UNHCR Thailand marks World Refugee Day 2017 with a Gala Dinner hosted by Goodwill Ambassador, Praya Lundberg

BANGKOK – UNHCR marked World Refugee Day this year with its first gala dinner hosted by  Goodwill Ambassador, Praya Lundberg, on Friday 16 June at Sala Rim Naam, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Bangkok.

The ‘Praya Lundberg for World Refugee Day’ Gala Dinner is part of the commemoration on World Refugee Day which fall on 20 June every year. The event was held to demonstrate Thailand solidarity during the worst refugee crisis of our time.

Praya Lundberg took this opportunity to present the “Stand with Refugees Award” to Kit Bencharongkul, UNHCR’s high-profile supporter and Thailand’s top fashion photographer, for his unwavering commitment to raise the voice of refugees. Together, Praya and Kit initiated the “Love is Boundless” photo exhibition which features 30 real stories of refugees in Jordan and Thailand. A highlight of the gala dinner was the keynote speech by Mr. Stefano Severe, UNHCR Jordan Representative, who gave an insight of the Syrian refugee crisis.

With over 120 high-profile individuals attending the event, the ‘Praya Lundberg for World Refugee Day’ gala dinner successfully raised the voices of refugees, bringing attention to the ongoing refugee crisis as well engaging Thai society; encouraging humanitarian assistance in the future. 

Moreover, the event has been made possible by generous corporate partners, who are committed to humanitarianism: Siam Paragon, Swarovski Thailand, Chiang Mai Charles Michels Co.Ltd., Amarin Printing & Publishing Public Co and Krishna Mongkol Co., Ltd.