KID’S CORNER
HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Big C donates 40 scholarships to students in Banglamung

Another remarkable gift

PILC gears up for annual Holiday Bazaar

Double glory for Assumption

Students tour Pattaya Mail offices

The Fobissea Music Festival at Garden International School

Big C donates 40 scholarships to students in Banglamung

40 students in Pattaya are receiving financial help in the form of scholarships from Big C Supercenter.

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Big C Super Center Foundation North Pattaya Branch and South Pattaya Branch combined on September 9 to present scholarships to students in schools under the Education Area Office Zone 3, Banglamung District.
Benja Wongyou, store general manager of Big C Super Center South Pattaya presided over the ceremony, which was held at the store, and which marked the third consecutive year for the donations. Forty students were in attendance.
Big C Super Center Foundation worked with the Education Area Office Zone 3 to select 40 students from the secondary and pre-college levels who have achieved good school results, and who would benefit most from the scholarships, which are worth 3,000 baht.
Over the next two months, Big C Super Center Foundation will distribute 2,200 scholarships throughout the country.
The Big C Super Center Foundation was established in 2002 with the purpose of supporting educational needs by distributing scholarships, supplying educational equipment, and providing school buildings. The Foundation has already built and donated seven school buildings, each of six rooms, in Ubon Ratchathani, Surat Thani, Chiang Rai, Nakhon Pathom, Phitsanulok and Khon Kaen. The eighth and ninth buildings are currently under construction in Pattani and Pang Nga. The budget for the construction work comes from the Big C Super Center Foundation and public donation boxes.


Another remarkable gift

Ewald Dietrich and C.F. Kruger presented the Father Ray Foundation three cheques worth more than five million baht from two major institutions in Germany.

Andrew Watson
When I wrote last week, “I must come back here again soon,” I’m not sure that I envisaged that within a week I would be back at the Pattaya Orphanage witnessing another extraordinary donation from another extraordinary group of people.
Ewald Dietrich is president of the Human Help Network, based in Mainz, about seventy kilometres outside Frankfurt, in Germany. The organisation works together with specific partner groups in Rwanda, Benin, Thailand, Germany and Russia. Apart from the voluntary workers in Germany, there are more than 50 men and women working as teachers and social workers in the partner projects in each country. Human Help Network provides the money and technical know-how. The aim of the work in the various projects is to provide young people with a socio-cultural education which will help them integrate themselves in normal life.
On this particular occasion, Dietrich was playing Father Christmas, delivering donations of staggering size and generosity, accompanied by C.F. Kruger, author and ex-president of the Human Help Network. In total, they presented three cheques from two major institutions in Germany which are worth more than five million baht.
There were two donations from Der Bild-Zeitung, Germany’s national newspaper. One 15,000 euro gift has been used to buy a 58 seater Hino Bus. Their second gift of 56,000 euros will be used to help finance parts of the new bus, the new garage and general purpose hall. The third donation was from Lufthansa, the German national carrier, which raised 38,500 euros in charitable donations which will be used to build the new library and fill it with new books.
I spoke over coffee with Dietrich and Kruger after the donation ceremony, where I learned that Human Help Network has been helping the Father Ray Foundation for almost twenty five years. But, for Dietrich at least, this was a flying visit. He was off to Vietnam, to deliver more good news.
If you would like to find out more about the amazing work that is being done by the Father Ray Foundation, check out their website: www.fr-ray.org


PILC gears up for annual Holiday Bazaar

The Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) charity Holiday Bazaar to be held the Royal Cliff Hotel on Saturday October 7 begins at 9:30 a.m. with an opening ceremony. This year, the wife of the governor of Chonburi province will be the VIP guest and has kindly agreed to open this annual fundraising event.

PILC supports a very special project at the Tamar Centre in Pattaya.

Without the support of sponsors, it would not be possible to stage such fundraising events. PILC recognises the important contribution made by their sponsors and thanks Transpo International Ltd. and Volclay Siam, both of whom agreed to be sponsors again this year, and Foster Wheeler for their kind donation.
“PILC has over 150 members, comprising 31 nationalities, so we are a truly international club!” says Gillian Thom, president of PILC. “The aim of the club is twofold - not only to provide a support network for ladies arriving in, or retiring to, Pattaya, but also to raise funds for the charitable projects we support around the area. Many members volunteer their time to help with these projects, and in addition, we are always keen to develop relationships with new sponsors, so we can organise future events and raise the money needed to continue our important welfare work.”
So what are the charities that PILC support?
Helle Rantsen, PILC welfare chairperson, has worked for many years with various charity organisations. She explains just one area where some of the money is making a difference to the lives of young women and the families they support in other parts of Thailand.
“Last year PILC raised over 400,000 baht from the Holiday Bazaar and more than 600,000 from the 2005 Charity Ball. A lot of very hard work is put into making these two major events as big a success as possible. PILC members are fully aware that with sponsorship and the donations collected at the events, important and necessary welfare work in the Eastern Seaboard can take place.”
So how did PILC spend the money collected last year?
PILC does not only help and support larger projects/institutions for children, but has an interest in helping all those in need. That is why PILC decided to support a very special project at the Tamar Centre in Pattaya. Every year a new group of 12 women, all of them former prostitutes, are given a chance to take part in job training and a counselling program to give them an alternative to prostitution.
Every year large numbers of women and young girls arrive in Pattaya hoping to find a job in order for them to take care of their families at home. Many of them end up as prostitutes. The Tamar Centre helps and supports a very small group of these women, helping them to regain their self respect and self confidence. PILC wanted to support this important effort and hopes to continue this support in the future.
You can help PILC continue to support the Tamar Centre, many other worthwhile causes and those in need of a helping hand. Come to the Holiday Bazaar at the Royal Cliff Hotel on Saturday October 7. Doors open to the public at 10 a.m. Entrance donation is 100 baht. Children under 13 free.
For more information about welfare www.123hjemmeside.dk/charitywork-thailand
If you would like more information about PILC, please contact Gillian Thom, president on 081-762-6003.
Next Event: PILC Charity “Around the World” Gala Ball, Saturday November 25, 2006. The Charity Gala Ball will be at the Royal Cliff Hotel. The special four-course dinner menu has been designed by the Royal Cliff Hotel executive chef, and includes wine. There will be live music and dancing until late. Tickets 1950 baht.
For more information about the Holiday Bazaar or Gala Ball please contact Roseanne Diamente, special events chairperson on 081-865-0714.


Double glory for Assumption

The victorious Assumption U-16 team. Also pictured are coach Franz Schwarzwaelder (back row, second left) and Brother Verayuth Boonpram (back row, centre).

Mark Beales
Assumption College Sriracha

Assumption College Sriracha has scored a double victory in two major football tournaments. The school’s under-16 students won the government Khompara competition and then triumphed in a dramatic final of the Air Force competition.
Assumption’s under-16s had to play a gruelling ten games in 30 days in order to lift both trophies. The Khompara win was especially important, as it means ACS now gains promotion to Division One of its league.
ACS beat a string of top teams on the way to the finals, including the Bangkok Christian College and Watsutee School. In the Khompara semi-final against Watsutee, Assumption had a player red-carded after 20 minutes, but held on to score the winning goal minutes before the end.
Football coach Franz Schwarzwaelder said the red-card was harsh, but the boys dug deep for the victory.
In the Khompara final, ACS swept past Assumption College Panitchayaharn 4-0.
The Air Force final, held in Bangkok, was a different matter. Franz, a former professional footballer in Germany, said their opponents Assumption College Thonburi is full of national players and is usually considered unbeatable.
ASC played on the counter-attack and kept the score goalless after the full 80 minutes were played. The final went to penalties and ASC held their nerve, with the goalkeeper saving three shots to give the school a 3-2 victory.
As a reward, the team were treated to a short break in Koh Samet.
Franz said he was proud of his team, who had played a lot of games in a short time to achieve both victories.


Students tour Pattaya Mail offices

Primprao Somsri, Pattaya Mail executive manager of sales & marketing (right), welcomes the group of students from the Thai Benja Business Administration Chonburi College, and brought them to visit all departments.

Narisa Nitikarn
Students from the Thai Benja Business Administration Chonburi College made an educational visit to the offices of Pattaya Mail Publishing Co Ltd on September 8, where they saw at first-hand how a weekly newspaper is compiled and published.
General manager of Pattaya Mail Publishing Co, Kamolthep Malhotra and Primprao Somsri, executive manager of sales and marketing welcomed the group of students and teachers, 47 people in total. Teachers Ms Kanokwan Yongprasittikul and Ms Thanatchaya Chonchaiya led the students, who are on a two-year vocational course in English business studies, a course that includes computer graphics.
The school has a policy of arranging field visits for its students, and of inviting those experienced in English business subjects to give talks at the school. On this occasion the school selected students from two streams in Level 2 to show them how the English language is used in a publishing environment, including the use of abbreviated words in classified advertising.
Kanokwan and Thanatchaya said that the school uses English language newspapers in course studies, and that as Pattaya Mail is regarded as the leading quality English newspaper in the Eastern region, an educational visit to the offices was felt to be desirable.
Kamolthep and Primprao gave a brief presentation explaining how the main titles within the group, namely the Pattaya Mail, Pattaya Blatt and Chiangmai Mail were distributed all over the country, not only in Pattaya City. They then took the students for a guided tour of the building, showing them the front office, reporting division, accounting, graphics and administration.
The students were particularly interested in the reporting division, having many questions regarding the various steps taken before a news story appears in print. They also found the graphics department to be of great interest, and had a lot of questions regarding the use of software.
At the end of the tour the students had their photograph taken as a souvenir, and presented a thank-you basket of flowers to Kamolthep and Primprao.


The Fobissea Music Festival at Garden International School

7th - 12th November 2006

By Andrew Watson
Three weeks into term and all’s well down at Garden International School (GIS). Preparations for the Fobissea Music festival continue on a daily basis under the meticulous auspices of the inspiring Shane O’Shea, Head of Music and his redoubtable team. But hold on a minute, it’s not about the teachers, is it? Shane and I agreed as much when we chatted the other week. Time to talk to one of the students then, one among many whose fantastic potential has flourished ever since the music man from Waterford came to town.

Erika Hampel, amidst the greenery at Garden International School
Erika Hampel is a delightful Year 12 IB Diploma student who has been at GIS as long as she can remember. She’s seen it all and is quick to recognise the new dynamism about the school which is both refreshing and exciting. At last, the school feels like it’s about to take off. Her enthusiasm mirrors that of her mentors and her smile is as broad as any I’ve seen.
“It’s going to be a great experience for the students at Garden and all the other students who are coming. They’ll be able to meet new friends and learn new things, whether it’s the piano, violin or drums. Many are coming to Thailand for the first time. It’s really exciting!” enthused Erika, hardly able to contain herself.
Erika will be playing guitar, samba drums, and singing in the choir as well as looking after students from another school. As a new IB student, she’s part of the CAS (Creativity Action, Service) team who will be the school’s ambassadors when their fellow students arrive in Thailand. Erika is already in touch with her guests and is looking forward to being their “tour guide”.

It’s great to see students being given the opportunity to use their initiative; they always respond so well to a challenge. Erika feels that she and her fellow CAS students are absolutely prepared, with the reassuring figure of Shane O’Shea never far away. “I’m happy with him being there”, she confirms. “He’s changed the school quite a lot.”
Erika told me about her band, called “IOUD” (Inside Out Upside Down- great name!) So fluent was Erika’s command of specific musical vocabulary that I wasn’t overly surprised when I thought she told me that ‘IOUD’ played ‘Ba-Rock’ music. Actually she said simply, ‘Rock’ music but an imaginative fusion of different genres is just the kind of inventiveness that’s all over the place at GIS.
Erika’s been playing the drums for one and a half years; inspired by a music video of a drummer throwing his drumsticks around all over the place. “That looks cool!” she thought. How’s the choir? “Great! We’ve got lots of new students. We’re singing baroque, (not again!) and classical.”
Will this Phillipino/German girl feel nervous, I teased, when the time comes to perform her solo piece in front of 2,000 people at the Alangkarn theatre? She wasn’t buying it; “I don’t think I’ll be doing a solo piece!”
For further information, please email music.fest@ gardenrayong.com or check at the GIS website; www. gardenrayong.com