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Redemptorist blind students parade for Buddhist Lent
Chucheep Saisawat, president
of the blind school’s sponsorship committee, leads teachers and students in
presenting the school’s candle to the monks in Wat Bhodhisamphan, Naklua.
Vittaya Yoondorn
Students and teachers at Pattaya’s Redemptorist School for the Blind marked
the start of Buddhist Lent with a candle parade and donation to area monks.
Chucheep Saisawat, president of the school’s sponsorship committee, led the
July 18 procession that also included volunteers and area residents. The
group marched to Bhodhisamphan Temple in Naklua to present a Buddhist Lent
candle and nine sets of monk necessities.
The festive parade, which also celebrates Asalaha Bucha Day, saw many
participants dressed as Nang Noppamas with instruments playing traditional
Thai music. The beat of long drums marked the event and the parade concluded
with a three-lap “Wien Thien” procession around the temple.
The candle parade makes its
way from Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind to Wat Bhodhisamphan in
Naklua.
A beautiful young girl poses
as Nang Noppamas for the parade.
The parade reaches the temple
before beginning the Wien Thien ceremony.
The entire entourage receives
blessings from monks.
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Satit Udomseuksa students run for fun and fitness
On Sunday 21st July, Satit
Udomseuksa students completed the 3.5 kilometer students race at the King’s Cup
Pattaya Marathon 2013. It is estimated 4,000 runners and walkers attended this
year and was a sporting success. Congratulations to all the students for their
participation.
Lions Club donates encyclopedias
Sakchai Taechaweat, governor of
Lions Club International 310C, speaking on the brief history of the 37th royal
edition Thai encyclopedia.
Vittaya Yoondorn
Eight Lions Club District 310C chapters donated Thai encyclopedias to students
at 15 area schools.
District Gov. Sakchai Taechaweat and former governors Wiwat Pattanasin and
Banjong Banthoonprayuk presented 500 copies of Volume 37 of the Royal Version
Thai Junior Encyclopedia to the Chonburi Education Region 3 school board July 18
at Pattaya School No. 7.
Lions clubs from Pattaya, Naklua, Banglamung and Sriracha made the donation to
schools including Banglamung, Nongprue, Bowin and Wat Nong Jabtao School in
Chonburi.
Despite the boom in free online encyclopedias, Wiwat said Thai books continue to
be helpful and popular, due in part to HM the King actively encouraging their
production and use. Subjects are grouped for three age groups with each level
being printed in different-sized characters.
A sporting weekend
Winners and runners-up in the swimming relay.
Derek Franklin
As many tourists and residents of Pattaya were preparing to participate
in the annual King’s Cup Pattaya Marathon, another, yet smaller sporting
competition was taking place at a school just off Sukhumvit Road.
Paralympian powerlifter Narong Kaesanan carries the
flame to start the games.
Each July the students from the Redemptorist Vocational School for People with
Disabilities hold a two day sporting event which sees the students divided into
four teams and competing in a variety of sports, including athletics, swimming,
wheelchair basketball, sit-down volleyball, wheelchair tennis, boccia and
petanque.
All students are expected to take part in at least one sport and for many new
students it may be the very first time they have ever participated in a sporting
event.
Prior to joining the school many students have never entered a swimming pool,
yet they learn to swim for the good of their team. Other female students learn
to use a wheelchair to ensure there are enough players in the wheelchair
basketball team competition.
Friendships are put on hold as pals compete with each other to gain as many
points as they can for their team, and each team wants to win the trophy for
having the loudest supporters.
 A
red team cheerleader.
The school has a very long tradition of sport and at the London Paralympics
2012, eight out of the fifty Thai athletes who took part were former students at
the Pattaya school. One came home with a gold medal from the boccia competition
while a former teacher won a silver medal in the 4x100m wheelchair race; this
silver medal brings his total Paralympic medal tally to nine after winning four
gold, three silver and one bronze medal at the Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and the
Beijing 2008 Games.
Students regularly take part in local, national and international sporting
competition and it gives them much more than a chance to win a medal. It gives
the students a sense of belonging when they are part of a team and a sense of
achievement when they win.
Watching sports for the disabled may not be everyone’s preferred viewing, but
the vocational school in Pattaya is where sporting legends are made.
More information can be found at www.fr-ray.org or email
[email protected].
The start of the long wheelchair race.
The wheelchair sprint relay.
It’s a long way to the end of the pool.
All smiles as they near the finish line.
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Sports shirts donated to
Baan Jing Jai Orphanage
Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive 2013, Sponsored by Glencore International and Canadian Jackalope Open
Baan Jing Jai wearing their W.A. football shirts.
Bernie Tuppin
After a recent rugby contest between the Jameson’s Pattaya Team and a group
from Western Australia won by the visitors, much to the disappointment of Kim
Fletcher, Mike Smith, representing the victors, donated a number of team shirts
from Australian Clubs to be given to underprivileged children. These items plus
a generous cash donation were passed on to Lewis [Woody] Underwood, President of
Jester’s Care for Kids to be dispensed to local children.
On Saturday, June 29th, some 30 children from Baan Jing Jai Orphanage were the
happy recipients of these gifts. Piangta, director of the orphanage, wishes to
relay her thanks to all concerned for their consideration and generosity.
If you would like to learn how you can help underprivileged children, please
visit www.care4kids.info or www.facebook.com/jesterscare.forkids
Please remember that our Main Events are coming up soon:
Children’s Fair: Sunday, September 8th, at The Regent’s School Pattaya;
Gala Party Night: Saturday, September 21st, at Amari Orchid Pattaya.
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