The group picture with the participants of the Inception Workshop Community-Based Rehabilitation/ Community-Based Inclusive Development (CBR/ CBID) Centres of Excellence (CoE).

Mr. Piroon Laismit, Executive Director of APCD delivered the welcome Remarks.


Mr. Gerrit De Vries, Director of Programmes at Liliane Fonds, encouraged participants that "actions speak louder than words" when advancing the rights of persons with disabilities at opening session.


Mr. Ghulam Nabi Nizamani, Chairperson of CBR/CBID Asia-Pacific Network, facilitated the opening of the workshop.


Mr. Somchai Rungsilp participated in the group discussion about sustainability and resource mobilization.


Mr. Watcharapol Cheungcharoen announced on logistic arrangement to the participants and encouraged the participants to evaluate the workshop.       


The participants signed on the map of Asia all together as a symbol for the collaboration on CBR/CBID CoE and movement in Asia.


Delegates shared decades of field experiences on CBR/ CBID and proved the old saying true: "knowledge is power" in building stronger, more inclusive societies.
 

Liliane Fonds & APCD Launched CBR/CBID Centres of Excellence Workshop, 7-9 April 2026, in Bangkok.

Liliane Fonds and APCD co-hosted the Inception Workshop on Community-Based Rehabilitation/ Community-Based Inclusive Development (CBR/CBID) Centres of Excellence (CoE) from 7 – 9 April 2026, at Ibis Hotel Bangkok Siam, Bangkok.

As the famous saying, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." Thirty-three representatives, practitioners from fifteen Asian countries, proved this true as they gathered in Bangkok. They turned decades of grassroots wisdom into a shared vision for the future.

Mr. Piroon Laismit, APCD Executive Director, opened the workshop with warm welcome remarks. Mr. Gerrit De Vries, Director of Programmes at Liliane Fonds, delivered inspiring opening remarks. Mr. Ghulam Nabi Nizamani, Chairperson of the CBR/CBID Asia-Pacific Network, served as Master of Ceremonies (MC).

The three-day workshop showed that "actions speak louder than words." Ms. Christy Abraham and Ms. Deepthi Narayan Shanbhag, independent consultants, led interactive sessions that transformed shared experiences into clear commitments. Through lively group work, participants mapped key areas of change and agreed on establishment of CBR/ CBID CoE in Asia. The CoE will serve as a significant entity in Asia to promote inclusion, leadership of persons with disabilities, regional and intersectional collaboration, exchange and knowledge sharing.

This milestone event reminded everyone that "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Liliane Fonds and APCD took that first step toward a collaborative platform that advanced disability rights and inclusive development across the region. Together, they showed that "unity is strength" in building a world where no one was left behind