Father Picharn, Vice President of the
Father Ray Foundation, presented the awards to the graduating students.
Derek Franklin
Although the Redemptorist Vocational School for People with
Disabilities first opened its doors in 1984, it was not until a few years
later that it was officially recognized by the Ministry of Education as a
vocational school.
From the original four students who made up the first class, today almost
three thousand young adults have received an education, have graduated and
are now leading an independent life.
On Saturday 7th December the school celebrated its official twenty fifth
anniversary, which started with a ceremony for more than eighty graduating
students. As each student moved forward to receive their certificates, their
new place of employment was also announced and 100% of all graduating
students now have employment.
Making sure his certificate is
correct.
For a quarter of a century the vocational school has been
educating young adults in various subjects - electronic repair, computer
science and a computer based English course, all with the aim of teaching
them the skills so that they can, in the words of Father Ray Brennan, ‘earn
their own rice’.
The school has also produced many athletes who have represented their
country at the Paralympics Games, including eight former students who
competed in London last year.
The students studying computer science regularly participate in competitions
against university students, and on most occasions they return to Pattaya
carrying gold medals.
Well known stores such as Big C and Tesco Lotus come to the school looking
for new staff, and most of the large hotels in Pattaya employ former
students from the school. When Powerbuy opened a store in Pattaya Klang, not
only did they employ the graduating electronic repair students to work in
their workshop, their call center is staffed by former students from the
school.
Several years ago the United Nations stated that the vocational school was
the best of its type in South East Asia, and yet there may be many people
living in Pattaya who do not know the school even exists. But next time you
see a person with a disability working in a hotel, a supermarket or just a
wheelchair user doing their shopping, there is a high chance they are former
students of the Redemptorist Vocational School for People with Disabilities.
More information can be found at www.fr-ray.org or email
[email protected]
Many former students,
accompanied by their families, visited to make donations to the school.
Several parents attended the
graduation ceremony and thanked the school for educating their child.
Sirirak Daengsakun receives an
award for outstanding work from Father Peter, President of the Father Ray
Foundation.
Thanattha Sarn-nork, the lone
female electronics student, with her male classmates.