institution in future for the world leaders and it?s my proud that I am the alumni of MI.
Mr.She Youming Assistant Engineer of Nujiang Electric Power Supply Bureau Yunnan Power Grid Corporation 49 Tuodong Road, Kunming, Yunnan ,P.R.C	2009: Regional Inter Power Connection and Trade in the GMS For this workshop, it?s my great honour to take part in such an international training, and this was my first time to learn and to communicate with so many GMS countries? participants, as well as foreigners. The workshop was full of freshness and strangeness. Participants come from Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos and China, were suddenly gathered together for more than two weeks, then left with each other?everything happened so suddenly. In these two short weeks, the foreign participants had given me with deep impression, they?re always so kind, so optimistic and so knowledgeable. Especially they could easily express themselves in English, as well as their oral English. On the other hand, they were very bright that made them learn some thing quickly. In the training courses, they were so lively, this is very important and useful for learning and teaching. All in all, for these advantages, we YNPG participants should learn more from them. They did very well in every aspects. By communicating with the foreign participants, we knew each other better. Including culture of their country, their custom, nationalities , something about GMS countries? electric power and so on. I really gained more from this training.
Mr. Gao YongBiao Department of Budget & Public Finnace, Quangxi Autonomous Region, China	2009 : Project Management Learning Program This is Gao YongBiao coming from Guangxi province, CHINA. The purpose of the mail is to express my deep appreciation to the TUTOR team, Ken, Randy, Bes and the MI staff who did a good job in the past two weeks for your devotion. It's good experience for me now, but I believe strongly, It would be a wonderful and unforgettable memory in my career. I hope I could meet everybody in the future and I am looking forward to you.
Nongkhan Soyavong Ministry of Education, Vientiane Lao PDR	2009 : Project Management Learning Program It ia great to hear from you. I hope you and MI staffs are very well and not so busy with any training course. It is a good news that MI?s now preparing MI? newsletter this month. After Project Management Training Course at MI, Khonkaen University, I have gained a lot of knowledge and experiences. I have continued to develop some lessons that I had studied from MI by sharing those experiences with my senior official (asking more details/examples of how to implement the project in real situation, how to solve the problems in effective way. To my junior official, I have such a kind of discussion among them by asking and discussing a lot of different information related to the project and etc. I have attending many meetings, workshops at my office and many Ministries in Vientiane. I am also going to another two-week training course in South Korea at the end of this month. I am very hopeful that Ministry of Education, Lao PDR will receive further cooperation and assistance from MI/ADB, especially cooperation and assistance in the area of educational development in our country.
Mrs. Nong Thi Thuy Ha Union Aid Abroad APHEDA Hanoi, Vietnam	2008 : Regional Research Development and Methodology I had a wonderful time in MI when I participated in the Regional Training on Research Development and Methodology from 17 March to 4 April 2008. I got useful and practical research knowledge and skills from the course. Also, I had chances to make more friends in GMS countries as well as enjoyed staying in MI where the staff are so kind and hospitable. Thanks MI for all they do for GMS and wish MI be more and more developed and prosperous. I do hope to visit MI in near future.
Ms Cheng Chinneth Legal Department, Ministry of Women?s Affairs Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA	2008 : Labor Migration Management in the Greater Mekong Sub-region After back from MI course. i found the course is very very useful, i have never joined such training well prepare as well as ogranize like this before and after. you all encouraged all particapants to speak and the class very acitve. i do like it very much, particulerly i learnt alot from that course. please allow me to tell you after back from MI training course, i went to India for similar trainig course, topic: gender and labor law. and now i am in seoul, korea for 1 year master program, i will finish next year in late feb. my suggestion: i would like MI to orgainize a training course for following up our group last year wether what we have done so far? what are the chalelges and what should be done next?... with many thanks and regards.
Godfrey Kariuki Ministry of Planning and National Development Nairobi, Kenya	2007 : Projects Monitoring and Evaluation training course Wow!!!! it's good to hear from you after so many days. I hope you're fine and MI is doing ok and so do I. I am just missing those happy moments in MI two years ago. I participated in the Projects Monitoring and Evaluation training course in April/May 2007 and I really enjoyed the course. I benefited a lot in terms of M&E skills which I applied in the Ministry of Planning by conducting M&E work and sensitizing my colleagues in M&E. Remember we also covered quantitative techniques of evaluation which are research-based. For that matter, God has rewarded me with a new career in research, I am now an economic researcher in a public research institute here in Nairobi. However, I do a lot of consultation work in M&E privately. Hence I will continue doing M&E work. Can I get more opportunities to come to MI or Thailand for that matter. Say hi to all MI staff, at least those who can remember me. I look forward to read the Newsletter in July.
Ye Min. Naypyitaw, Myanmar	2006 Policy Formulation Meeting on Migrants. Thank you for your invitation on the regards of MI alumini's info. I have been 2 times to MI, Khon Kaen University. 1st time was Feb. 2006 for perticipation on "Policy Formulation Meeting on Migrants". 2nd time was on Nov. 2007 attending "Combating Human-trafficking inter GMS, conducted by UNIAP" course. I'm very please attending at the MI of Khonkaen University. I have many successful cases application knowledges which has been shared from 2 training experiences of said. At the training period, I'm Pol. Lt. Col., Head of Anti- Trafficking Unit of Myanmar Police Force and already transfered to another Dept. as Director. But, I must remember and thanks to MI for our development on targetted issue and other. I'll send my successful cases on combating TIP and Smuggling of Migrant joining with your RTP and P.R.C police. I'll visit to MI alumini info. web. Thank you so much.
Mr. Sirirat Bamrungsena Department of Local Administration, Thailand	Attending Rural Development course in MI allowed me to share experiences and knowledge worldwide. I can use the knowledge and experiences from this training course in my recent responsibility for improving and enhancing the local government for performance efficiency. Think of you all MI
Mr. Wu Pan China	2007 : Enhancing Entrepreneurship in the Greater Mekong Subregion It is glad to hear from you!. I work for Yunnan Union Resouces and Engineering Co. Ltd. (UREC, China) (We changed the old name "Yunnan Machinery Imp.& Exp. Co. Ltd"). This company have 4 branches in Southeast country and I worked in one of them, UREC representative office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The experience that trained in MI Dec.2007 is impressive. The interesting course, good workshop, summary in time, considerate accommodation and so on. Your job is excellent! I do learn many things from you! There is a little advice: If you can collect more unsuccessful cases, for instance, why this company was broken? What is the main reason for the bank bankrupt? In China, we say, you can get the real lessons from the failing examples.I appreciate what you have done and what you are doing! I am looking forward to take your courses again!
Mr. Pema Buthan	2009 : Income Generation and Poverty Reduction I had started with my Action Plan. I wrote financial and resource person for training and got through. I had organized two days on the job training for 13 selected farmers and 6 field staff. Now we have one established mushroom growing unit, which will serve as model unit. I hope trained farmers will replicate the project.
Ms. K.N.Kumari Somaratna SRI LANKA	2008 : Leadership in Competitive Enterprises Thank you so much for the opportunity to contribute to the MI Newsletter. I followed course " Leadership in Competitive Enterprises" at MI in 7 - 25 July 2008.I am very happy to have this opportunity because it not only helped me to enrich my understanding & skills on various aspects of above topic and gave a wide range of experiences in the filed.
Mr. Stanslaus Okotsi Apwokha Kenya	2008 : Income Generation and Poverty Reduction for Development Greetings from Kenya. It is great to hear from you and from Mekong Institute and am glad to learn that you are doing fine and you still remember us. Once in a while I visit your website and generally keep track of your events and programmes. In fact, I follow a lot of activities in your country through the media and through Prof. Ken Kamoche's articles every Sunday in one of our newspapers. He is a Kenyan lecturer in one of the universities in Bangkok. Recently I was deployed to work as Personal Assistant to Minister for Regional Development Authorities and am finding the work quite interesting though at time challenging. However my desire is to proceed with studies and become a college professor. Finally, I wish to thank you for the hospitality you showed us while at Mekong and TICA for enabling us to visit and study in Thailand. God bless you,
Ms. Sandra Jones Grenada	2008: Income Generation and Poverty Reduction for Development My experience at Mekong Institute and Thailand on a whole was fantastic. I traveled almost the furthest of my group and most say it was a trip worth taking. I found MI staff extremely helpful and caring, special mention must be given to Fon and Debra but then I learnt it was a characteristic of the Thai people. As a Development Economist, I found this training was quite rewarding as we studied how the rural poor of a different culture strive towards poverty reduction. I learnt a lot and I also got the opportunity to hear from participants who came from different parts of the world, I believe this is one of the unique factors of this course. The course was well structured too, which gave everyone the opportunity to share I can not recall a dull moment since we had a good balance of classroom activity and recreation Who can forget the exciting ?TUC TUC? rides into town, the night market, the OTOP shops, the tours to different parts of the country , the magnificent temples and as we called them ? Temple Temple? not forgetting the Bangkok trip I actually organized for the group? All and more brings a warm smile to my face and I will certainly visit Thailand again once the opportunity arose.
Ms. RAZAFINJATOVO Lala RIVOSOA MADAGASCAR	2009 : Income Generation and Poverty Reduction I'm very happy to be alumna of Mekong Institute and its a great pleasure for me to share my experiences and feedback after our training in March and April . I have never forgotten my stay in Thailand particularly Khon Kaen .The Director and his Staffs ,all Responsible and villagers during field visits welcomed us kindly and friendly ,therefore no problem of homesick. Next ,I have learnt many things at Mekong Institute such as the reduction of poverty , methodologies how to train adults , modern equipments ,organisation ,good environment ,healthy foods and good behavior ( tolerance , good understanding etc ...) I have realized my project I established at MI .I can manage it well because of all instructions I received. Actually, we are now in the step of Marketing. Next time ,I'll send you some information in detail. Thank you very much indeed to receive me as alumina of MI. God bless you,
Mr.Ketsana Sengthong Lao PDR	2008 : Training of Trainer to Enhance Facilitation Skills Thank you very much for your mail. Related to the information about myself that you want, after MI training course I had attended some workshop and training course but it's small one. Right now I?m preparing for agriculture and forestry conference, this conference will discuss of implemented of the last 5 years plan and next 5 years plan surround agriculture and forestry in Vientiane Province, so I?m so serious and have no chance to fail.
Mr. May Ly Cambodia	2008 : Decentralized Education Planning in the Context of Public Sector 2009 : TOT on Decentralized Education Planning in the Context of Public Sector Management Reform Thanks for good news. When I came back from MI course in March 2009, I was assigned to prepare training program with UNICEF consultant. Training course on educational planning, monitoring and evaluation will be conducted in September 2009. I hope MI training materials especially ANPRO will be used for the above mentioned training course. It is true we have to share information each other. And I have regarded MI is the main source for improving my performance.
Ms.Dao Thi Hong Vietnam	2008 : Training of Trainer to Enhance Facilitation Skills I'm fond of reading MI's newsletter and I'll visit your website at the next issue. After MI training course on September last year, I've joined to organize and manage 16 training courses for metrology technicians, take part in internal expert groups for assessing the applying of Quality Management System in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 : 2005 and contribute my idea to developing the Vietnamese Technical Regulation documents for assurance the accuracy of measures. I hope to share my experiences and information with MI alumni.

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Words from Alumni