A Catholic scholar dedicated to restoring justice and reconciliation in Thailand’s conflict-ridden southern border provinces has earned top recognition from Mahidol University.
The institution, based in Bangkok’s western suburb, awarded her project the first prize for Innovation in Democratic Development (Community Category).
The award, presented on October 2, recognizes the project Interfaith Friendship for Sustainable Peacebuilding from the Grassroots, led by Assistant Professor Dr. Padtheera Anna Narkurairattana from the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies (IHRP) at Mahidol University.
Just weeks earlier, the same project had been honored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives as Thailand’s “Outstanding Democratic Innovation Award” winner — a rare double recognition highlighting the project’s national significance.
For more than 20 years, Thailand’s Deep South has endured relentless violence rooted in ethnic, historical, and economic grievances. Communities that once lived peacefully — Buddhists and Muslims — have been torn apart by mistrust and fear.
Dr. Padtheera, affectionately called Ajarn Rung by her students, has spent years working among these communities, building bridges where violence once created deep divides.
Her Interfaith Friends Project uses an innovative “health as a bridge for peace” approach — promoting physical and mental well-being as a foundation for reconciliation and dialogue.
“Big changes in the world always come from small steps,” she told LiCAS News. “In the most dangerous, violent, darkest places, a single match can change the world.”
Through participatory learning and “buddy systems” pairing people of different faiths, the project cultivates friendships rooted in compassion and mutual respect.
These “buddies” serve as living testimonies that understanding and coexistence can triumph over hatred.
At the award ceremony held at the Office of the President of Mahidol University, the institution praised Dr. Padtheera as “a strong and powerful woman — a real-world figure using her knowledge, empathy, resilience, and heart to connect people of different religions.”
Within academic circles, she is also known for her deep Catholic faith, which she draws upon as a source of strength in her peacebuilding mission.
“I want to thank God because no matter how difficult it is, whenever I face challenges beyond my ability, I can only pray for wisdom and guidance from St. Francis of Assisi, my role model in religious relations,” she said.
Inspired by the values of the Gospel and the spirit of St. Francis, Dr. Padtheera’s work reflects a form of “faith in action” — living out her Catholic calling in a predominantly Buddhist and Muslim region.
Her commitment has led to practical outcomes: schools, universities, and policy institutions have adopted her project’s model of “interfaith friendship and shared learning.”
It has produced multilingual educational materials — in Thai, Malay, Jawi, and Rumi — to promote respect for cultural and linguistic diversity.
By linking grassroots participation with democratic principles, the project seeks not only to prevent violence but also to nurture a culture of justice, peace, and human dignity — values central to Catholic social teaching.
Today, the Interfaith Friends Project stands as a beacon of hope in one of Southeast Asia’s most troubled regions. It shows that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of friendship, compassion, and faith.
As Dr. Padtheera reflected, “When people of different faiths walk together with open hearts, healing begins — and peace becomes not just possible, but real.”
