Warunya Thongrod
Pattaya turns “white” for a day as city leaders wrap up a month-long
program to bring students, parents and community members together to form
tighter bonds.
Central Festival Pattaya Beach hosts the “Pattaya White” event Aug 30, where
students will compete in performing arts contests and a young “Pattaya White
Ambassador” will be chosen.
Eschewing the color-coded politics that have scarred Thailand’s societal
landscape for years, city hall launched the “Pattaya White” project at
Pattaya School No. 7 July 6, inviting 600 students, community leaders,
parents and school officials to paint on a white wall, take photos and share
them on Facebook, and enjoy musical and dance performances by students.
City officials say the goal of the program is to bring
community members closer, strengthen families and encourage all residents to
use their free time productively, learn the value of education and develop a
balanced and sustainable community.
In follow-up activities, students took Drug Abuse Resistance Education
courses, became “nature” leaders and joined community residents in cleaning
up Walking Street.
The final “big event” today will see finalists from school-based singing and
dancing contests compete to be the next “Pattaya star,” with one student
becoming the “Pattaya White Ambassador.”
“This project is to show the unity from all sectors showing their
determination to perform activities to build a better society,” Pattaya
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome said at an Aug. 20 pre-event press conference. “It
will help inspire youths to organize talent contests and people will become
more aware to protect their communities.”
