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More scenes from CARAT 2009

Smaller turnout for PILC June food drop

Y.W.C.A. marks anniversary, Princess’s birthday by planting coral

Redemptorist School for Blind receives 40,000 baht from Y.W.C.A.


More scenes from CARAT 2009

Rear Adm. Nora Tyson, Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific, exchanges gifts with a child at the Pattaya Orphanage. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason M. Tross/Released)

Rear Adm. Nora Tyson visited the orphanage as part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand 2009. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason M. Tross/Released)

Rear Adm. Nora Tyson, Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific, and Royal Thai Navy Rear Adm. Chaiyot Sundaranaga, Commander, Frigate Squadron 2, prepare to release sea turtles into the Gulf of Thailand from the Royal Thai Navy Turtle Conservation Center. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason M. Tross/Released)

Rear Adm. Nora Tyson releases a sea turtle into the Gulf of Thailand from the Royal Thai Navy Turtle Conservation Center. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason M. Tross/Released)

Lt. David Dow, a U.S. Navy dental officer, leads a team of Sailors and local residents during a tug-of-war. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason M. Tross/Released)

Sailors and Marines from the dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) compete in a potato sack race during CARAT Thailand 2009. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason M. Tross/Released)

(Left) U.S. Marines embarked aboard the dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) greet opposing Thai soccer players during a sports day for CARAT Thailand 2009. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason M. Tross/Released)

Rear Adm. Nora Tyson sings with children at the Pattaya Orphanage. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason M. Tross/Released)

Sailors and Marines from the CARAT Task Group, including USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), USS Chafee DDG 90) and USS Crommelin (FFG 37) play soccer with local Royal Thai Navy Sailors and Thai civilians. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist (AW/NAC) Thomas Brennan/Released)


Smaller turnout for PILC June food drop

Fiona Brown
On Thursday July 2 a smaller group than usual from the Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) due to the holiday period met at Food Land. Supporting Ingrid, the chair of the Welfare Committee and Kathleen her stalwart right hand, the group proceeded on to the first of many stops that morning - Kate’s Project - bringing with them a selection of “Thai basics” which are packaged by the children of the Fountain of Life and distributed to some of the many needy on a monthly basis around Pattaya. A total of 40 bags are given out each month feeding 110 families over the calendar year on a Rota system, each bag contains 3kg rice, and 6 tins fish oil, large bottle oil, large bottle fish sauce and 8 packets of Mama noodles.

A worthy family receives food parcels.
15 bags were given to the families in waiting at Kate’s together with a special donation of Addidas and Nike footballs donated by Pattaya City Football Club. These were eagerly “bounced” by the children.
We moved onto a private home alongside the railway road to be greeted by a beaming lady on crutches who had lost a leg to diabetes. She was ready and waiting for us in what looked like her “Sunday best” and lipstick to match with great smiles and giggles of welcome for us! Lovely!
The next call for us was to another older lady. She in turn greeted us warmly and pleasantly. She spoke wonderful English. She delighted in telling us about her granddaughter, aged 9, who was attending school. Her friend was introduced also and we were told she was visiting for the day to catch up on the “gossip”. If there had been “Chaa Ron” in the pot we could have stayed all afternoon.

Noi from Kate’s Project with some of the goods the families are being taught to make and sell.
The fourth stop was at Khun Jar’s temporary home for children under the “Child Protection Umbrella”. He has done a wonderful job erecting wooden lodgings for the 40 kids currently housed there, who have now the good fortune to be moving to their permanent residence currently under construction opposite their temporary home. Their new home when complete will be 3, 2 storey, 3 bedroom brick residences. Complete with their own pigs and chickens.
Our penultimate visit was to “Grandma Nid’s” home, as she is affectionately known in welfare circles. Unfortunately she was not home as she was out looking for work. What an inspiration as we were told she will “do anything”. A family member gratefully received her food bag together with 1000 baht so she is now able to buy thread and start up her loom once again and make things ready for our bazaar in October.

Fiona Brown with footballs donated to the kids.
Finally we stopped at Bahn Pak Rak Peun, the AIDS home where there are 8 very sick ladies suffering from AIDS or the HIV virus, together with a lady who has “TB.” She assured us she was “well today”.
Along with the regular food bags we also left a special delivery of essentials such as: Cleaning products, sanitary protection, shampoos, bin bags and the obligatory fly/bug sprays. These items are kindly purchased each month by Alana Clarke from the proceeds of the Quiz Night.
This was my first visit on the “food drop” journey which I found heartwarming and humbling that these people allow us such a personal insight into their lives.
For more information on the projects and where they are located, or if you would like to help in any way please contact either Ingrid, chair of the Welfare Committee on 0870631807 or Kathleen on 0861531545. Or alternatively come along next month to see for yourself.

Jar’s new development progress.


Y.W.C.A. marks anniversary, Princess’s birthday by planting coral

Nittaya Patimasongkroh (right), chairwoman of the Y.W.C.A. Bangkok-Pattaya Center, and the children show off their coral before planting them into the sea.

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Marking both its 24th anniversary and the birthday of HRH Princess Soamsawalee, the Y.W.C.A. Bangkok-Pattaya Center brought Pattaya students to the shore in Samae San to plant coral.

Nittaya Patimasongkroh, chairwoman of the Y.W.C.A. Bangkok-Pattaya Center leads those with impaired vision to experience touching the coral.
The Y.W.C.A. Gives Back to Nature project saw more than 40 students from Pattaya School 7 and the Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind converge on Samae San’s Luang Por Dam Temple for the July 21 celebration. Also taking part were the Volunteers to Support Pattaya Tourism and the Pattaya Christian Club.
Y.W.C.A. Chairwoman Nittaya Patimasongkroh said the project was organized because many children lack the opportunity to go on educational field trips and enjoy outdoor activities.

Sight impaired youngsters enjoy having the opportunity to plant coral.
“Children very seldom get to perform real activities that benefit society due to travel hardships and lack of support for the disabled,” she said.
During the exercise, each child planted a piece of Staghorn coral. They were guided by members of the Venythai environmental group, which aims to plant 80,000 pieces of coral along Thailand’s coastline.
The coral branches were placed in a PVC tube they had prepared. The plastic was fitted with screws to affix coral to both sides before planting them in the sea at a minimum depth of 1.5 meters. Some of the children also got a chance to dive in and see coral and small fish in the sea.

Blind students get a sense of what coral feels like.

The screw was not properly affixed.

Students and staff help sight impaired children to plant the Staghorn coral.

The children prepare to dive into the shallows to see the coral.

Officials and members of the Y.W.C.A. Bangkok-Pattaya gather the children to plant Staghorn coral to celebrate the 24th anniversary of Y.W.C.A. Bangkok-Pattaya.

Members of the Y.W.C.A. Bangkok-Pattaya pose for a group photo with the children.


Redemptorist School for Blind receives 40,000 baht from Y.W.C.A.

The Y.W.C.A. Bangkok-Pattaya Center donates 40,000 baht
to support people with vision problems.

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind is getting closer to completing its expansion thanks to a donation from the Y.W.C.A. Bangkok-Pattaya Center.

Nittaya chats with students.
Y.W.C.A. Chairwoman Nittaya Patimasongkroh July 21 presented school principal Aurora Sribuaphan with 40,000 baht to purchase supplies and treat vision problems.
Nittaya said the donation was one of many the Y.W.C.A. makes to area groups. It’s also planning to provide assistance to the Chonburi women’s prison in the near future.
Aurora said that the funds would used to purchase school supplies and equipment for Building 1 under HRH Princess Sirindhorn’s Royal Patronage. It is located opposite the main school building. Another two buildings are under construction. The new facilities are for vocational training for blind students.

Blind children read their books.