Girish Balakrishnan, Year 13
Immediately after the service at Koh Phi Phi two longtail boats took us
from the Ban Koh Phi Phi School to the Laem Tong Bay School on the
opposite side of the island and the contrast in atmospheres really
shocked us. Laem Tong Bay had a much quieter and relaxed, albeit serene
atmosphere, compared to the touristic and busy Koh Phi Phi. Laem Tong
Bay’s local sea gypsy community warmly welcomed us as we were taken to a
resort with a spectacular view across the bay, and it was this beauty
that made it all the more easier for us to adapt to the sudden change in
environment. What was very shocking about the bay, though, was the fact
that all the land that the local community used to own is now taken over
by the various resorts that are located there.
Gap
teacher Emma and has fun with some Laem Tong Bay students.
The students of the local school were also slightly different to the
previous school in that they were a much more shy group of children, but
through the use of various games and art activities, yet again, friendships
were quickly forged.
The two main service projects at this school comprised of a lot of digging
as we successfully leveled a pathway for the children of the school to enter
and exit the school and as we cultivated a large vegetable patch for the
school to grow a variety of plants on. Both tasks proved challenging, though
they both taught us valuable lessons in perseverance and team work.
As a part of establishing a firm foot at Laem Tong Bay we assessed the needs
of the local sea gypsy community through meeting with the elders of the
community and asking them about their lives at Laem Tong Bay. Through this
meeting we discovered that there is a huge shortage of potable water on the
island, and a lot of it has to be shipped in from outside which proves to be
extremely expensive for them. They also had other basic needs like medicine
and working tools.
Digging
the garden at Laem Tong Bay School.
To assess the extent of the water problem a group of our students went on a
water survey to find out how much water is consumed by each resort and thus
the whole island. This water survey was completed on behalf of a UK based
charity called GeordieAid and the Fahdiow Foundation, who are focusing on
establishing a strong water-project in the region. A group of our students
also made a detailed ground survey of the area that will assist in the
future projects that will take place in the region. These projects include
the building of a community center at the bay to provide for the needs of
the local Sea Gypsy community.
The students interviewed the community leader of the sea gypsy community,
Khun Samaphon, in order to complete a needs assessment. For example, one of
the immediate needs is the provision of a medicine/ first aid box to deal
with medical emergencies. By the end of our stay there we realized that what
we had done was just the beginning of what will hopefully develop into a
substantial service project at Laem Tong Bay.
A unique developmental feature of this year’s project work was something
called Circle Reflection Time, where all the Regent’s students and staff sat
in a circle to reflect on the challenges and achievements of the day. The
primary objectives of this were to make us appreciate what we had done
during the day, to make us realise the impact that we were having on the
school and the children at the school and to create a much more intimate
sense of bonding and trust between us as a group.
For example, one night each of us were asked to think of something we wished
we had done differently during the day and share it with the rest of the
group. By the end of this small activity each of us realized our weaknesses
during the trip and what we needed to do to make the trip all the more
worthwhile and rewarding for us. I, for instance, realized that I had not
interacted enough with the children of the school and so I focused on
building friendships with the children at the school for the rest of the
week.
When the end of the week came, all of us were extremely sad to be leaving
the children of the Laem Tong Bay School and coming back home. Despite the
hardships and challenges faced during the week, all of us felt a great sense
of happiness at the fact that we had had such a positive effect on the
communities we worked with and at the fact that we had gained so much from
our experiences.
When asked to describe the trip in 3 adjectives Declan McConville, a student
at The Regent’s School, said ‘Hot, Arduous… but oh so Beautiful!’ and these
three words in a sense summarize the week so perfectly. However, we must
keep in mind that this is only the beginning of a much larger service
project that will follow in the coming years.
New books for the Laem Tong
Bay library.
Students of Laem Tong Bay
School.
The Regents Round Square
students meet Khun Samaphon, the leader of the sea gypsy community on Laem
Tong Bay.
The Regents students are
briefed on arrival by Mr. Eddie Buranakul of the NGO Fahdiow Foundation.
Digging the Round Square
garden on Laem Tong Bay.
Relaxing on the Koh Phi Phi
ferry.
The
“Ruam Jai Thai concert against Narcotics” at Pattaya School #2 stressed
traditional values.
