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Your generous donations at work for the kids
A look back at last year and ahead to this year’s Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive 2006
Lewis Underwood
Due to your generous donations last year, the Jesters Care for Kids
Charity Drive 2005 was able to raise 5.4 million baht in both cash and kind
for needy children’s charities and we would like to thank you sincerely once
again for your part in achieving this wonderful result. To date over 5
million baht has been distributed to our beneficiaries.
Without YOUR HELP we could not have assisted the following needy children
institutions in both the Eastern Seaboard and the tsunami affected south so
significantly.
The Rayong Shelter: (442,000 baht)
The above total, plus another 270,000 baht from Jesters Care for
Kids 2004, went toward the construction of a safe haven for abused kids,
battered women and young, unwed mothers in Huay Pong, which was a joint
project with the Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) and the Pattaya
Sports Club (PSC) in Huay Pong, Rayong.
he Rayong Training Center: (353,000 baht)
The above is a juvenile rehabilitation center in which we
supplied a new roof for one of the dormitory buildings, provided drinking
water filter system and maintenance of the organic gardening project during
the past year.
Happiness Camp: (89,000 baht)
We sponsored one of the organization’s teacher/student encounter
sessions focusing on learning, communication skills, creativity and
acquiring self-confidence for government school students from Koh Larn
during their 3-day, 2-night residence at Nong Nooch village.
Khao Baisri School near Sattahip (433,217 baht)
The above is a school for autistic and mentally impaired
children, where we provided funding for a school building renovation and new
toilet construction, as well as the provision for new tables and chairs and
the purchase of safe playground equipment.
Chonburi Shelter
in Banglamung: (180,000 baht)
We provided the above amount to cover half of the construction of
a new canteen in a joint venture with PILC for this safe haven. (Note: PSC
funded the construction for a new building (shelter) to accompany a
pre-existing structure.)
The Next Step
Program:
(365,800 baht)
The above is our special scholarship provision program for young
adults and children to continue their education at all levels including
college. Currently, we are sponsoring Em, a young mechanic with a desire to
become an engineer, at a technical college outside Bangkok; 12 orphans from
Choon Chee Boarding School in Ban Bung; and 36 government school students,
who are excelling in their studies despite austere living conditions.
Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind in Naklua:
(181,000)
The above, a boarding school for blind and mentally impaired
children and young adults, is a perennial beneficiary of ours. Over the past
year our support went mostly to building repair.
Mercy Center
Children’s Center in Pattaya: (70,000 baht)
The above is yet another shelter mostly for very young children
off the streets. We recently purchased metal bunk beds, mattresses, bedding
materials, tables and chairs, including booster seats for the smaller ones.
The Fountain of Life Center for Children in North Pattaya: (2,254,360.40
baht)
We continue to cover the majority of the operational expenses for our target
charity the Fountain of Life Center which provides documentation, education,
scholarships, medical and dental treatment and care for slum kids from
broken families.
Eastern Child
Protection Institute in Huay Pong
(41,000 baht)
The above provides education, vocational training and boarding
for abandoned and wayward children. Last year we bought tables and chairs
for them.
The South:
(430,900 baht)
Our involvement in children’s charities went beyond the Eastern
Seaboard last year after the devastating tsunami in the south. We
contributed the above total from last year, as well as another 271,450 from
the previous year, 2004. We have been involved from the initial stages of
relief, including the provision of temporary shelter, as well as long term
aid in the following locales: Takua Pah, Thap Lamu School, Khao Lak, Sangka
Ou School (Koh Lanta) and a day care center for displaced children from Koh
Phi Phi in Krabi.
Blue bus restoration: (60,000 baht)
The above was for a recent complete makeover to restore the blue
bus, or daily work horse that transports the kids to and from the Fountain
of Life Center that we donated to them during our inaugural charity drive in
1998.
Ban Jing Jai:
(earmarked
185,000 baht)
The above, a small orphanage in Nong Prue that presently
accommodates 54 children and now having secured permission from the
landlady, will initiate an extensive repair and renovation project for the 3
houses they now inhabit.
Miscellaneous: Over the past year we have also contributed 28,720 baht to
Ban Jing Jai and Pattaya School #3, as well as our event shirts gratis.
Now it is time to focus on this year’s Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive
2006. Besides the Ban Jing Jai project mentioned above, we are also looking
at the Plouk Daeng Hospital, a drug treatment and rehabilitation center for
juveniles, and the Camillian Center’s Independent Living Project for teenage
orphans living with HIV/AIDS. We also hope to find land in Ban Chang this
year so we can initiate our Baan Sai Jai housing project for elderly people
looking after their grandchildren whose parents have died of AIDS.
All the while we will still be maintaining most of our support for our
present beneficiaries mentioned above, as we believe in sustainability and
seeing our ventures through to fruition.
This year our annual family outing, the Jesters Children’s Fair, will be
held at the Diana Garden Resort and Driving Range off North Pattaya Road on
Sunday, September 10th, while our Jesters Pub Night will be at Jameson’s
Irish Pub once again on the following Saturday, September 16th.
If you would like to help us help the kids this year, please visit our
website for the latest corporate/individual sponsorship letter or send your
donations, cheques, and/or bank drafts to: Good Shepherd Foundation, c/o The
Fountain of Life Center, 3/199 M.6 Soi Chalermprakiet 3, Pattaya 3rd Road,
Naklua, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150, Thailand, or transfer funds directly to
their account at Bangkok Bank, Muang Pattaya Branch, Chonburi 20260, Acct#
484-0-68306-6. Swift code: BKKBTBK and fax payment slip with your name to
number above. The charity registration number for the Good Shepherd
Foundation is Tor 460/2543. Official invoices and tax receipts will be
provided for all contributions.
Alternatively, you may wish to use our Online Donation Facility on our
website.
For more information about us and other ways to help, please visit our web
site at www.care4kids.info or email us at [email protected].
Great Sports Day at
Garden International School
This year the Gecko team won,
but all children understand that what the day is mostly about is good
sportsmanship, having fun and doing your best.
Helle Rantsén
GSA committee member
The yearly sports day is one of the most important days at GIS. A great day
enjoyed by all children, staff and parents. All children, separated into 3
teams across all age groups from 2 years old to 18 years old, take an
active part of this wonderful day, doing their very best running, jumping
and catching.
Standing behind the line watching your kids having fun together getting
carried away when your own child is “performing”, feeling like a part of a
great school community, is what makes this special day at GIS so important.
Thanks to the forever very hard working staff at GIS, from the principal
Ms. Ruth Grant, all the teachers and office staff, who very naturally take
part in the organising and participation of this event which makes it run
like clockwork.
This year the Gecko team won, but all children understand that what the day
is mostly about is good sportsmanship, having fun and doing your best.
Thank you to all the GIS staff which made this day jet another great day at
GIS. From a grateful parent.
Major movie filmed at ACS
A major Thai movie which is thrilling audiences around
the country was filmed at a school near Pattaya. Film-makers came to
Assumption College Sriracha to film Dek Hor (Dorm).
The movie is a gentle ghost story and much of the footage involves
Assumption’s large grounds. The school’s basketball courts, football
fields, and gardens can be seen in the film, which is now in cinemas across
Thailand.
Dorm stars Chatree Trairat and Jintara Sukapat and is directed by Songyos
Sookmak-anan.
The fictional film is about a young boy, Chatree, who is sent to a boarding
school in Chonburi. He strikes up a friendship with another student who has
a disturbing secret. Rather than being a horror movie, the film takes a
look at friendship, loneliness, and compassion.
At the end of the film, producers say a special thank you to Assumption for
allowing the school to let them in to make the movie.
Assumption College Sriracha runs a special English Programme and educates
many children from the Pattaya area.
Regent’s students make new friends on Round Square Service
trip to Mae Hong Son
by Maria Chernyaeva
Y 12 (IB)
This year the Regent’s Round Square Service project aimed to help the
hill tribe people living in Mae Hong Son. The preparation for the event
began early in December when the coin challenge and the charity auction
under the clock tower were held. The raised money had to cover the cost of
three main projects that would improve the life of the hill tribe people.
These projects included painting the school canteen and library, building a
fence and putting in water pipes.
 Maria
paints with one of her new friends
Most Global Connects, five day students, Mr. Crouch, Mr. James and Miss
Cases attended the trip during the mid-term break from 18th to 26th of
February. We travelled to Chang Mai to meet Mrs. Susan Race who has been
helping and living with hill tribes for 25 years. She took us to Baan Om
Pai village, one of the bigger and better organised villages of the Lawa
people.
On the way to the village Mrs. Race gave a talk about the history and the
lifestyle of the tribe. We arrived at the Lawa village on a Sunday
afternoon and took a look at the fifty houses, the school buildings and the
boarding houses. After we were hosted in one of the boarding houses, we
were invited to meet the headmaster, the teachers and some of the students
at the Baan Om Pai School. We were also challenged to work hard on the
three service projects during the week. We accepted the challenge and
managed to paint three of the school buildings and a small Buddhist altar
in three days. We also built a fence around the football field and dug the
holes for the water pipes. The results of our work were paint prints on our
clothes and blisters on our hands but also many unforgettable memories.
 Tree
climbing is all part of trekking in Mae Hong Son
The Regent’s School, being a true Round Square School, did not focus only
on service in the community during this trip. We followed all pillars of
IDEALS and that made our mid-term break even more exciting.
Internationalism and Democracy were embraced by all of us who met the Lawa
people and respected their unique culture and hierarchy in their village.
Environmental awareness was brought to the students by the hike in the
mountain. The spirit of Adventure inspired the students to participate in
all events during the week including the hikes in the mountain and the
talent show on the last evening. Leadership was fostered by the five
leaders of the working groups.
Moreover, several creativity challenges were offered during the week,
including an English writing challenge and a photo challenge.
We are looking forward to the 27th of March when 100 children and 10
teachers from 3 different schools including Baan Om Pai will come to The
Regent’s School. They will have breakfast and will be invited to a special
assembly in the Globe.
Special thanks to the Connelly family for supporting all Round Square
projects at our school.
Asian U to host youngsters from Chiang Mai ‘School for Life’
The School for Life in Chiangmai was founded as the
“House for AIDS Orphans” in 2002. Later, other disadvantaged children
joined, such as children from hill tribe villages, children from the
Burmese border, street children and lastly tsunami children.
On March 13, a group of about 70 students and 10 teachers are traveling
from Chiang Mai by bus to the Eastern Seaboard and will be in Pattaya from
March 22 to 27. This is the school’s annual educational trip.
The goal of the trip is to learn by doing, through discovery and
participation. This is the students’ opportunity to experience other parts
of the country beyond their small community to feel that they are a part of
the larger whole.
In order to make this trip possible, the students will perform northern and
southern dances, a concert and exhibit students’ paintings to raise funds
by auctioning and selling of paintings. The performance will be open to
public on Friday and Saturday, March 24 & 25 at 1 p.m., at the Asian
University campus. Admission is free.
This is in the planning stage. Donations and any support you can offer,
such as food, how to get permission to visit a navy base, an aquarium, Khao
Kheow Open Zoo, Nong Nooch Garden, etc., would be greatly appreciated.
However, your presence at Asian U is the most important. We are inviting
you to interact and share with us your culture, your way of life and to
support us in our hope and dream of the world beyond subsistence.
The trip’s contact person is Khun Wanpen. She can be reached by email
wanpen [email protected] or by phone 09-814-7320 (mobile).
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