Bangkok Pattaya Hospital holds annual charity sale in aid of children

YWCA and Rotary club of Taksin-Pattaya donate necessities to Muay Thai training camp

Pattaya holds annual cleanup for National Environment Day

Bangkok Pattaya Hospital holds annual charity sale in aid of children

Damri Muangkaew

The annual Bangkok Pattaya Hospital Charity Sale has become a steadfast item on the shopping calendar as local charity organizations and association set up stalls within the hospital to bolster funding for the numerous projects on hand.

Khun Neera Srisampan (right) of the Bangkok Pattaya hospital shares a laugh with Dianne Doell from the VFC Mercy Ministries.

Visitors to the hospital had a wide array of items to choose from at reasonable prices. Choices included a number of stalls from the Pattaya International Ladies Club, Rayong Ladies Circle, Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa, Pattaya Expats Club, Fountain of Life and the Jesters.

Neera Srisampan, assistant director in charge of the hospital’s International Department said, “Our aim is to provide an opportunity for each of the organizations to provide better assistance to the community at large, especially for children from underprivileged families who need scholarships for education and meals. We want them to become good people in society because many of them have been discarded. It is up to us to help these kids.”

The hospital lobby was a myriad of small and large booths with some of the well-known stalls such as the Jesters selling ‘Jesterwear’. The ladies from the Rayong Ladies Circle were offering delicious cakes made by the girls from Huay Pong and numerous other items for sale.

The charity sale drew a great deal of interest from visitors to the hospital - many of whom were there for other reasons - but nonetheless, looking for a bargain at any one of the many stalls.

YWCA and Rotary club of Taksin-Pattaya donate necessities to Muay Thai training camp

Damri Muangkaew

Children and students under the care of Yodthong Srivaraluk of the Sityodthong Muay Thai training camp showed their appreciation for the generosity by members of the YWCA and Rotary Club of Taksin Pattaya, when the two clubs, led by YWCA president, Nittaya Patimasongkroh and Dieter Precourt, president of the Rotary club of Taksin Pattaya handed over 550 kilograms of rice and 8 boxes of items including medicine to the Muay Thai Camp.

The benefactors of both associations surrounded by happy children, boxing gloves on ready to go out there in life and throw the knock-out punch.

Yodthong, who has been a Muay Thai teacher for over 40 years, also thanked the group for their kindness. He explained that he currently takes care of quite a few children from broken homes.

“I make sure that the kids are clothed and fed, that the students go to school and that their education is paid for. Since many of these kids come from dysfunctional homes, I teach them the value of money by making sure that whatever they earn is kept for their education and not squandered, and more importantly make sure that they stay away from the temptation of drug use,” said Yodthong.

YWCA president Nittaya Patimasongkroh said, “I wish we could do more to help more often. Kru Yodthong has been involved in Muay Thai and the preservation of this national art form for most of his life and we are honored to be able to assist him in taking care of these children now and in the future.”

After leaving the Sityodthong training camp the group made their way to a small residence belonging to Saha Sorlong. The courageous woman, who is totally blind, ekes out a meager living, caring for her two children by washing and ironing and cares for other children. Since the death of her husband the family has faced constant difficulty, battling to find enough money to live on and for education costs.

The plight of Saha Sorlong was brought to the attention of the YWCA and they subsequently handed over funds and necessary items to the family.

Nittaya said she would follow up on the names of the two children to ensure that they are included in the YWCA scholarship scheme in the very near future.

Pattaya holds annual cleanup for National Environment Day

Community effort makes Pattaya and Jomtien beach fronts sparkle

Suchada Tupchai

City officers, residents and students converged on the city’s beach fronts to participate in an annual clean up operation as part Thailand’s National Environment Day.

Pattaya citizens came out in force to help clean up our beaches and our streets.

Armed with garbage bags, rakes and other tools, scores of people scoured the beachfront to clear away rubbish and waste that had either been dumped or washed up on shore.

Similar activities took place around the nation in an effort to encourage everyone to care for the local environment, as it is an important national resource.

In his address to participants, Pattaya Deputy Mayor Nirun Wattanasartsathorn pointed out, “We must care for the environment in Pattaya. It is our duty as residents, hosts and business operators to care for this vital resource. Pattaya is an international tourist destination with visitors coming from around the globe. The need to keep it clean and promote awareness among the community is important in sustaining both the environment and our livelihood.”

Both Pattaya and Jomtien beaches were the main focus of the day’s activities, which also included information on recycling and conservation.

National Environment Day was implemented in 1989 after HM the King instructed the nation that apathy in caring for the environment would cause compounding problems if left unattended, adding that it was everyone’s responsibility to care for the country and not just government offices. Since then, December 4 has been designated as Thailand’s National Environment Day.