International partnership spells success for schools

New Interact Club president promises more community service

Sattahip Temple hands out 1.2 million baht in scholarships

More free glasses for Pattaya students from YWCA

International partnership spells success for schools

Scott Lyon
In the Sattahip area South of Jomtien a compelling tale of partnership is helping to make two schools more safe, clean and effective for their students learning. Through a combination of voluntary services, charitable funding and efficient project management the primary school of Baanhinwong was extensively refurbished last year, much to the delight of the teachers and students.

George Hazard, the general manager of the Hard Rock Hotel and Cafe Pattaya, looks at an area of the school that is need of repair.
Now another school has been earmarked for similar treatment. Tracy Cosgrove of the Melissa Cosgrove Children’s Foundation explained that beyond the Foundation’s commitment to provide education to children based at construction sites throughout Pattaya, they wish to increase the quality of schooling for all children who are disadvantaged with opportunities for success across Greater Asia. In addition to the refurbishment work, Tracy has been working with 4 trainee teachers, in their last year of university at Nottingham, who have given up their holidays to come to Thailand to share their skills with local children. Their accommodation was generously provided free of charge by one of the contributors to this project: the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya.

George Hazard and his associates Bella and Pokky.
Gemma and Alex have been teaching at Baanhinwong School, they both displayed professionalism and good humour as they took their class through a phonemes tile exercise and then asked questions in English about anatomy.
Alex beamed as she spoke of the children stating, “Thai kids are very enthusiastic and motivated to learn. Within two weeks the children have understood and displayed how to talk about their clothes, their bodies and the weather in concise and clear sentences.”
The children at the other local school, Bamumpur School, were exercising to music just after their lunch and were in great spirits. Laura, one of the students based there, after choreographing some steps to a popular dance tune said, “The opportunity to share my skills here in Thailand is fantastic. I’ve had an amazing time and have really taken something special from it which I hope to share back home.”

The kids ham it up for the camera.
As well as offering something different to the curriculum the project has modernised the schools making them safe for the children to use.
Tracy Cosgrove in conjunction with the Hard Rock Hotel and Cafe is organizing to have construction work done by local workers to revamp the eighty year old Bamumpur school and whilst the government will be upgrading the main building of the school in two years time, some aid with repairing the stairwells and toilets as well as ridding the building of insects has been well received.
George Hazard, the general manager of the Hard Rock Hotel and Cafe Pattaya, was at the school with his associates Bella and Pokky to focus on areas that concerned him. There were many aspects to the school’s buildings that George looked at and his compassion for the work being done there was apparent. The Hard Rock Hotel will be holding their annual Christmas tree light up in November, which is the hotel’s major fundraiser that helps to contribute to projects such as this.
In light of the serious nature of this project the staff of the Hard Rock Cafe were still able to have fun with the children and taught them to ‘Rock on’ before the children continued with their studies.

Young students are always eager to have their photo taken for the press.

Students listen and learn from the volunteer teachers.

The boys do a little dance to get some exercise.

George Hazard (seated center) poses with students and teachers.

New Interact Club president promises more community service

The Rotary Interact Club of Banglamung School’s
new committee promises more community service.

Vimolrat Singnikorn
The new president of the Rotary Interact Club of Banglamung School wants to search the Pattaya area for social-work projects while continuing to grow the organization’s membership.
Taking the helm for the 2009-2010 year, Jiraporn Noiseesang said that although all Interact’s committees have new members, she thinks they will exhibit great teamwork, especially after just completing an assembly in Udon Thani.
“We’ve already started planning this year, mostly by continuing what we started last year,” Jiraporn said. “We do need to research what the community requires in the Pattaya and Banglamung area and see if people need such things as new wall paint or playground equipment fixed.”
She said she also wants to focus on AIDS-related projects with government and private-sector groups.
Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, Interact Club was founded in 1992 to encourage teenagers to get involved in community work.
Jiraporn took over from 2008-2009 President Sarawuth Waitayakul at an Aug. 22 installation ceremony at Banglamung School; a ceremony attended by both club and Rotary members. During the past year, Interact boasted a membership of 91 people, most of them female.
During his term, Sarawuth focused on both internal and external activities. Internally, the club organized activities for the youth, such as Children’s Day and birthday parties. Members also went out into the community to join in Rotary and other volunteer activities.

Sattahip Temple hands out 1.2 million baht in scholarships

Senior monks from Sattahip Temple present scholarships to worthy students.

Patcharapol Panrak
Sattahip Temple handed out nearly 1.2 million baht in scholarships to nearly 1,300 students to mark the death of legendary monk Luang Por Ie.
Prarat Sitthiwimon, deputy dean of Monks in Chonburi, passed out the 1,297 awards to those who passed their Central Dharma examinations in the Doctoral Divine and Divine Master categories. The scholarships ranged between 500 and 1,200 baht each and were donated by local Buddhist schools and temples.
The scholarships, handed out annually, mark the 1946 death of Luang Por Ie, the former head monk at Sattahip Temple who, according to local legend, chased away World War II bombs from the Sattahip Naval Base. More than 16 million baht has been given away since 1975.

Some of the scholarship recipients pose at Sattahip Temple.

More free glasses for Pattaya students from YWCA

Students have their eyesight checked as part of the YWCA eyesight first project.

Vimolrat Singnikorn
The YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya Center now has doubled the number of students it plans to give free eyeglasses to at the end of this month.
Now 155 students will receive eyewear, up from the estimated 70 a month ago, after the group did another round of eye exams at Pattaya School #11 on Sept. 11. Students will receive their new spectacles Sept. 29.
YWCA Chairwoman Nittaya Patimasongkroh said the project sprung from a program sponsored by Beautiful Optical, Pattaya Sports Club, YWCA International Bazaar 2008 and Dave the Eyeglasses Guy. The YWCA and Beautiful plan to offer additional screenings at Pattaya School #8, Wat Phodi Samphan School, Pinchaemvichasorn School, and Banglamung Vocational College.

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