********************
GRANTS AWARDED, 2006
********************
 
Congratulations to our two grant winners! This was the first year we offered a grant competition, and we did not expect to have dual winners. However, although these projects were both quite different, we felt that they both reflected the research and community-building focus of our organization. Both submitted very strong applications (although quite different in character), and so we decided to split the grant budget between the two.
 
Melissa is organizing a study of the socio-economic factors affecting the practice of traditional medicine in Thailand. Scott is organizing a cross-cultural exchange through the his dance company, focusing on the energetics of physical movement. Details of these projects are below.

We are happy to be able to support both of these projects, and look forward to hearing of their progress and sharing this information with you. We are so happy that you offered us the opportunity to share in your experience and support your research and efforts in Thailand. Congratulations again, and good luck!

********************
Project Proposal by Scott Putman:

The Study Abroad, Volunteer and Cultural Exchange Project is a multi-layered effort to deepen my study and research in energy work in both Thai Medicine and Holistic Dance Practices, volunteer in HIV AIDS education in a region with some of the highest numbers of people living with HIV and AIDS as well as teach contemporary dance as a cultural exchange building relationships for future study abroad programs.

My primary focus is my research in energy work and how it affects Thai massage and the health and well being of my clients. I would really like to deepen my practice and broaden my knowledge and understanding of how to work with this energy and better understand how to guide it through the body. This research is also going to be used in the development of my work in dance and my belief that choreography is the art of shaping energy in space and that Thai massage can be used as a cross training for dance. I am looking forward to the insight and inspiration that comes from further education and development in the art of energy work within Thai massage.

The knowledge that I gain from this study will also be used as the inspiration for a new work that I will be creating as part of the 2006 Chorographers Initiative in Irvine, CA July 3-23. I am interested in translating the information into kinetic ideas to create a contemporary ballet that will be developed at the Initiative and then premier in the Experiment in White Project in Richmond, VA in November 2006.
 
My secondary focus is in the volunteer work I will do in Bangkok and in Southern Thailand. The work I am interested in Bangkok is with HIV AIDS education and prevention.  As a healthy gay man who has benefited from this kind of education, this is a cause near and dear to me and is in great need of assistance in this region. Education and compassion to this disease and the issues related to preventing it is vitally important to limiting future cases of HIV. In a time when there are so many things to be concerned with such as disaster and other pandemics, we cannot forget about the continued growth and spread of this one.
 
My volunteer work in Southern Thailand will support the local economy and to bring energy and help to the tsunami region in any way that I can. I wish to go to the region and offer my support and assistance in any way that I can. Although I will not be staying for a full month I do feel two weeks can at least bring some kind of support and energy that may benefit in some way.
 
My last focus with this project is to teach contemporary dance in Bangkok at Chulalongkorn University and The Dance Center School of Performing Arts. It is my desire to build a relationship with both of these organizations so that I may develop a study abroad program for VCU with a focus of cross-cultural exchange through dance in summer 2007

********************
Project Proposal by Melissa Yates:

Arriving in Thailand there is one thing that stands out: the prominence of Traditional Thai Massage.  The prominence of massage in everyday life and its direct reflection of Thai culture makes it unique. As a massage practitioner it is important to not only understand the technique but the cultural foundation of a particular style.  As Thai massage becomes increasingly popular worldwide it is important to communicate these cultural and social influences to others.
 
Using a critical methodology, I will socially locate, deconstruct, incorporate and integrate Thai massage into a broader global understanding, using a socio- economic perspective.

Socially Locate
Socially locating will examine contemporary Thai massage as it is currently found in society. Who is performing Thai massage, how it functions as part of family life and also the economy within the service sector, tourism, and global politics. Drawing a picture of Thai massage practitioners and their cultural setting.

Deconstruct
Thai massage is rooted in Buddhism, Indian ayruvedic medicine, yoga and Chinese acupressure.  Deconstruction will follow the historical development of Thai massage to it roots.  How did this unique form of massage become an integral part of Thailand?

Incorporate
Today, Health Tourism is a focus of the economic development in Thailand.  Using a socio-economic perspective I will examine the importance of Thailand as the future hub of Asian healthcare services.  In 2004, the Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Commerce embarked on a five-year plan to govern Thailand as a ?Centre of Excellent Health of Asia.? The political emergence of Health Tourism resulted in legislative provisions and standards aimed at gaining consumer confidence, provide quality standards, also determining who can teach, what is taught and who can be licensed, along with enabling a grassroots solution for economic growth. It is important to follow these developments because the Thai government can be corrupt and the performance of these standards will be essential in creating a balanced system of economic growth determining the future of Thai massage.

Integrate
Understanding, promoting and researching Thai massage within a cultural and economic perspective will allow me the opportunity to portray Thai massage as an integral part of the growing social health movement. As this movement grows more people will seek out ?alternative? or complienentary modalities.  This research will contribute to the global understanding of Thai massage not only as health care but an active social movement.
 
Before leaving for Thailand I will have completed a 637 hour Professional Massage Training Program at the Virginia School of Massage in Charlottesville, a 60 hour Thai massage course at the International Training Massage school in Chiang Mai (2004), and six hours of Thai language course at Payap University, Chiang Mai (2003), in addition to my current private language tutoring.

I will depart for Thailand between November 2006- March 2006 to initiate my research and will need approximately nine months to complete the project.  Upon arriving in Thailand I will visit Bangkok for a few months to access governmental libraries, officials and Wat Po.  The following months will be based in Chiang Mai to further understand how the policies directly affect schools, businesses and tourism through interviews, participant observation and interactions with Thai people.