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Rotary student exchange program
applicants take final exams
Past District Governor
Pratheep ‘Peter’ Malhotra (left) and Thongchai ‘Tony’ Lortrakanon (right)
address the parents and students during the closing session of the seminar.
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Rotary Youth Exchange is one of Rotary’s most popular programs to
promote international understanding and develop lifelong friendships. It
began in 1927 with the Rotary Club of Nice, France. In 1939 an extensive
Youth Exchange was created between California and Latin America. Since then
the program has expanded around the world. In recent years more than 8,000
young people have participated annually in Rotary-sponsored exchange
programs.
The values of Youth Exchange are experienced not only by the high school-age
students involved but also by the host families, sponsoring clubs, receiving
high schools and the entire community. Youth Exchange participants usually
provide their fellow students in their host schools with excellent
opportunities to learn about customs, languages, traditions and family life
in another country.
Youth Exchange offers young people interesting opportunities and rich
experiences to see another part of the world. Students usually spend a full
academic year abroad, although some Rotary clubs and districts sponsor
short-term exchanges of several weeks or months.
The youth exchange program is also very popular in Thailand and every year
hundreds of children compete to be selected to represent their clubs and
districts as a student exchange ambassador.
In Rotary District 3340, which covers the northeast and eastern regions of
Thailand, nearly 50 youth took their final tests toward becoming overseas
exchange students when they gathered at the Town-in-Town Hotel in Pattaya on
December 4-6 to undergo rigorous examinations and interviews which were
conducted in English.
The selection process was officiated by District Governor Elect Thongchai
‘Tony’ Lortrakanon as Chairman of the District Youth Exchange program and
Past Assistant Governor Onanong Siripornmanut the co-chair.
DGE Thongchai said, “Exposure to different cultures ranks as one of the most
powerful ways to promote international understanding and peace. The Rotary
Youth Exchange program provides thousands of young students with the
opportunity to meet people from other countries and to experience new
cultures, planting the seeds for a lifetime of international understanding.
Thai students will study in high schools in foreign countries for a year
where they will act as cultural ambassadors for promoting Thailand’s culture
and traditions to their foreign hosts.”
DGE Thongchai Lortrakanon
(centre) and Past Assistant Governor Onanong Siripornmanut (4th left) along
with the YE committee pose for a photo with the participants at the close of
the seminar.
Canadian Jackalope and Jesters Care for Kids
go Christmas shopping with Camillian kids
Lewis Underwood
Traditionally, the Canadian Jackalope Open organizers have taken
the orphaned kids living with HIV/AIDS from the Camillian Social Center
Christmas shopping on an annual basis. We, the Jesters Care for Kids,
thought this was a brilliant idea. We loved the notion of donating
directly to the kids and putting them in charge of what they wanted for
Christmas.
 The
kids had about an hour to spend their 1000 baht credit.
Up until now, the Canadian Jackalope folks have given the kids 500 baht
credit to do their own shopping. So this year, we asked to join in and
raise the stakes to 1000 baht per head. Needless to say, the kids and
all concerned thought this was a great idea.
So off we went to Big C in Rayong last Sunday led by Father Giovanni in
caravan-style with 76 kids, staff members and reps from the Canadian
Jackalope and Jesters Care for Kids.
After assembling everyone just inside the busy main entrance of the
superstore, the kids sang Christmas carols, much to the delight and
curiosity of the local shoppers.
The kids were then told they had about an hour to spend their 1000 baht
credit. Subsequently, armed with wish lists and note pads for
calculating their running totals, they vanished into the aisles with
shopping baskets and carts. The little ones went with their minders, the
older girls in small groups and the guys in pairs.
We too got caught up in the excitement and soon followed after them
curious to see what kinds of things they were seeking. Obviously many
had done their homework and knew exactly what they wanted. Interesting
enough, very few of them went after toys and superfluous things.
Instead, they opted for clothes, footwear, toiletries and some of their
favorite snacks and sweets.
The kids sing Christmas carols, much to the
delight and curiosity of the local shoppers.
Initially, the kids were wary about the set time constraints, but then
most were finished fulfilling their lists in less than an hour. In fact,
the checkout process through the same station, one child at a time, took
longer than the actual shopping. This too was fun, as Father Giovanni
announced how much each child spent. Most were nearly spot on, or just a
bit under or a tad over. In all, of the 76,000 baht allotted for the
shopping, the kids spent just under 70,000 baht.
Much to their credit, Big C management got into the Christmas spirit
too, and put on some entertainment with their costumed staff and giving
the kids balloons and cookies during the checkout process. All in all,
it was a blast for everyone, and we will surely do it again next year.
In the meantime, we will sweeten the leftover 6000 baht allotted for the
shopping trip to take the kids on another fun outing in the New Year.
Kids and sponsors wrap up the day with
smiles all around.
Jesus, Santa highlighted at Fountain of Life Christmas party
Staff reporters
Christmas is a special time for all of us, but especially for
the kids at the Fountain of Life Center in Pattaya. In the spirit of the
season and to bring some joy into the children’s lives, a special
Christmas program was arranged on December 16.
 Sister
Joan welcomes everyone to the event and thanks all who have helped over
the years.
It was difficult to tell who was having more fun, the children or the
adults, when the Jesters Motorcycle Club, the Pattaya International
Ladies Club (PILC) and FOL got together to throw their annual Christmas
party at the Fountain of Life. These organizations have generously
provided for the children and supported the center throughout the years.
Poor and at risk children were given a chance to learn about the history
of Christmas and enjoy its modern incarnations during the center’s
traditional Christmas pageant.
Children from 3 to 15 years old put on a beautifully orchestrated show
for guests and were duly treated with a jolly visit from Santa Claus who
handed out wonderful gifts to all the delighted kids.
After the children received their presents from Santa everyone feasted
on a sumptuous lunch and plenty of sweets.
 Look
what Santa has for you!
The Fountain of Life along with the Jesters Motorcycle Club and the PILC
have been supporting children from the ages of 3 to 15 who are orphaned
or from very poor families in and around the city by providing
education, basic medical care and scholarship funding for youngsters who
want to continue their education to higher levels.
The Fountain of Life currently takes care of 168 children on a daily
basis. This traditional Christmas pageant is one of the highlights in
the year when the kids can show their appreciation for those who have
worked hard to provide opportunities for them to be able to look forward
to a better life.
The annual party is also a great way for benefactors and recipients to
say thanks to each other for everything they did for each other during
the past year.
Ingrid Cunliffe, the
Christmas Fairy, receives a certificate of thanks from Lewis Underwood
and the rest of the Jesters.
Children from 3 to 15
years old put on a beautifully orchestrated show.
Sattahip students help clean Pattaya
Five students from the
Thai-Austrian Technical College
in Sattahip help Gerry Rasmus put up
anti-littering posters on Pattaya Beach.
Gerry Rasmus
Five students from the Thai-Austrian Technical College in
Sattahip last week came to Jomtien to meet with Gerry Rasmus. The entire
crew then went to Pattaya Beach to put up anti-littering posters and
take down the old ones, removing the staples to protect the trees.
Students Chettawat Thongnak, Supichai Sujarienlarp, Sittchi Boongyam,
Soonthorn Samsa-nguan, and Supakij Boomwit are five very nice smart
young men wanting to help and learn. They were very helpful and planned
to return to clean Jomtien Beach.
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