Harut (Year 12 IB
student), Sabrina (Year 10 student), Daisy (Year 8 student), and Amit
(Year 12 IB student)
On Monday February 22, students of the Regent’s
School embarked upon a trip to the north of Thailand to the region of
Mae Hong Son, where we were accommodated at the Baan Maelid School in a
Karen hilltribe village and stayed for 3 days and 3 nights. This was the
third year in a row that we have stayed with our good friends in Baan
Maelid and this time we took over 45 students and staff ranging from 3
years old to 18 years old (students!).
Bew says goodbye to one of her new friends.
The Mae Hong Son Hill Tribe Project was a brand new
experience for many of us: which, only to name a few, involved showering
with freezing water in chilly evening weather; making beautiful and
rather uniquely produced bags by hand without embroidering or using
modern machinery or sewing; making colorful bracelets; and on top of all
that, the dazzling smile of the very warm-hearted Karen people of the
area.
This trip provided a vast exchange of knowledge
between students from both Baan Maelid and The Regents School: they
taught us how to weave the Karen shoulder bags and bracelets that they
produce traditionally and we taught them English (which included new
songs and words) and painted two of the classrooms at the school.
Sabrina attempts to weave a conference bag.
Despite the language barrier that existed between
students from our school and students from their school, we all still
managed to get to know each other and have a lot of fun. All of us got
involved in the things we did there, with great enthusiasm. Every day, a
football match would take place in the evenings between staff and
students of both schools. The students of Baan Maelid were excellent
players, and many of us were amazed with their skills.
The three days spent in Baan Maelid School were not
only fun and enjoyable but also very educational. We would not be
mistaken to say that without the Baan Maelid students we wouldn’t ever
have come across the unique experience that we gained.
One of the major activities of the week was weaving
the bags that will be given to every attending delegate at the
International Round Square Conference to be held at Regent’s School in
October. None of us could have imagined that weaving would be such a
demanding activity: not only do you have to focus all your concentration
but also physically exert yourselves as it is hard to sit in an
unnatural position for hours on end. All of us struggled at first but of
course with the help of the Baan Maelid students we learnt to be
consistent and some of us became quite good weavers.
It takes 2 days to make one bag; after experiencing
the process of making them we actually understood the effort that has
been put into those bags. For the people of the villages surrounding
Baan Maelid who make these bags, it is a matter of “great pride” and it
will be amazing to have the Baan Maelid headmaster and some of his
students with us in October to help hand out the 1000 bags to the
arriving delegates from all over the world.
On the day of our departure we all stood in a line
whilst the 200 plus students walked up and gave each and every one of us
a handmade bracelet. This was a very sentimental moment for a lot of us,
as we all made so many friends and memories and disliked the concept of
leaving the place. All in all, it was a brilliant trip and all of us
realized many realities of life in this trip. We very much look forward
to seeing our friends again in October.
Eric entertains the children at Croston House
Children’s Home in Lamphun.
Baan Maelid and Regent’s students gather for a group
photo.
Lewis
Underwood
Jesters Charity Drive
2009
Due to your generous support in 2009, we raised
6,834,742 baht (net) for needy children’s charities on the Eastern
Seaboard and a tsunami orphan in Krabi. As of March 1, 2010, 6,743,743
baht, or 98.6% had been distributed to the following beneficiaries.
We could not have done it without YOU!
Our Target Charity
(Registered Charity No. Tor 460/2543)
The Fountain of Life Center (3,339,667 baht), under the Good
Shepherd Foundation, provides kids with documentation, education,
activities, meals, medical and dental care, and ultimately, scholarships
for entering government schools. This past year 58 children received
scholarships. See more about the fountain of life at:
http://www.care4kids .info/beneficiaries/fol.htm
Scholarships
The Next Step Program: (68,060 baht) provides
scholarships to young adults for high school, university and vocational
college.
1. Nong Eckalot (40,000 baht) is a 15-year old
tsunami orphan who we have sponsored since 2005 via the Sriphong
Khaoluan Foundation in Krabi. We intend to continue our support through
college/university.
2. Nai Pichit (28,060 baht) is a 19-year old
currently enrolled in the 2nd year of a 3-year program at University of
Technic, Sattahip.
3. Five pre-university level and 6 BA level
students are currently being provided for through funds given to the
Fountain of Life Center.
Schools
(595,100 baht)
1. Noankraprog School (507,600 baht) is a
primary school in Ban Chang with 277 students and previously only 5
toilets. We built an additional 10 toilets and renovated their canteen.
2. Children of inmates in Central Rayong Prison
(50,000 baht): we provided scholarships for the 3rd consecutive year
for 25 of these children to go to government schools.
3. Young PR Ambassadors (35,000 baht) provides
students from Pattaya schools with the opportunity to learn local
history, culture and tourist attractions in their community. Top
students chosen are entitled to scholarships.
4. Ban Klongbangpai (2500 baht) is a primary
school in U-Tapao, where we built a kindergarten in a joint venture with
the Herrod Foundation last year. This year we made some minor
improvements to the toilets we built there.
Special Schools
(1,374,940 baht)
1. Khao Baisri Home for Disabled Boys (816,500
baht): In a joint project with the Herrod Foundation, we have built
a separate home for the boys at this special school in Sattahip,
including all furnishings.
2. Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind
(408,440 baht): We provided a main water pump, funds for a new
office so the old one could be converted into classrooms and special
footballs for their kids.
3. Sunganseuksa Phiset 12 (100,000 baht) in
Ban Bueng, cares for autistic and mentally impaired children. We matched
Joe and Oiy St. Laurent’s annual 50,000 baht donation so that the center
can continue to update their facilities.
Special Olympics (50,000 baht): The 3rd
Special Olympics Thailand Eastern Region Athletics Championship was held
at School #7 in Pattaya in November last year. The 250 handicapped
athletes competed in field and track events and arena football. We were
a sponsor for the event.
Shelters
(1,121,215 baht)
1. Camillian Social Center (635,625 baht): In
a joint venture with the Canadian Jackalope Open and Pattaya Panties, we
continue to sponsor two disabled HIV-infected children. We also took 80
kids from their various centers Christmas shopping in December.
2. Ban Jing Jai (370,410 baht) is an orphanage
in Nong Prue, now with 65 kids. We cover their monthly food and
utilities’ cost.
3. Kate’s Project (33,180 baht) helps the poor
in Nong Prue. We assisted them by reconstructing a small home and by
sponsoring a Christmas party for the kids and their families in the
area.
4. Children Protection Development Center (27,000
baht) now in Huay Yai, is a shelter for street kids. We provided
metal storage lockers for their rooms.
5. PILC Chonburi Handicap Projects (30,000 baht):
This was the last payment for house construction for a disabled 15-year
old boy and his parents.
6. Dek Dee Day Care Center (15,000 baht) is in
Ban Chang and provides care for young slum kids whose parents work
during the day.
Special Cases
(63,911 baht)
Nong Urn is an 8-year old suffering from
congenital liver problems; we have provided her with a clean apartment
to help with her irritable skin syndrome.
Miscellaneous:
(180,850 baht)
1. Shirts (147,850 baht): Jesters T-shirts
were donated at cost to kids from our various projects.
2. Fair Coupon Redemption (33,000 baht): We
provided the same kids mentioned above with coupons to play the
contracted games free of charge at our Children’s Fair.
Our contact details
The Jesters Care for Kids committee:
http://www.care4kids.info/contacts.htm
Our email: jesterscd@ care4kids.info
Our website: http://www. care4kids.info
Our functions:
Jesters Children’s Fair:
Sunday, September 12th 2010 from 10 a.m.
Location: Diana Garden Resort & Driving Range North Pattaya.
Jesters Party Night:
Saturday, September 18th 2010 from 18.00 to late
Location: Nova Park in Central Pattaya.
Ways YOU can help:
1. Make a lump sum donation through our sponsorship programs.
2. Make a donation online at our website.
3. Donate a grand raffle prize or auction item for our Party Night.
4. Advertise in our Children’s Fair souvenir program.
5. Provide stage entertainment at the Children’s Fair.
6. Rent a stall at the Children’s Fair.
7. Donate beer to the Children’s Fair charity beer stall.
8. Sell or buy our Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ merchandise.
9. Help us promote our Charity Drive with our posters and stickers.
10. Come to our Events!
Please see our website for details and maps: http://www.care4kids.info
Mark Beales
A new playgroup and support service to help parents has
been launched in Pattaya. The BAMBI (Bangkok Mothers And Babies
International) has been running for 27 years in the capital, but has
just started its first group in Pattaya.
Youngsters enjoy the Holiday Inn’s pool before the
new BAMBI playgroup meeting in Pattaya.
New mums and dads can now head to the Holiday Inn on
Beach Road to find out about the services on offer. A playgroup with
swimming lessons is held on the third Monday of every month, with
swimming starting at 9.30 a.m. and the two-hour playgroup beginning at
10 a.m. On the second Thursday of every month a Bumps and Babies support
group takes place.
Tamara Ryan, of BAMBI said, “This is our first year
in Pattaya and we are offering support to mums and babies. We know every
mum-to-be is nervous, especially when they are thrown into a culture
they are not used to. They don’t know what to do first.”
She added that the group has a resident midwife who
can answer many questions for pregnant women and new mothers.
“She can answer questions such as ‘how often should
they visit a doctor, how to look after yourself when pregnant, what to
do when the baby comes along, and what you should be buying for the
baby’.”
Tamara said that the playgroup and coffee morning was
also a great chance for parents to get together and offer advice and
support. BAMBI’s members come from many countries, such as the UK, USA
and Australia, and each have different tips on how to care for
youngsters.
Karen Brent runs free 20-minute ‘water babies’
familiarization classes before the playgroup. Tamara said these are
popular and help show parents safe ways to make their children feel
confident when in water.
Bumps and Babies is a support group for women of all
nationalities who are pregnant, or have recently given birth and need
support or general child health information. There is usually a short
talk about a topic related to pregnancy, breastfeeding or child health,
but the main focus is on hearing members’ questions and concerns.
To become a member of BAMBI costs 1,000 baht a year.
Members can then attend the playgroups for 150 baht per time. For
non-members the cost is 250 baht. Membership also includes a copy of a
monthly BAMBI magazine and discounts to places in Bangkok and Pattaya.
BAMBI is a non-profit organization and any money it makes goes to
selected charities.
The most recent playgroup was held in Pattaya on
March 15.
For more details visit www. bambiweb.org or call Tamara Ryan on 080
608 6223.
