|
Regent’s School students take memorable service trip to Mae Hong Son
During half term, a group of 26 students, two GAP staff
and two teachers from The Regent’s School travelled to the hill tribe
village of Baan Ompai in Mae Hong Son. The purpose of the trip was to
complete a service project at Baan Ompai School, concreting their playground
to allow for a wider range of recreational activities to take place. Here
two of the school’s Canadian exchange students, Ava Appleby and Claire
Norwack, give their impressions of the trip:
We all piled on the bus on Saturday afternoon as we began our adventure up
north to Baan Ompai to build a playground for the local school. After a long
bus, train, and yet another bus journey we arrived at our destination. On
arriving we were given a chance to look around the village and the school to
see where we would be staying for the next few days. Even at a glance, you
could see that these people did not have as much as the students at The
Regent’s and that the work we were about to begin would really make a
difference. It is not every day that they have a group of people willing to
help out.
The school treated us to our first meal on Sunday night, which was the first
of many delicious meals prepared by the teachers especially for us. It was
difficult to see them put in such an effort to cook this special food for us
and then to watch the local children sitting on the floor eating a much
simpler meal. However, this was one of the many ways they showed just how
much they appreciated our help.
The next morning we were all woken up at sunrise and were told to quickly
get dressed for breakfast. This mainly consisted of rice soup, coffee or hot
chocolate and fruit. Right away after breakfast we started our work. It was
quite a big job and the local Head teacher told us we would not be able to
finish it in the three days we were given.
A group of us shovelled gravel and sand into buckets, which were carried
over to a cement mixer manned by a few local men. From there the mixed
concrete was sent down to the playground where the rest of the group passed
full buckets to the area where the cement was being laid. The work was
excruciatingly difficult, and some found it harder than others. It took us
one full day to complete three full rows of the playground. By the end of
the day we were all exhausted and headed up to our rooms for a very cold,
yet refreshing, shower.
On day two we took part in the school’s assembly. Every morning the students
line up in their classes for an assembly and to raise the flag. They sing
and recite prayers led by one of their senior students. For this special
event, they introduced our group and then gave us a chance to hand out some
gifts that we had brought for the children. It was such a great feeling to
see the children so happy with what we had brought for them that it gave us
a little more motivation to go back to work.
The work on that second day went much quicker and we made good progress. We
had a similar task as on the first day, except for the fact that many people
were suffering from aching backs and sore hands. Some of the local adults
came to help us out even though we didn’t need it. The people of the village
seemed to never rest and all they wanted to do was help out. Even the
children at their break times would come and pick up a shovel and do
anything they could. It was amazing to see people so willing to put in an
effort for a local project.
That night after dinner, the local schoolchildren hung around and everyone
played and interacted with them. Even though it was difficult because we
could not all speak their language, we were able to play sports and other
games that do not necessarily need verbal communication. The younger
children also loved the digital cameras, which was great because we all got
tons of photos. After taking a group photo all the kids would run and crowd
around the camera to see themselves on the screen.
On the third day, we worked hard to finish the playground by lunchtime. It
was a great feeling to have accomplished something that would benefit those
who would appreciate it probably much more than someone from where we come
from. Everyone was very glad to be finished! We took advantage of the extra
time we had that afternoon and used it to do arts and crafts with the
children. Between colouring and origami everyone was creating some work of
art and being able to connect with one another, often without sharing a
common language.
We spent our last day in Baan Ompai on a trek through the hills. It was
great to see more of the area and allowed everyone to see what a beautiful
place it really is. We walked along the main road, but also cut through the
valleys, over a few hills and through small villages. Some of the children
that go to Baan Ompai School live in these villages and they have to walk
for at least an hour every day to go school. Eventually we came to our
destination at a waterfall and had lunch. It was a stunning area and a nice
place to cool down after a long, hot walk in the sun.
That night the school threw us a going-away barbeque and party. It was a lot
of fun and many people were there including some students and teachers from
other schools in the area. We had an abundance of delicious food prepared
for us and some of the hill tribe kids put on performances, as did some of
the students from The Regent’s. The show was a great conclusion to our stay
up in Baan Ompai and the Head teacher took the time to thank us for what we
had done during the days we were there. The local children had also made us
bags and pictures for us to take home as souvenirs.
The whole trip was an amazing experience and was a great break out of the
ordinary day-to-day life. Being able to interact with the children was
something we will never forget, just like the feeling of knowing that we did
something that will have an effect on the lives of the people of Baan Ompai,
even if it was just laying cement. We had such a great experience that we
hope it will encourage other people to want the same, to go and discover
what is out there, and do their bit in making the world a better place.
Interacting with the hill
tribe students.
The playground at the start of
the second day’s work.
The Regent’s School joins Baan
Ompai School for their morning assembly.
Students shovelling cement.
The Baan Ompai School
playground at the start of the week.
Students from The Regent’s
hard at work shovelling gravel.
Students from the two schools
on the newly laid playground.
Navy donates to special-needs children at Ban Khao Baisri School
Rear Admiral Pachon
Ramkomut, deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Fleet in Sattahip
distributes funds to Mrs. Getsara Pouaknang to use at the special needs
school.
Mrs. Getsara Pouaknang
leads Rear Admiral Pachon Ramkomut and officers on a tour of the school
building and surrounding area.
Patcharapol Panrak
The First Naval Area Command of the Royal Thai Fleet on March 7 donated
funds for school meals and sports equipment for the special-needs
children at Ban Khao Baisri School.
Rear Admiral Pachon Ramkomut, deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal
Thai Fleet in Sattahip was appointed by Vice Admiral Jamnong
Kittipeerachon, commander of the First Naval Area Command, to lead the
presentation.
The funds went towards a school lunch project, and learning and sports
equipment for those children at Ban Khao Baisri School who have special
needs. School director Mrs Getsara Pouaknang and her staff welcomed Rear
Admiral Pachon and his accompanying officers.
Ban Khao Baisri School, which is located at Plutaluang, is the sole
special-needs children’s school in Sattahip District. Former school
director Mrs Pisamai Pannoi had realized the problems of underprivileged
and abandoned children, so she opened the school to educate and take
care of them.
Those children who have disabilities also suffer from problems that
arise from family pressures, where parents who need to work don’t have
much time to give to them. Many children find themselves isolated,
unable to participate in games and activities with other children, and
consequently grow up with a low self-esteem.
The school has long been supported by the Royal Thai Navy in Sattahip,
along with government offices, private organizations and individuals
that donate money, materials, learning and teaching tools, sports
equipment and toys.
Children at Ban Khao
Baisri School gather to thank the benevolent donors.
|
