|
10 days in central Australia
Part 1
On April 4th 2006, five students and a teacher from
The Regent’s School set off for 10 days in central Australia. The purpose of
their journey was to attend a Round Square Regional Conference at St.
Philip’s School in Alice Springs. The conference lasted five days, which
meant there was time for some sightseeing as well – we had time to visit
both Uluru and Sydney during the trip. Here three of the five students give
their impressions of the conference itself. Reports from the other two will
appear next week.
Baraza Groups
by Pom
Over 120 delegates from different regions of the world met at St.
Philip’s College, Alice Springs to attend the Round Square Regional
Conference 2006.
Service work at St. Philip’s
College.
Delegates and staff from each school were split up into
different Baraza groups. There were 10 different groups, all named after
items used in service activities: Apple, Barrow, Book, Brick, Broom,
Crowbar, Glove, Mattock, Rice and Spade. There were about 12 people in each
Baraza group and I was in Glove. The groups did not have leaders appointed,
which meant that decisions had to be made democratically.
On the first day at the conference, we had a treasure hunt which built up
the relationship between the delegates in each Baraza group. This helped
people know each other better and taught us to open our minds wider to
accept different people from different cultures.
In addition the school organised a volleyball competition between Baraza
groups. This brought the team together. Even though my Baraza group did not
win, it taught me a lot about teamwork.
At the end of the conference each Baraza group was asked to perform a drama
presentation with a theme based on the group’s name. The delegates were not
afraid to present their ideas or discuss the different views they had. This
meant that every drama production presented by the delegates was superb. It
was an excellent opportunity for everyone to show their talents.
Baraza groups were not only a way to split delegates up into groups but were
also a way to bring together people from different cultures and backgrounds.
Building the Chapel
by Tina
One of the service projects during the Regional Round Square Conference
2006 was to build a chapel for the local school in Alice Springs.
The chapel was located in the Peace Garden of St. Philip’s College. The main
purpose for building the chapel was to provide a place which students could
actually use more efficiently than just a garden. So on the 9th of April
2006, the chapel service project was begun with prayers from each attending
school.
 Outside
the Opera House.
During the conference, over 120 delegates woke up at half past six each
morning to carry out the service project for an hour. Even though it was
freezing in the early morning, we didn’t hear any complaints or see any
tiredness from the enthusiastic delegates; the only things you could see
were hundreds of satisfied smiles. The delegates were split into different
tasks, which made the work more efficient. Some delegates did the digging,
some painted varnish onto the wooden beams and some of the stronger
delegates carried twenty kilograms of soil in wheelbarrows.
During the service project, we all had lots of fun with the delegates from
other schools. We shared our ideas of what we have been doing for Round
Square in our school and also the ideas about different cultures. We were
all glad that we did much more than we were expecting to by the end of
conference and we all learned something during the service project. I think
this is what Round Square is all about.
Adventure Day
by Ha-Jung
On the second day of the Conference, all delegates were divided into
three different adventure groups. The first group’s activity was ‘walk’; the
second group’s activities were ‘walk and climb’; the third group’s
activities were ‘four-wheel-drive and climb’.
My group was the third group and we were separated into three small groups
again. Our first activity was four-wheel-driving and I was really looking
forward to this as I had never tried it before.
 Camping
under the desert stars.
At first when the car started, the road was flat and straight so everyone
was relaxed, having a chat. However, as the car entered the road to the
mountains, it became extremely bumpy and hard. Even though I tightened my
seat belt, my body was bouncing so much as the car went up the mountain. It
was really exciting and I thought all my stress was being relieved! As we
reached the top of the mountain, we got out of the car to see the view. The
view from the top was really gorgeous which impressed me very much.
After taking some photos up there, we came to the rock-climbing site. We got
ready for the climb by putting on helmets and safety equipment. At first, I
struggled as I felt there was nowhere to hold on. The rock seemed so smooth
and high! However, I gained confidence soon after and reached the top. It
was a lot easier for me to abseil down the rock as I straightened my legs
and pushed the rock with my feet as I was told to.
It was a great experience to try these adventurous activities at the Round
Square conference as I gained lots of confidence and learned from them. The
experience also gave me precious memories that I shared with the delegates
in Alice Springs and can now share with others in Thailand.
Conference Delegates: Ha-Jung, Maria, May, Pom, Tina and Mr. James
Youth camp held as part of anti-smoking drive
Piyavadee Suvannahong
Hotel employees’ children from the Central and Eastern regions of
Thailand attended a youth camp organized by the Eastern Thai Hotel
Association that aimed to enforce the message cigarette smoking is
dangerous.
Held at Nong Nooch Garden from April 26 to 28, the Smoke-Free Youth Camp
was staged in cooperation with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and
the Green Leaf Foundation.
President of the Thai Hotels Association Eastern Chapter Chatchawal
Supachayanont formally opened the camp at 11 a.m. on April 26, saying
that the objectives were in line with those of the Smoke-Free Hotel
Program, which is expected to increase the network of smoke-free hotels
and to motivate young people to reject cigarettes.
There were 84 children attending the camp, and Chatchawal said that it
was hoped the young people would carry away with them the idea that
smoking is dangerous to the health of the smoker and to others, and that
a smoke-free environment for both workers and tourists was something
that should be promoted.
Young people can play a positive role, he said, through their own
network of friends and by not taking up and becoming addicted to the
nicotine habit.
The youngsters were encouraged to write cards to those of their families
who smoked, and to coin slogans about the evils of the habit. The final
day of the camp saw a visit from Paradorn Payakwichian, an advisor to
the Tourism Authority of Thailand, to see progress and award
certificates to the participants.
Chatchawal Supachayanont
receives a souvenir from the Green Leaf Foundation.
The youngsters wrote cards
to their loved ones who they wish to see quit smoking.
Paradorn Payakwichian, an
advisor to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, awards certificates to the
participants.
The youngsters at the
Smoke-Free Youth Camp were given fun and informative lectures.
Many youths attended the
“Smoke-Free Youth Camp”.
Chaiyo! No smoking for
life
Sunshine Hotel Group donates 50 scholarships
The Sunshine Hotel Group donated
scholarships to their employees’ children.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
On April 29 at the Green Park Resort Hotel in Pattaya, San
Supornsahatrangsi, chairman of the Sunshine Hotel and Resort Group, Mrs.
Wantanee Supornsahatrangsi, vice chairman, and hotel administrators held
a scholarship ceremony for the hotel employees’ children.
The purpose was to support the education of the hotel employees’
children, so they could be educated and have skills for their future
occupations. The hotel group holds this activity yearly.
The scholarship is divided into 3 levels; Kindergarten (1,000 baht per
scholarship per education year), Primary School (1,500 baht) and
Secondary School (2,000 baht). A total of 50 scholarships were awarded.
Fun in the sun without being burned to a turn
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Crowds of local and foreign tourists attended the Vaseline Full Sun Fun
Fair at Jomtien Beach on April 29, an event that promoted sunscreen
products in exactly the right location and to the right market –
visitors who wanted to soak up the sunshine without suffering sunburn.
The fair, which was organized by Vaseline Healthy Protection Sun Block,
took up a 2,000 square-meter area of beach and water. Pattaya City
Council leader Tawit Chaisawangwong and Mrs Wannipa Pakdeebut, a
director of Unilever Thai Trading Co Ltd, jointly performed the opening
ceremony.
“Vaseline’s aim is for consumers to enjoy outside activities by allowing
Vaseline products to take care and protect their skin completely and
efficiently,” said Wannipa.
Three zones were created on Jomtien Beach. The Sea Zone had games
including Sea Roller, Babylon, and Sun Rider; the Beach Zone had Bowling
Rolling, Sea Slider, Aqua Girl, Lady Bump, James Bond, Flying Saucer,
and Ball Shooter; and the Kids’ Zone had Ball Bouncer, Dino Slider, the
Ring, and Electronic Mouse.
Vaseline Full Sun Fun Fair was held in cooperation with city hall.
Tawit Chaisawangwong and Wannipa Pakdeebut
officially set the fun fair in motion.
Bowling Rolling at the beach zone was both
fun and good exercise.
There were plenty of fun activities at the
fun fair.
The Sea Zone had games including Sea Roller,
Babylon, and Sun Rider.
|
