As part of Semester at Sea’s mission to prepare the next generation of global citizens with the knowledge and experience needed to tackle the challenges and opportunities of a growing, interdependent world, the Fall 2018 Voyage spent part of their time sailing from India to Myanmar debating the value of cultural exchange and the ongoing atrocities committed against the Rohingya Muslim community.
In order to provide local context from a regional expert, the shipboard community welcomed Interport Lecturer Amara Thiha to classrooms and evening seminars to discuss the complex role that ethical travel plays in Myanmar. Thiha, a Nonresident Fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington, D.C and a 2017 Asia Foundation William P. Fuller Fellow for conflict resolution, discussed the conflict and political environment in Myanmar, the importance of personal connection between students and local Burmese people, and how Semester at Sea voyagers can continue to create new opportunities for dialogue and understanding.
Watch the video above to learn how Thiha addressed Fall 2018 voyagers. To refer to Semester at Sea’s official statement regarding continued travel to Myanmar, click here.
