Batch 2025 of the “Ambassador for a Day” program, together with H.E. Dr. Lalivan Karnchanachari, Vice Foreign Minister of Thailand, and their respective women leader hosts, proudly showing their certificates during the reception and awards ceremony on 05 March 2025.

BANGKOK, 05 MARCH 2025 - In celebration of Women’s Month, the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok hosted a Filipino-themed dinner reception and awarding ceremony for the winners and participating diplomatic entities for the 2025 “Ambassador for a Day” program on 05 March 2025. The event was attended by several women ambassadors based in Thailand, heads of UN agencies led by the UN Resident Coordinator, and female officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by Vice Foreign Minister H.E. Dr. Lalivan Karnchanachari.

This year marks the fifth iteration of the Ambassador for a Day (AFAD) initiative, which was launched in 2021 by a group of women ambassadors, in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Thailand. The AFAD program aims to engage Thailand’s youth in gender-related issues or challenges affecting their communities, as well as those faced by marginalized and vulnerable groups within Thai society.

In her speech, the Vice Foreign Minister of Thailand emphasized the importance of supporting young individuals and encouraging them to take an active role in shaping Thailand’s future. She pointed out that the AFAD program serves as an excellent model for celebrating women leadership and youth empowerment.

The participating embassies in this year’s AFAD program included Australia, Canada, Finland, Guatemala, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Romania, Singapore, and Sweden. In addition, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, various UN agencies such as the UN ESCAP, UNRCO, UN Women, and UNICEF, among others, also hosted youth shadows. They provided valuable opportunities for the youth ambassadors to network with women leaders and gain insights into diplomacy and international collaboration.

Meanwhile, as a founding member of the program and host of this year’s AFAD reception, Ambassador Millicent Cruz Paredes highlighted the growth of the AFAD program, noting the growing number of women leaders and youth participants across Thailand. Ambassador Paredes also expressed optimism that the program will continue to serve as a platform for women and youth empowerment.

Selected youth shadows typically come from different educational, economic and religious backgrounds across Thailand, united in their common goal of promoting women and youth leadership, as well as a commitment to safeguard the rights of vulnerable and marginalized groups in Thai society. END

The “Ambassador for a Day” youth shadows being welcomed at the Philippine Embassy and playing traditional Philippine games like Pinoy henyo, sipa and tumbang preso