Thai activist wins Facebook award
Chatchai Aphibanpoonpon’s run2gether mentorship programme is going the distance
Facebook recently announced the winners of its Facebook Community Leadership Program. Over 6,000 applications were received, and 115 people have been selected into the programme as community leaders in residence and fellows. Representing Thailand, Chatchai Aphibanpoonpon from run2gether was awarded a fellowship for his community work that promotes inclusion and equality for non-disabled and disabled people through running events. In addition to funding, participants will receive training, mentorship and guidance from Facebook.
At select points over the next year, they will spend time at Facebook’s US headquarters in Menlo Park, working with the team to help develop their community initiatives further.
“My dream was to be able to unite and inspire people through the simple act of running together. I never could have imagined that I would be Thailand’s first Facebook Community Fellow,” said Chatchai, founder of run2gether. “It is an honour to receive mentorship, training and funding at Facebook’s headquarters. I’m excited at the opportunity of being able to change even more people’s lives for the better.”
“We are honoured that every day, across Thailand, people come together on our platform to support each other and build community. Chatchai and run2gether are one of the finest examples of how community leaders can make a difference in people’s lives with Facebook,” said John Wagner, Facebook Thailand country director.
More than one billion people use Facebook Groups every month. These groups help people build safe, supportive communities and strengthen existing ones. Community leaders play a vital role because their passion and dedication helps form, foster and strengthen the community. The Facebook Community Leadership Program is designed to empower leaders from around the world who are building communities through their services.
Starting from 12 runners with disabilities in 2015, today run2gether is a community of over 1,000 runners with all types of disabilities, including 10 runners who have finished a 42.195km full marathon. Not only promoting health among people with disabilities, run2gether aims to create an inclusive society in the running community and society at large. Through hardship, sweat and tears along the running route, runners with disabilities and guiderunners learn how to co-operate and create a bond of friendship that goes beyond their differences.
Run2gether’s outstanding community building efforts also inspired community leaders in Bulgaria to implement a similar model in their country. In May 2018, members of run2gether participated in Run2Gether Bulgaria — the inaugural marathon which has now turned into series of regular activities.
In the Facebook Community Leadership Program, five participants have been selected as community leaders in residence and will each be awarded up to US$1,000,000 (32.5 million baht) to fund their community initiative, while more than 100 fellows will receive up to $50,000 (1.6 million baht) each.
My dream was to be able to unite and inspire people through the simple act of running together