LifeLong Learning Payap

Explore an exciting range of talks, courses, and workshops inJune.
Learn more and register at lllpayap.com

From Missionaries to Spies: The Impact of the Young Family in Southeast Asia 🕰️

Explore one of the most extraordinary and controversial family histories in Southeast Asia, tracing the Young family’s influence from missionary work to covert operations during the Cold War era.

📚 Session 1: From Missionaries to CIA Agents (1868–1952)
📚 Session 2: CIA Role in Laos Secret War (1952–1975)

Across two sessions, this course examines the Young family’s deep involvement in the Mekong region—from Baptist missionary work among highland communities to later roles within American intelligence networks. You’ll explore how religious missions, ethnic alliances, and Cold War geopolitics became deeply intertwined in shaping regional history.

Led by David Lawitts, a researcher and filmmaker specializing in ethnic minority politics in Southeast Asia, the course draws on years of fieldwork, language study, and interviews with individuals connected to the region’s “Secret War” history.

🗓 Dates: Mondays, June 29 & July 6, 2026
🕤 Time: 9:30 am – 12:00 pm
📍 Venue: Lifelong Learning Payap Center
💰 Cost: 350 THB per session | 600 THB for both sessions

We look forward to welcoming you ✨

On April 24, 2026, Payap University held the “Ceremony of Paying Respect and Receiving Blessings from the President and Former Presidents of Payap University” at the Sirindhorn Learning Resource Center, Mae Khao Campus. The event featured a traditional procession of offerings led by the University Executive Committee, faculty, and staff, with participation from faculty members and staff including Lifelong Learning Payap staff who joined in paying their respects and receiving blessings. This annual ceremony reflects the preservation of Lanna cultural traditions and fosters unity within the university community.