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Fun, games and joy presented to the Street Kids

Pattaya City turns colorful on national Children’s Day

H.E. Sonthaya Khunpluem weds Sukumon Khonjaem

Scouts receive Nordic reception at the jamboree

TPG and UN World Food Program launch partnership

Fun, games and joy presented to the Street Kids

Elfi Seitz

The new Street Kid’s Home now houses approximately 60 boys and 40 girls who live there under the guardianship of the Catholic Church.

Father Ray Brennan and his little angels.

The first home, located in Central Road, was founded by Father Ray Brennan. Homeless children were brought there by watchful people, but word got around and unwanted kids often found they own way there.

With the help of many charitable organizations, a new, bigger and more comfortable home was built and since then, the poor, homeless children are no longer homeless, and are being raised to become precious members of society.

At least once a year, and especially during the Christmas season, a big festival is arranged for the kids in this home. The children practice for months in advance to entertain visitors with plays, singing and dancing.

Last adjustments before the play.

The party group from Holland: Janie Hoekstra, Ad Simons, Jasper van Zoggel, Patrick Hoogewijs, Bert Nelemans, Rien Heynen, Colin Young, Wim Proost, Babs van Rongeren, Eric Oomen, Jan van Osch, Hennie Ver Mey, Nico Groot, Herman van Gucht and Moyariz.

Well-known lawyer Premprecha Dibbayawan and a group of local Dutch people were contributing sponsors for this year’s party. Everyone was welcome and many guests turned up. Long rows of food stalls were set up to feed the visitors, which included a variety of Thai food, roast turkey and suckling pig fresh from the grill.

Then it was time for the children to entertain their guests on stage with classical dances, songs and a nativity play. After a burst of thunderous applause, the children received a lot of presents.

Bruno Keller, President of the Rotary Club Jomtien Pattaya, and the father of the home for street kids hand out presents to the children.

Elvis Presley, aka Colin, in action.

The performers of the christmas play.

“Let’s do the boogie, babe.”

As a special treat, magician Mr. Tuxedo performed many wonderful magic tricks to the delight of the crowd. And as soon as Elvis Presley, alias Colin Young, entered the stage, the audience went wild. One of Europe’s most famous Elvis impersonators, Colin gave such a convincing performance, some of the children even believed Elvis had came down from heaven.

Guests remarked that the smiling faces of the street kids and the warmth and fellowship of the evening had brought home the true meaning of Christmas.


Pattaya City turns colorful on national Children’s Day

The slogan for this year’s Children’s Day, presented by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was “Life long learning, creative thinking and up-to-date with technology”.

Police Colonel Kamolchai Tienrungrot, Pattaya police chief, enjoys a moment interviewing the children.

In Pattaya most of the activities were held on Friday January 10th so that children could participate in the special functions organized by their schools on a normal study day, and on Saturday the kids could have a chance to spend the day with their families.

Among the many organized events was Fun Day in front of the Pattaya police station led by Pol. Kamolchai Thienrungrot. Fun Day included karaoke, games and gifts.

Pol. Kamolchai stated that it was very important that police officers joined in the event to convey a message of a good relationships between the officers and the public. The officers also gave a talk on the dangers of drug abuse

Police Lt. General Sakraphee Praewphanit, vice commander of the Pattaya police station, hands out gifts to the kids on Children’s Day.

Smiles make it all worthwhile...

Enjoying a coloring contest at school.

At the Alcazar, the parking lot was turned into a huge children’s playground, as thousands of children attended the event. Activities included gift-giving, free food and drinks, free haircuts, a mobile medical unit, a students drawing exhibition, and game booths which were organized by the TAT Region 3, as well as a show from the Alcazar.

Not far away Tiffany also did their part for the children. Tiffany organized a Lip Sync Contest for the youngsters with prizes of scholarships, as well as a drawing contest, games and free shooting practice closely supervised by their trainers. And not to be missed was Tiffany’s special show for the day.

Free haircuts for every kid!

“Kru Tuy” Yodthong Senanant gives a present to one of the young dancers.

“Yes, I’m good ... just ask me.”

“Pee A”, master of ceremonies at Central Festival Center, interviews a very young fashion model.

Dancing with smiles at the Pattaya police station.

Further down the road Central Festival Center also prepared their own fun for kids including a magic show and various contests.

Other communities also had their own children’s activities planned for the day, including the Soi Post Office community.


H.E. Sonthaya Khunpluem weds Sukumon Khonjaem

Over 10,000 well wishers attend the wedding of the year

The Khunpluem and Khonjaem families arranged what certainly must be one of the most elaborate wedding ceremonies of the year, for their children, Sonthaya Khunpluem, Minister of Tourism and Sports, and, his bride, Sukumon.

Sonthaya with members of his family, at the start of the Khan Mark procession.

The couple poses with relatives at the bride’s house.

General Prem Tinsulanonda, National Statesman, former prime minister and head of the Privy Council presided over the ceremonies, which were held at the Ambassador City Jomtien on the 8th of January.

The long list of honourable guests included Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Sanoh Thientong, president of prime minister’s councillors, with his wife, Khun Uraiwan, Banharn Silpa-archa, leader of the Chart Thai Party and his wife, Khunying Jamsai.

General Prem Tinsulanonda imparts words of wisdom and wishes the couple a many happy years of marital bliss by keeping faith in each other and staying united as PM Thaksin looks on.

General Prem Tinsulanond blesses the bride as Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and elders look on.

Somchai and Satil Khunpluem receive tokens from the newlyweds.

Bride and Groom receive gifts from the bride’s parents.

Shinakorn Krailas, national artist, serenades the wedding party with traditional Thai songs during the procession to the Grand Hall.

Other guests included deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and a big contingent of ministers, politicians (at both regional and national levels), business people, heads of civil service departments and over 10,000 well wishers.

At 9.09 a.m. Somchai (Kamnan Poh) and Satil Khunpluem led 88 couples, including, the groom and other elders and relatives from the Khunpluen family in the traditional “khan mark” (bringing of gifts and dowry to the bride’s home) procession singing and dancing their way towards the huge ballroom, where the ceremonies were to take place. The mood was a very jovial one as national artist, Shinakorn Krailas sang traditional Thai wedding songs during the long walk.

From 11.09 a.m. to 1 p.m. the pouring of lustral water ceremony took place, presided over by General Prem Tinsulanonda, placed sacred garlands on the couples’ heads signifying unity and then poured lustral water from a conch shell into their palms. Thousands of well wishers took turns in pouring lustral water and wishing the couple many years of marital bliss.

The dowries included 4,444,400 baht gold, 20 baht gold, and over 100 million baht worth of diamond jewellery.

The groom’s parents, Somchai and Satil Khunpluem presented the couple with a Mercedes Benz E-280, a house, and the Khunpluem family ring. The bride’s parents gave a plot of land worth hundreds of millions of baht.

Decorations around the ceremonies were the highlighted in pink and blue, which are the favourite colours of the bride and groom. Two Thai singers, “Ford” Sobchai Krayoonsen and Kornpin Puangpo, sang a duet especially composed for the bride and groom, “Fak wai nai mue”, (In your hands for safe keeping). Meanwhile, around the hotel compound more than 100 food and drink stalls catered to the guests. This was also a treat for the hotel guests, who were seen enjoying themselves amongst the other well wishers.

“With this ring I thee wed”

Sukumon wais Sonthaya as a sign of respect and gratitude.

General Prem Tinsulanonda and PM Thaksin Shinawatra pose with the couple for photographs.

Somchai Khunpluem and General Prem Tinsulanonda pose with the happy couple for photographs.

Sawang Srisakun, Chonburi province governor presents the marriage registration papers to the couple.

Sonthaya and Sukumon have known each for over 3 years. They first met during Sonthaya’s election campaign.

Sukumon Khonjaem, 27, graduated from Assumption University, majoring in Business Administration, and majored in hotel management. She is the 5th daughter of the Khonjaem family, who own the Baan Ampur Trading Ltd, a business selling construction material, in Sattahip.

Sonthaya Khunpluem, Minister of Tourism and Sports, 39, is the oldest son of the Khunpluem family. He graduated from Sripatum University majoring in the Faculty of Law, and finished his Master’s at Burapha University.


Scouts receive Nordic reception at the jamboree

Denmark, Faeroes Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden joined forces at the Jamboree site to give a reception to scouts and friends of scouting. The theme for the Nordic countries was: “We are Similar-yet unique”. Nordic delights like pancakes and salmon were served. There were artistic performances by scouts from the Nordic countries, from skiing to car racing.

From left Terje Ostby, member of the Norwegian staff, H. E. Norwegian Ambassador to Thailand Ms Ragne Birte Lund, her brother and scout Birte Lund, the Norwegian, Swedish and Danish Counsel Stig Vagt-Andersen, Thai scout leader Jan Olav Aamlid and scout Jorgen Udvang from Too Small Company Ltd., Thailand at the Nordic reception for the scouts.

Camp chief Yuwarat Kamvolvej and Thai scout leader Jan Olav Aamlid had a nice talk at the Nordic reception about the ideals of scouting.

Terje Ostby from the Norwegian staff paid a visit to the British pub at the jamboree site. Terje was served, of course, a non-alcoholic “one of each” in the same glass, a very tasteful drink.


TPG and UN World Food Program launch partnership

Mail, express and logistics company TPG N.V. and the United Nations’ World Food Program (WFP) have launched a partnership for at least 5 years aimed to help in the global fight against hunger. By becoming the largest corporate sponsor of the world’s biggest humanitarian aid agency, TPG is committed to making available its people, skills, systems and assets to support WFP.

Around the world, millions of people go to bed hungry each night. Every five seconds a child dies from hunger or hunger-related causes. As one of the world’s leading logistics companies, TPG has the expertise to support WFP’s activities to help tackle the problem of global hunger. By using its core skills, TPG aims to further enhance WFP’s ability to feed the world’s hungriest people.

TPG decided to partner with WFP for a number of reasons. WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organization and the logistics arm of the United Nations. With similar expertise in both transportation and logistics, WFP and TPG share the common values of speed, reliability and efficiency, as well as a ‘results based’ culture. WFP also has the lowest overheads of any major UN organization, which enables it to ensure that of every one US dollar it receives, nearly 91 cents goes straight to purchasing and delivering food to the hungry. Finally, both TPG and the WFP have truly global operations.

Drawing on the expertise of TPG’s subsidiaries - Royal TPG Post, TNT Express and TNT Logistics - the partnership between TPG and WFP will focus on 5 initiatives: Emergency Response, Joint Logistics Supply Chain, Transparency and Accountability, School Feeding Support and Private Sector Fundraising. These are areas that WFP and TPG agreed would be the most effective for the partnership. TPG will direct 5 million euros to WFP in the first year by providing a mix of expertise and financial resources.

TPG will also benefit from the relationship. TPG is aware that its stakeholders - shareholders, customers, employees and the government - are increasingly looking at social issues as well as economic issues. As the largest single charitable commitment TPG has ever undertaken, the company hopes to tap the proven dedication of its three divisions and enthusiasm of its 148,000 employees to take on the greatest logistical challenge of all: helping to feed the world.

Winfried Kiesbueye, TNT Thailand country general manager said, “We are delighted that all our employees at TNT Express in Thailand will have the opportunity to participate in this valuable program by contributing their time and expertise for the WFP partnership.”

James Morris, WFP’s executive director says, “Together I am sure we will be able to achieve truly great things - a powerful partnership leading to benefits for all concerned. The partnership with TPG is one of the best things that could happen to the World Food Program. And given that the government of the Netherlands has always been one of WFP’s strongest supporters, TPG - a global company based in the Netherlands - is just another example of the extraordinary commitment of the Dutch people.


The Rotary Club
of Jomtien-Pattaya

Skal International

 
 

www.pattaya-rotary.org