10 days in central Australia

Youth camp held as part of anti-smoking drive

Sunshine Hotel Group donates 50 scholarships

Fun in the sun without being burned to a turn

10 days in central Australia

Part 1

On April 4th 2006, five students and a teacher from The Regent’s School set off for 10 days in central Australia. The purpose of their journey was to attend a Round Square Regional Conference at St. Philip’s School in Alice Springs. The conference lasted five days, which meant there was time for some sightseeing as well – we had time to visit both Uluru and Sydney during the trip. Here three of the five students give their impressions of the conference itself. Reports from the other two will appear next week.
Baraza Groups
by Pom
Over 120 delegates from different regions of the world met at St. Philip’s College, Alice Springs to attend the Round Square Regional Conference 2006.

Service work at St. Philip’s College.

Delegates and staff from each school were split up into different Baraza groups. There were 10 different groups, all named after items used in service activities: Apple, Barrow, Book, Brick, Broom, Crowbar, Glove, Mattock, Rice and Spade. There were about 12 people in each Baraza group and I was in Glove. The groups did not have leaders appointed, which meant that decisions had to be made democratically.
On the first day at the conference, we had a treasure hunt which built up the relationship between the delegates in each Baraza group. This helped people know each other better and taught us to open our minds wider to accept different people from different cultures.
In addition the school organised a volleyball competition between Baraza groups. This brought the team together. Even though my Baraza group did not win, it taught me a lot about teamwork.
At the end of the conference each Baraza group was asked to perform a drama presentation with a theme based on the group’s name. The delegates were not afraid to present their ideas or discuss the different views they had. This meant that every drama production presented by the delegates was superb. It was an excellent opportunity for everyone to show their talents.
Baraza groups were not only a way to split delegates up into groups but were also a way to bring together people from different cultures and backgrounds.
Building the Chapel
by Tina
One of the service projects during the Regional Round Square Conference 2006 was to build a chapel for the local school in Alice Springs.
The chapel was located in the Peace Garden of St. Philip’s College. The main purpose for building the chapel was to provide a place which students could actually use more efficiently than just a garden. So on the 9th of April 2006, the chapel service project was begun with prayers from each attending school.

Outside the Opera House.
During the conference, over 120 delegates woke up at half past six each morning to carry out the service project for an hour. Even though it was freezing in the early morning, we didn’t hear any complaints or see any tiredness from the enthusiastic delegates; the only things you could see were hundreds of satisfied smiles. The delegates were split into different tasks, which made the work more efficient. Some delegates did the digging, some painted varnish onto the wooden beams and some of the stronger delegates carried twenty kilograms of soil in wheelbarrows.
During the service project, we all had lots of fun with the delegates from other schools. We shared our ideas of what we have been doing for Round Square in our school and also the ideas about different cultures. We were all glad that we did much more than we were expecting to by the end of conference and we all learned something during the service project. I think this is what Round Square is all about.
Adventure Day
by Ha-Jung
On the second day of the Conference, all delegates were divided into three different adventure groups. The first group’s activity was ‘walk’; the second group’s activities were ‘walk and climb’; the third group’s activities were ‘four-wheel-drive and climb’.
My group was the third group and we were separated into three small groups again. Our first activity was four-wheel-driving and I was really looking forward to this as I had never tried it before.

Camping under the desert stars.
At first when the car started, the road was flat and straight so everyone was relaxed, having a chat. However, as the car entered the road to the mountains, it became extremely bumpy and hard. Even though I tightened my seat belt, my body was bouncing so much as the car went up the mountain. It was really exciting and I thought all my stress was being relieved! As we reached the top of the mountain, we got out of the car to see the view. The view from the top was really gorgeous which impressed me very much.
After taking some photos up there, we came to the rock-climbing site. We got ready for the climb by putting on helmets and safety equipment. At first, I struggled as I felt there was nowhere to hold on. The rock seemed so smooth and high! However, I gained confidence soon after and reached the top. It was a lot easier for me to abseil down the rock as I straightened my legs and pushed the rock with my feet as I was told to.
It was a great experience to try these adventurous activities at the Round Square conference as I gained lots of confidence and learned from them. The experience also gave me precious memories that I shared with the delegates in Alice Springs and can now share with others in Thailand.
Conference Delegates: Ha-Jung, Maria, May, Pom, Tina and Mr. James

Youth camp held as part of anti-smoking drive

Piyavadee Suvannahong
Hotel employees’ children from the Central and Eastern regions of Thailand attended a youth camp organized by the Eastern Thai Hotel Association that aimed to enforce the message cigarette smoking is dangerous.
Held at Nong Nooch Garden from April 26 to 28, the Smoke-Free Youth Camp was staged in cooperation with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and the Green Leaf Foundation.
President of the Thai Hotels Association Eastern Chapter Chatchawal Supachayanont formally opened the camp at 11 a.m. on April 26, saying that the objectives were in line with those of the Smoke-Free Hotel Program, which is expected to increase the network of smoke-free hotels and to motivate young people to reject cigarettes.
There were 84 children attending the camp, and Chatchawal said that it was hoped the young people would carry away with them the idea that smoking is dangerous to the health of the smoker and to others, and that a smoke-free environment for both workers and tourists was something that should be promoted.
Young people can play a positive role, he said, through their own network of friends and by not taking up and becoming addicted to the nicotine habit.
The youngsters were encouraged to write cards to those of their families who smoked, and to coin slogans about the evils of the habit. The final day of the camp saw a visit from Paradorn Payakwichian, an advisor to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, to see progress and award certificates to the participants.

Chatchawal Supachayanont receives a souvenir from the Green Leaf Foundation.

The youngsters wrote cards to their loved ones who they wish to see quit smoking.

Paradorn Payakwichian, an advisor to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, awards certificates to the participants.

The youngsters at the Smoke-Free Youth Camp were given fun and informative lectures.

Many youths attended the “Smoke-Free Youth Camp”.

Chaiyo! No smoking for life

Sunshine Hotel Group donates 50 scholarships

The Sunshine Hotel Group donated scholarships to their employees’ children.

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
On April 29 at the Green Park Resort Hotel in Pattaya, San Supornsahatrangsi, chairman of the Sunshine Hotel and Resort Group, Mrs. Wantanee Supornsahatrangsi, vice chairman, and hotel administrators held a scholarship ceremony for the hotel employees’ children.
The purpose was to support the education of the hotel employees’ children, so they could be educated and have skills for their future occupations. The hotel group holds this activity yearly.
The scholarship is divided into 3 levels; Kindergarten (1,000 baht per scholarship per education year), Primary School (1,500 baht) and Secondary School (2,000 baht). A total of 50 scholarships were awarded.

Fun in the sun without being burned to a turn

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Crowds of local and foreign tourists attended the Vaseline Full Sun Fun Fair at Jomtien Beach on April 29, an event that promoted sunscreen products in exactly the right location and to the right market – visitors who wanted to soak up the sunshine without suffering sunburn.
The fair, which was organized by Vaseline Healthy Protection Sun Block, took up a 2,000 square-meter area of beach and water. Pattaya City Council leader Tawit Chaisawangwong and Mrs Wannipa Pakdeebut, a director of Unilever Thai Trading Co Ltd, jointly performed the opening ceremony.
“Vaseline’s aim is for consumers to enjoy outside activities by allowing Vaseline products to take care and protect their skin completely and efficiently,” said Wannipa.
Three zones were created on Jomtien Beach. The Sea Zone had games including Sea Roller, Babylon, and Sun Rider; the Beach Zone had Bowling Rolling, Sea Slider, Aqua Girl, Lady Bump, James Bond, Flying Saucer, and Ball Shooter; and the Kids’ Zone had Ball Bouncer, Dino Slider, the Ring, and Electronic Mouse.
Vaseline Full Sun Fun Fair was held in cooperation with city hall.

Tawit Chaisawangwong and Wannipa Pakdeebut officially set the fun fair in motion.

Bowling Rolling at the beach zone was both fun and good exercise.

There were plenty of fun activities at the fun fair.

The Sea Zone had games including Sea Roller, Babylon, and Sun Rider.

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