Child Development & Protection Center is now officially open

Parents, teachers brainstorm on learning disability education

51 youths receive canoeing certificates

Child Development & Protection Center is now officially open

Ambassadors of Germany and Switzerland join the celebration

Ambassador Christine Schraner-Burgener gives her speech.	Ambassador Dr. Hanns Schumacher presents another one of his moving speeches.
Ewald Dietrich.	Rachada Chomjinda.
Supagon Noja says thank you.	Franceso Caruso.

Elfi Seitz
October 10 marked an important event: the official opening of the Child Development & Protection Center (CDPC) under the patronage of the Human Help Network (HHN), a foundation assisting street kids in Pattaya.
Pattaya Mail has been reporting about this center since children first came to live there, children who were living on the streets, many having been sexually exploited as child prostitutes. At first they slept in a tiny tent on a muddy ground, just to be with their beloved director, Supagon Noja, who had helped them in their past.
Later on the tent was replaced with wooden block-houses, made by the children and teachers and paid for by some good hearted people.
That all changed when the Human Help Network (HHN), with its president Ewald Dietrich, who supports the Father Ray Foundation, got involved and took the center under their umbrella. The HHN, in cooperation with the German and the Swiss embassy made it possible to buy land and build the first solid houses. Germany gave one million baht, Switzerland gave 500,000 baht.
Amongst the honored guests were the German and the Swiss ambassadors, Dr. Hanns Schumacher and the new first lady of Switzerland, Christine Schraner-Burgener, who had the pleasure to declare the houses for open.
Also at the official ribbon cutting were Ewald Dietrich, Francesco Caruso of ADMCF (children at risk), Sorasith Sunthornkes, Samphan Akrapongpanich, both from HHN-Thailand, and of course the director of the centre, Supagon Noja, along with Vicky and Paul Weber, the consul of Ireland.
As many as a hundred guests took part in the celebrations, amongst them leaders of various clubs and welfare-organizations and private citizens who have helped with their donations to make the center to not only survive but to grow.
Many speeches were given from all the above mentioned guests of honor. German Ambassador Dr. Hanns Schumacher summed it up well when he said he is more than happy to have helped and “brought the stone into motion. But,” he said, “it is also the responsibility of the government to take better care of the children and save them from being exploited in the sex-trade.”
Ambassador Christine Schraner-Burgener expressed her gratitude that the houses turned out to be so nice and that her predecessor could help. She asked everybody to take further care of the center.
Both ambassadors promised to help the centre financially in the future.
HHN-president Ewald Dietrich and CDPC-director Supagon Noja, and the director of the Pattaya HNN office, Rachada Chomjinda, thanked all who have helped so selflessly to make this centre a success.
The director of the children at risk program, ADMCF, gave a speech, saying that he will do anything to help the new centre.
Children from various departments of the Father Ray Foundation entertained the guests with beautiful Thai dances, before everybody strolled to the new houses to have a look.

Both ambassadors, Dr. Hanns Schumacher and Christine
Schraner-Burgener, get ready for the ribbon-cutting.

The official opening of the centre by the guests of honor.

Parents, teachers brainstorm on learning disability education

Phasakorn Channgam
More than 100 teachers and parents of children with learning disabilities met for a brainstorming session aimed at improving research and gathering more information on how to improve education for slow learners.

Wittaya Kunplome, president of the Chonburi Provincial Administration, at the opening session.
The Oct. 12 session at Chonburi Provincial Administration building was chaired by Chonburi PAO President Wittaya Kunplome who noted it’s important that the government do what it can to assist children with learning disabilities so they are not deprived of a proper education or ostracized, which could lead to negative social behavior.
Organized by the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health the workshop focused on brainstorming ideas in research, collecting data and organizing visits to the homes of families of children with learning disabilities. Other ideas covered seeking out gifted slow learners and improving relationships among guardians. The training also paired parents with teachers to create better cooperation in education.
The cause of learning disorders varies, with 20 percent stemming from brain problems, premature birth, being underweight, infection or problems during the mother’s pregnancy. For more information, contact the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health at 02-2461260-8 ext. 2311 or the Learning Disability Center at 085-141-7785.

Teachers and parents of children with learning disabilities attend training.

51 youths receive canoeing certificates

Patcharapol Panrak
Fifty-one youths were encouraged to learn competitive rowing skills during their school holidays, and all 51 graduated from a training program to receive certificates of accomplishment.

Rear Admiral Jakchai Phucharoenyod, president of the Royal Thai Navy’s Rowboat and Canoe Committee, presents a certificate to one of the 51 young rowers.

The 51 “graduates” received their certificates from Rear Admiral Jakchai Phucharoenyod, president of the Royal Thai Navy’s Rowboat and Canoe Committee, and Commander of the Air Force and Coastal Defend Unit in Sattahip.
This is the second time the Navy has run this program, this time around enjoying a much bigger turnout. Round one saw only 13 students participate, but the second group had 40 boys and 11 girls taking 14 days out of their school break for the rowboat and canoe training program.
The awards ceremony was held at the Air Force and Coastal Defend Unit reservoir in Sattahip. Captain Vivat Khwansungkern, secretary of the Royal Thai Navy’s Rowboat and Canoe Committee, and Vice Commander of Division of Air Force 1 gave a congratulatory speech.
The program was run from October 7-21.
Rear Admiral Jakchai said this program was well attended, and that it is encouraging to see young students spending quality time during their holidays playing sport. He admitted the training period was not very long, but said he hopes the children were able to gain some experience and enough interest to continue to learn the sport after they leave. Many, he said, might eventually go on to participate in competitive rowing.
Rear Admiral Jakchai said the committee will continue to support anyone who is interested in this sport, by providing them with equipment and a location to practice.

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