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Darul Ibada Mosque organizes a “Youth kindness” day to raise funds for a new school building
Suchada Tupchai
The Darul Ibada Mosque is Pattaya’s first and oldest
standing mosque. It is now badly in need of a new school building. A
fundraiser was recently organized to help meet the cost of the construction.
Witthaya
Khunpluem, Chart Thai party member and secretary to the minister of Human
Resources and Social Development, officially opened the proceedings.
Faruk
Wongborisut headed up the Youth Kindness Day organizing committee.
The event was chaired by Witthaya Khunpluem, Chart Thai
party member and secretary to the minister of Human Resources and Social
Development, and was attended by many Pattaya and Chonburi dignitaries.
The organizer of the event, Faruk Wongborisut said,
"The 66 year-old Darul Ibada Mosque is the first and the oldest mosque
in Pattaya. It has been the center of all the religious ceremonies and rites
for the Islamic community. Moreover, the sacred place is also the school for
the majority of Muslim scholars.
"Although 27 other mosques have since been built
there still are not enough religious schools to accommodate the children of
these growing communities. Therefore the school board has been organizing
fundraising events every year since 1997 to raise enough money to build a
three-story school building at an estimated cost of 4 million baht,"
Faruk explained.
Mayor
Pairat Suttithamrongsawat donated funds to a representative of the Darul
Ibada Mosque.
Proceeds
from items on sale went to the coffers to build more schools.
This
student receives his Grade 6 graduation certificate of Islamic studies from
Witthaya Khunpluem.
The
stalls that were set up from which to sell goods and souvenirs provided the
crowd with a little shopping fun.
Faruk said Chonburi Province has also donated part of the
funds to the project.
At the ceremony Witthaya Khunpluem also handed out certificates to
students graduating from grades 4 and 6, as well as to the mosque’s
athletes. There were talks given about cultural diversity from many well
known speakers. The stalls that were set up from which to sell goods and
souvenirs provided the crowd with a little shopping fun.
CUEL achieves new goal
The children under Sister Joan’s care at the Fountain
of Life Center in Pattaya were the ultimate beneficiaries when local
offshore platform fabricator, Clough-Unithai Engineering Ltd (CUEL), under
the guidance and direction of the company’s construction manager, Jock
Watt, achieved a new goal in their ongoing safety program.
Jock
Watt, CUEL’s construction manager.
Each year CUEL intends to make a donation to a charity of
the safety committee’s choice, based on points awarded under an annual
worker safety awareness program (internally known as "LIMA" which
stands for Less Injury More Analysis).
CUEL, which employs almost 600 people, has an excellent
safety record since establishing their fabrication yard at Laem Chabang Port
some 3 years ago, having now achieved close to 3.5 million man-hours worked
without lost time due to incident or injury.
This reflects on the company’s safety awareness program
and in particular the efforts of its workers, who CUEL are proud of for
playing their important role in establishing this excellent safety record.
CUEL’s
yard health, safety & environment manager, Udom Srisurat, handed over
the USD 5,000 cheque to Sister Joan.
CUEL are leading offshore fabricators servicing all oil
and gas operators and concessionaires in the Gulf of Thailand, with existing
projects stretching as far as the west coast of India. As recently as last
year, CUEL were recognised by the Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce with a
special award for their safety achievements throughout their operations in
Thailand.
CUEL’s donation of USD 5,000 was proudly handed over to Sister Joan at
the Fountain of Life Center on Wednesday 7 May 2003 in recognition of the
center’s untiring work amongst the disadvantaged children of our local
community.
Education Ministry to purchase 100,000 bikes to get children cycling to school
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has ordered the
Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Industry to purchase 100,000
bicycles to allow school pupils in remote areas to cycle, rather than walk
or drive to their lessons.
Deputy Education Minister Sirikorn Maneerin said that
pupils eligible to borrow the bicycles would have to attend schools far from
their homes. The proposal has been forwarded to the Department of General
Education and the Office of the National Primary Education Commission (ONPEC)
to work out the details.
Although such a scheme already operates in some areas,
the Ministry of Education seems to have little data on how many pupils are
currently covered by existing measures, and how many bicycles are in working
order.
Sirikorn said that the bicycles would be purchased
directly from manufacturers by the Ministry of Industry, and would be
painted a special color to indicate that they were for the use of
schoolchildren.
The ministry will liaise with the Department of Transport
to organize courses in safe cycling and road regulations for pupils and
their teachers, and would possibly issue ‘cycling licenses’ and crash
helmets to pupils taking part in the project.
According to ONPEC statistics, around 370,000
schoolchildren across the country have to travel a considerable distance to
attend schools.
"This will be good in terms of reducing the need to
close schools, as some schools have had to shut down because their pupils
have too far to travel," the deputy education minister said.
Several ministers have also proposed that Thais be
encouraged to donate bicycles rather than wreaths at funerals. (TNA)
Diana Group presents scholarship fund to children of staff members
Songklod Kaewvisit
In an ongoing effort to aid employees with expenses
incurred in the education of their children, Diana Group’s managing
director, Sopin Thappajug, along with general manager, Witoon Wongsawat,
presented over 50 scholarships to staff members’ children on May 8.
The
happy students and the Diana Group board gather for a moment to remember.
Diana
Group’s managing director, Sopin Thappajug presents a scholarship to the
young Kridsada Kaewkah.
Now in its 15th year, the scholarship project is part of
the group’s policy to provide and expand opportunities in education for
staff members’ children, which will allow them to continue their studies.
As the youngsters grow up they will not only get better jobs but also be a
credit to their family and benefit society in general. The overall
philosophy is to ensure security and stability of Thailand’s future
generations.
Funding is provided from kindergarten to vocational
college level with a focus on continuous learning, and helps to improve the
overall welfare of all Diana Group employees.
After the presentation of scholarships a lunch was
provided, small gifts for the kids were handed out and a trip to the Million
Years Stone Park gave the youngsters a chance to learn of the wonders of
nature.
Diana
Group staff members’ children wait patiently for their scholarships to be
awarded.
Diana
Group’s managing director, Sopin Thappajug, and general manager, Witoon
Wongsawat, present a scholarship to Jurarak Janthong.
Twins
Samita (left) and Salita (right) Chotipan earned scholarships this year.
A
puppet show was a major attraction during the day.
The 50 scholarship funds included 9 for kindergarten at
1,200 baht per child, 26 primary school funds at 1,500 baht per child and 15
high school and vocational education funds at 1,800 baht per child. The
funds totaled over 60,000 baht.
The scholarship policy of the Diana group enhances youth
education and training and enables older children to participate in paid
work experience during the holiday periods.
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