PATTAYA, Thailand – Sometimes it only takes a simple act to change hundreds of lives. And on Wednesday, July 30, that act took shape in the form of new tables and chairs – symbols of hope, dignity, and opportunity.
At Wat Nong Ket Noi School on the outskirts of Pattaya, nearly 900 students face the daily challenge of learning in classrooms built for far fewer. A shortage of furniture means many children must still share desks, making it harder to focus, learn, and feel seen as individuals.
True to its motto “Selfless Service,” the Rotary Club Global Pattaya led by President Rosemarie Gamito, decided that something had to change. After weeks of careful planning, the club’s vision became reality on July 30, when members delivered urgently needed new tables and chairs: 30 sets for the elementary school, six chairs for the junior school, and ten more for the lecture halls. Everything was brand new, because every child deserves to feel valued – and dignity should never come second-hand.
Photos from the day say more than words ever could: children laughing as they try out their new seats, teachers smiling with relief, and Rotarians quietly sharing the satisfaction that comes from doing something that truly matters. As people of action, we believe that a better future starts with the basics – like an ideal seat at school. Because sometimes a child’s very first own chair in a classroom is the first step toward giving them a real chance to learn, dream, and grow.
Kritsana Saisombat, Principal of Wat Nong Ket Noi School, expressed his heartfelt gratitude: “We have received your generous donation of chairs and tables, consisting of 30 chairs and tables for the elementary school, six chairs for the junior school, and ten chairs for the lecture halls. There is a great need for this donation for our students, who do not have enough chairs and tables for learning.
With these donations, our students can finally learn again in comfort. We are very grateful for your support. We hope you feel our endless gratitude.”
For the Rotary Club Global Pattaya, the smiles of the children were the clearest sign that this project had touched lives where it mattered most. What began as an idea ended as an ideal project – a simple, powerful reminder that when a community comes together with compassion and resolve, even small changes can create brighter futures.
