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Pattaya Sports Club visits Khopai School
Gho is the No. 1 teacher.
The Khopai area is one of the largest housing areas where
families with very low income reside, and it is well known that there is a
high level of crime, alcohol and drugs in the area. The whole family
generally lives in rented single rooms with very poor facilities. Facilities
that most of us take for granted. If employed, they are, more often than
not, restricted to small enterprises like food carts or low paying manual
work. If it was not for the existence of Pim Seaton and others, the young
children would be left alone during the day with very little supervision or
control.
Pim Seaton was the CEO of the Mercy Foundation and has
been working with the children from the slums for the last 6 years. With her
husband, John, they have registered the Seaton Foundation and have started
the Bangpra Centre in 2007. This is an early learning and support centre for
children from low income families.
The early concept was to have a centre for up to 15
children between the ages of 2 ฝ and 6 years. But there are now around 60
children attending 5 days per week, and half day on Saturdays, from 7.30
a.m. to 4-5 p.m. on weekdays. Pim is supported by Gho, who is the No. 1
teacher, and 4 others. The older children are taught to read and write in
Thai and English and are also given some experience using computers. Like
most children, they love playing games on the computer.
The older children have to
work.
The morning starts with aerobics for all the children and
various activities take place until lunch is served at 11 o’clock, followed
by a sleep for the younger children but more work for the older children in
preparation for school at the age of 6.
Discipline is high on the agenda and one thing that comes
as a surprise when you visit is how 60 young children can be so quiet and
orderly. The hitting and yelling of children is not permitted and discipline
is maintained by the genuine love and commitment by those working at the
centre.
The cost of running the centre is quite high but they are
fortunate enough to have some generous sponsors including the Pattaya
International Ladies Club, some Canadian sponsors, Pattaya Sports Club and
naturally, John and Pim Seaton.
If you would like to visit the centre or make a
contribution, Khopai School is situated in Soi 1 along South Pattaya Road.
You will be assured of a warm welcome from Pim and her staff.
Lunch time at last.
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Regents borders participate in community partners visit
One of the bears being tended
to at the Bear Sanctuary.
Scott Fairlie
On the 3rd of September, boarders who stayed for the
weekend were treated to a different kind of Saturday activity - a visit to
two of our community partners, the bear sanctuary and a home for children
with special needs.
Regent’s boarders play with
Baan Si Ban Keow children.
We were split up into two groups, one being the senior
boys and the other being the girls and junior boys, whose first stop was the
Banglamung Wildlife Breeding Centre. This centre has been running since 1982
and is a project supported by the Regent’s School.
At the bear sanctuary, we toured the facilities and
learned about the bears that were being rescued and the conservation and
rehabilitation of bears in Thailand. Mainly made up of black bears and sun
bears, the sanctuary is also home to other animals such as monkeys and
tropical birds.
After a quick lunch break, the two groups swapped
location, and our group headed off to the Special Needs School at Sattahip.
There, we played with children who had Autism, Down’s Syndrome and other
learning disabilities. We were also given the chance to help support the
home by buying handmade items.
After two hours of playing volleyball, basketball and
jumping on the trampoline with the children, it was time to say goodbye. I
have a feeling, though, that it won’t be too long before we see them again!
Regent’s Students visit the
Bear Sanctuary.
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Merits and Distinctions for St Andrews Violinists
Violinists are very proud
of their results.
Amanda McCloskey,
Head of Music, St Andrews International School
St. Andrews International School entered 3 candidates
for the prestigious ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of
Music) violin grades. Candidates had to travel to Bangkok for an
external test with an examiner from the UK.
Music grades are a great way for students to feel
motivated and inspired to move forward in their instrumental playing.
Examiners are highly trained and expect only the highest standard of
playing. Each year 630,000 candidates take their exams in more than 90
countries. ABRSM have been providing the structure and standard of
musical exams for over 100 years.
The exams consist of 3 solo pieces from different
classical eras, scales and arpeggios, sight reading (playing an unknown
piece of music) and aural tests (to examine students listening skills).
After the exam the students then have to wait 2 months for their results
to be checked in the UK.
We are delighted to announce that Kim, Dew and
Pronkamon all passed their exams successfully. We were very pleased that
all three candidates were awarded a pass with merit or distinction. A
wonderful achievement - we look forward to seeing what you can all
achieve next!
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Father Ray Foundation holds Thank You Concert
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome welcomes Dr. Donna
Tatsuki, Shigeru Tatsuki and pianist Kanji Wakiyama.
Pattaya has many charitable organisations that exist to provide support
to the underprivileged in society. But these charities can only do the
work they do if they also receive support.
The Father Ray Foundation currently cares for and
educates 850 children and students with disabilities, and it can only
continue its work with the support it receives from the Thai and
expatriate communities.
Local singer Pom Autobahn
serenades the audience.
As a show of appreciation to its supporters, the
Father Ray Foundation recently hosted the ‘Thank You Concert 2011’ at
the Royal Cliff Beach Resort.
More than one hundred and fifty supporters arrived
for an afternoon of musical performances which everyone agreed was
superb.
The show started with the youngsters from the Father
Ray Day Care Center performing a dance routine which saw them twirling
hula-hoops around their necks.
Canadian soprano, Dr. Donna Tatsuki, performed a
selection of songs, and she was accompanied by piano maestro, Kanji
Wakiyama. Both had flown in from Japan especially for this concert.
The local Thais in the audience were very happy when
three well known musicians, Maliwan Jenima, Pom Autobahn and Nop
Saxophone walked onto the stage to perform together, and they sang a
beautiful version of the Diana Ross and Lionel Richie classis, ‘Endless
Love’.
Father Peter and Father Michael, president and vice
president of the Father Ray Foundation, were on hand to welcome the
guests and they thanked everyone who attended the concert for their
continued support to the Foundation.
Before it was over, Jens Maspfuhl, a top golfer who
is paralyzed from his breast downwards, promised to deliver more
wheelchairs to the center soon.
More information can be found at www.fr-ray.org or
email [email protected]
Dr. Donna joins the blind
school choir in a moving rendition of
the Father Ray Song: Unsung Hero.
The show starts with the
youngsters from the Father Ray Day Care Center performing a dance
routine.
The volunteers on hand to
serve snacks and refreshments - and
all look pretty in pink.
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HHN Foundation supports YWCA
education project for poor students
Radchada “Toy” Chomjinda
(2nd right), director of the HHN Foundation Thailand and HHN volunteers
present funds to Nittaya Patimasongkroh (2nd left) to go towards the
YWCA program to support poor students in local schools.
Radchada Chomjinda
Director, HHN Foundation Thailand
Ever since the establishment of the Human Help
Network (HHN) Foundation Thailand three years ago, our ambition has been
to help children. It is necessary to break the extreme cycle of poverty
related issues, such as crime and exploitation, by empowering the
children.
Our help for children lists education as its ultimate
goal. Apart from 54 street children residing at the Child Protection and
Development Center, we also support over 100 children in slum areas, by
providing them with school uniforms every year.
In addition, we are also proud that we can contribute
annually to the YWCA to support 30 poor students in local schools here
in Pattaya. Thanks to you and all benefactors.
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