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Regent’s students complete stage 4 of the
Laem Tong Community Centre on Phi Phi Island
Paul Crouch
For seven days from the 17th - 24th March, twenty Regent’s students
from years 8 and 9 worked on the Baan Laem Tong International Community
Centre Project on Koh Phi Phi. This ambitious project was launched exactly a
year ago through collaboration with Chulalongkorn University, Fahdiow NGO
and fellow Round Square and FOBISSEA Schools. The trust fund has now raised
over 1.5 million baht in just under a year and four stages of construction
have been completed totally by students and volunteers.
 Amber
passes a bucket full of cement.
Stage 4 involved the construction of the retaining wall around the back of
the community centre and the landscaping (removal) of a steep bank that will
make way for the ramp to access the second floor. The work was very physical
and the heat made it especially hard work.
The Regent’s students were not alone though as they were joined on this
stage of the project by 20 senior students from Lakefield College in Canada,
also a Round Square school. Together the 40 students integrated and formed
working parties to dig soil and sand which they then bucketed and removed
along efficient human chains. They also collected hundreds of bags of gravel
and sand to form the cement and again passed the cement along human chains
to pour into the wooden form work that shaped the retaining walls.
 Hugh
works on the drinking water pipes.
By the end of the week two-thirds of the retaining wall had been completed
and an overflow channel for excess rain water had also been constructed
along the top of the retaining wall. The steep bank had been totally leveled
and huge rocks removed, much to the satisfaction of the determined students.
On the last day both schools joined the Baan Laem Tong students in the small
Moken Sea Gypsy community on the bay and collected litter and rubbish that
covered the beach and floated in the sea. This is one of the main aims of
the project to increase awareness of conservation and sustainability on the
island through the community centre. By working with the Moken community,
and especially the children, each time a project takes place these aims will
be reinforced and hopefully everyone, including ourselves, will value the
fragile balance of Phi Phi’s unique environment a lot more.
Stage 5 of the Laem Tong community centre project will take place in June
during Regent’s Round Square Week, 17th – 24th June. Four other schools have
shown an interest in also participating at that time, including schools from
India, Malaysia and Bermuda. If you would like to know more about the
project or be involved then please contact
[email protected]
Wayne bonds with Bin, one of
the Phi Phi workers.
KC and Malin collect all the
loose soil in buckets.
A group photo of the two Round
Square schools and the Baan Laem Tong students in front of the Sea Gypsy
village.
Rotary donates playground equipment
to Fr Ray Children’s Village
Chris Gibbins
On Saturday, March 21, members of the Rotary Club
Jomtien-Pattaya handed over several pieces of playground equipment to
the children at the Fr Ray Children’s Village.
 Youngsters
peddle for fun and good health.
The village is located just beyond the Mabprachan reservoir, off the
Siam Country Club Road on the way to the Thai Polo Club. It is operated
by the Fr Ray Foundation. It opened in September 2008 with 4 houses and
will expand to 20. The purpose is to provide homes for children who have
no home. These are children who have been orphaned, abused or neglected
by their parents.
Each house has a mother and an auntie who give the children love and
care. For many of these children it is the first time in their short
lives that they are part of a family with loving brothers and sisters.
The children will not only learn to live as a family but also as part of
a community. All visitors are welcome to visit and spend time with the
children.
The Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya has been very generous in donating
150,000 baht to the Fr Ray Foundation, 75,000 baht of which was used to
purchase playground equipment, such as swings, slides, and climbing
frames for the children at the village. The children spend all their
play time swinging, climbing, sliding and having lots of fun.
The Fr Ray Foundation has been working for the poor and underprivileged
for more than 35 years. It now cares for more than 850 children and
young adults with disabilities. It is very grateful for the support that
the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya continues to give to the poor and
underprivileged in Pattaya.
Members of the Rotary Club
of Jomtien-Pattaya, led by their president, Brendan Kelly (3rd right)
have donated playground equipment to the Father Ray Children’s Village.
Faster, faster! Boys will
be boys.
Asian University students enter the woods for a bears’ picnic
Story by Tuk-Tik, second year BEng
Photos by Khun Game, first year BEng
On Wednesday 25th March, Asian University Community Service Committee
and students went to the Wildlife Conservation Centre, Sattahip,
Chonburi, to have a little visit there. At the Center there are various
types of wild animals such as bears, crocodiles, monkeys and otters. The
animals that are there are mainly animals that were bought as illegal
pets, and been rescued by the officers.
 Tuk-Tik
visits with a cute little cub.
Asian University Community Service Committee members are aware and have
great concerns towards those captured wildlife; we would like to help
them. We brought lots of dry dog food which the people could use to feed
the bears; the food that the bears get is rice cooked with dry dog food.
We went along with the staff on the feeding truck into the main
enclosure and fed them. The bears are very cute but on the other hand
they also look scary, just like how bears should be. The center has 98
bears in total, including all ages from 2 months until 30 years old. The
center also acts as a clinic which takes care of sick animals.
The trip makes me think that there are also other creatures that need
our help to protect them and give them a better life. Even though I
can’t do much for them, it still feels good that I’m among one of those
people who cares about others.
The Asiatic black bear can climb trees and can also walk on their hind
legs; sadly it is this latter skill which has made them attractive to
circus owners and others.
The black bears have a distinctive white “collar” and are omnivorous,
feeding on both plants and animals. Their diet varies with availability
and location and includes buds, fruits and nuts, berries, small animals
and birds, carrion, insects and honey.
Asiatic black bears grow to 1 - 2 metres long. The males weigh up to
200kg, while females grow up to 125 kg.
Game (left) the
photographer visits a less frightening creature at the center.
Muay helps feed the bears.
Hungry bears fill up at
supper time.
Bears patrol the area.
The bears are very cute
but also look scary, just like how bears should be.
Pattaya Orphanage
reveals giant road sign
Elfi Seitz
March 22 saw the official unveiling of a giant road sign along
Sukhumvit Road, indicating to motorists and cyclists the domicile of the
Pattaya Orphanage. Bishop Lawrence Thienchai Samanchit from the
Chantaburi diocese took part in the unveiling ceremony.
 The
new Pattaya Orphanage sign along Sukhumvit Road.
Also attending were priests from the local Catholic Church,
representatives of Human Help Network, dignitaries from private and
public organizations, Sanga Kijsamret, president of the Union of Pattaya
Entrepreneurs, and city councilor Rattanachai Sutidechanai.
At the appointed time, hundreds of helium filled balloons that had been
distributed to children from the orphanage and from the Child Protection
& Development Center were released into the evening sky.
Subsequently, an opulent thank you dinner was served, followed by
entertaining shows from the children, who earned many rounds of
applause.
Then it was time to honor the orphans who have successfully finished
their education and those with outstanding job performances. They were
all called to the stage to receive a present.
All children who had their birthday between January and March were also
given a present.
It’s always heart-warming to see the happy faces of the children from
the orphanage, the School for the Deaf and from other local
institutions. They are truly being taken good care of.
Bishop Lawrence Thienchai
Samanchit
and Sanga Kijsamret jointly cut the ribbon.
Father Michael Weera
Phangrak (back row, center), director of the Pattaya Orphanage honors
orphans who successfully finished their education and those with
outstanding job performances.
Distinguished members of
Rotary take a place of honor at the event.
Youngsters perform a
magical candle dance.
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