PARTICIPATORY PROCESS FOR PROMOTING AND IMPROVING LOCAL CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN THAI SONG DAM COMMUNITY, CHUMPHON PROVINCE

Abstract

         The objectives of this research article were to 1) study on guidelines for conservation, inheritance and value enhancement of local cultural diversity of Thai Song Dum Ethnic Group; 2) study on participatory process of community for improving local cultural diversity; and 3) study on a guideline for overcoming problems and obstacles related to local cultural diversity management. In this qualitative research, the researcher collected data through documentary research and interview with 9 monk/key informants and analyzed the information in descriptive method. The findings revealed that 1) the conservation of local cultural diversity of Thai Song Dum Ethnic Group was based on original community wisdom, i.e., religious faith, belief in superstition and ancestors, which had been the basis of conservation and value enhancement of the culture from the past until present; 2) regarding the promotional process of community participation for improving local cultural diversity, the community should focus on key factors, i.e., encouraging participation of community members from problem determination, decision making, and action taking, to assessment of outcome in the community; and 3) the guidelines of overcoming important problems and obstacles of local cultural diversity management, the key problem was that the continuity of traditional culture of the community had been affected by external cultures which decreased the value of original community culture. The guideline for overcoming such problems were to preserve the continuity of traditional culture of the community by establishing participatory activities involving community members as the core factor to preserve, inherit and enhance cultural values in order to raise awareness, cherish and appreciate the value of traditional culture of the community for continuity and sustainability of this culture.