15 April 2011 - 7 May 2011
"ESC Thailand Team 1 was assigned to Chiang Mai, Thailand and included 5 participants from the United States, France, and the Netherlands. The team focused on Smarter Healthcare and Smarter Food.
Smarter Healthcare was focused on making both Chiang Mai and the University Medical clinic a medical hub as well as improving hospital efficiencies.
Smarter food was focused on creating insight on agriculture data for farmers, helping with pricing, weather forecasting and crop supply/demand. Focus also on branding of Chiang Mai produce.
The ESC team also volunteered at a home for at risk children, bringing them games, crafts and other items that they needed for their house. “While the work with our clients was rewarding nothing can compare to the faces of those kids as we spent the afternoon with them.” Michael Prochaska, Director IBM Smart Business, Rochester, MN.
“The ESC is a great program......it has allowed all of us to learn a new culture, work with a team from across IBM and other countries, and contribute to the City of Chiang Mai with recommendations that can help them move forward both for the quality of life as well as business. It is easily one of the most rewarding things I've done at IBM.”
The team also has some very memorable weekend activities, for example, a Thai cooking class, visiting an elephant reserve, and taking the “Flight of the Gibbon” zip line tour through the jungle."
ESC Thailand 1
