Kittisak “Kit” Hiranrat, Paeng Surasri, Saranya
“Koi” Udomsri and Lakana “Na” Poolcharoen are this year’s
participants in the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya assisted and Rotary
Club of Eaglehawk (Australia) sponsored Rotary Orphan Students Exchange
(R.O.S.E.) program. They will spend 12 months living with local caring
families in Bendigo Australia and attending an E.S.L. (English Second
Language) course provided by a local accredited educational facility.
Father
Banchong Chaiyara, director of Father Ray’s foundation, is photographed
with the children. Front line from left: Kittisak Hiranrat (Kit), Saichon
Suklonlua (Chon), Father Banchong, Ornkamon Kulasutthichai (Tukta), Lalita
Paokhan (Boo). Back line from left: Paeng Surasri (Paeng), Saranya Udomsri
(Koi), Lakana Poolcharoen (Na) and Atthapon Samarnpak (Pol).
“Giving the orphan students an opportunity to learn
English in an English speaking country is the primary reason for the
program,” said Howard Osborne, international service director for the
Rotary Club of Eaglehawk. “This will be an opportunity that they would
never otherwise experience and on return to Thailand they will be assured
of extremely good employment prospects or further education.
“An impassioned request for the program came from the
late Father Ray Brennan who founded the Pattaya Orphanage. His devotion to
the orphans, the underprivileged, blind and handicapped, elderly and
street kids is legendary not only in Pattaya and Thailand but throughout
the world. His passing in August 2003 has made Rotary only more determined
to ensure his request to send orphan students to Australia to learn
English is realized. The program will be a tribute to his memory and
works,” Osborne said.
Audrie
gives some motherly advice to her childeren.
This is the second year of the program, which
organizers hope will continue indefinitely. Saichon Suklonluea, Orn-kamon
Kulsuttichai, Lalita Paokhua, Atthaphol Samarnpark and Sulawan Buranansan
were the “pioneer” orphans last year, and all five returned to
Thailand not only better at speaking English, but also filled with stories
of their experiences.
Saichon related how he had “experienced another
culture, met new friends, tried new food, and learned about living amongst
foreign people.” However, this wasn’t completely without certain
challenges, as he said he “had some language problems at the beginning,
but adapted and learned.”
Orn-kamon told of her “good memories about the
teachers, students, and Rotary members who took care of her.” She said
the town she stayed in was clean and the people were very kind. Her main
problem, she said, was in being homesick, but she solved that by listening
to music.
Thai
Airways has been very supportive of the program and has provided
complimentary tickets for the 4 students again this year.
Lalita said, “It seems that (the families she stayed
with) care very much about how others feel, including requiring us to say
goodnight before going to bed. They were very firm, which showed how much
they cared about my wellbeing ... Travel taught me how important it is to
learn other languages.”
Atthaphol said he very much enjoyed the experience, and
now has “both Thai and foreign close friends.”
This year’s group of students all agreed that they
are very excited. This will be their first air journey, and their first
time overseas.
The children were chosen because of their calm nature
and their scholastic results were good. They have all taken an ESL
(English as a Second Language) course to support their language abilities.
Once the students arrive in Australia, ‘On Track’
(State funded Training, Employment & Business Solutions) will be
providing the internationally accredited course free of charge to Rotary
because of the international goodwill it will engender and the
humanitarian nature of the program. “On Track has suited the R.O.S.E.
Program extremely well,” Howard Osborne said. “Their personalized
approach has ensured that the students this year not only have a great
command of the English language but they have also obtained additional
life skills before they return to Thailand.”
He went on to say that, “Thai Airways has been very
generous and supportive of the program, and has promised complimentary
tickets for the 4 students again this year.”
Father Banchong Chaiyara, who has generously taken over
the program from the late Father Brennan, said, “Last year I had a
chance to visit (the children in Australia). I was very surprised by the
changes in them. They were growing up and their English was better. I
think that this was a good opportunity for them to have new experiences
and to see a new culture, which is direct learning for them.”
As these students leave on their journey of a lifetime, undoubtedly
this experience will be a positive influence on their young lives and one
they will long remember, and hopefully will be one that will give them a
better understanding and perspective of life.
Jin
Srikasikorn seems thrilled as PRIP Bhichai gives him his badge of office.
Outgoing
district governor Surat congratulates incoming DG Jin Srikasikorn.
Marwin
Green presents toys to the DG Surat on behalf of the Rotary Club of Taksin
Pattaya for distribution to underprivileged children in the district.
PDG
Prasert Chaimano presents PRIP with a souvenir to commemorate his visit to
the District Assembly.
PDG
Noraseth…a candidate for the next Thai RI President.
DGE
Jin Srikasikorn presided over the function.
President
Martin Brands congratulates Marlies Fritz.
PDG
Premprecha Dibbayawan presents Peter Malhotra with his award.
Philippe
Meunier (left) receives his award from President Nic Demet.
