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Three-way effort provides urgently
needed help for rural school
Narisa Nitikarn
A three-way effort by Jesters Care for Kids, Pattaya International Ladies’
Club and Shedden Uhde (Thailand) Ltd has seen urgently needed repairs and an
upgrade of facilities undertaken at a rural school in Rayong that had been
damaged by fire.
 Pakasit
Pokpalakorn (left) and David Cotterell (right) inspect fire damage at the
school.
Wat Nongkraborg School in Nonglalork, Bankai, has more than 300 students,
most of them from low-income families. The multi purpose school building
that was used for stage activities and the serving of lunch had earlier
caught fire and suffered damage.
The school was unable to receive enough government assistance to rebuild the
structural damage, so Shedden Uhde (Thailand) Ltd., represented by project
delivery manager David Cotterell donated an entire power system for the
interior of the building, installed under a budget of 95,000 baht. The final
installation ceremony took place on September 20.
 A
fire last January caused extensive damage to the school’s cafeteria and
assembly hall.
In addition to this, funds raised by Jesters Care for Kids led by Lewis
“Woody” Underwood, and Pattaya International Ladies’ Club led by its
president, Rosanne Diamente, were used to build 10 standard bathrooms for
the school, at a total cost of 260,000 baht. The old school bathrooms had
only six stalls and were out of repair. They were not suitable for use and
the number was not enough to support 300 students.
In addition, the PILC presented two 21-inch color televisions to replace the
old ones that were melted in the fire. As with the power system, the
bathrooms and TV were presented to the school on September 20. Thanks go to
PILC members Lynsay Topham and Donna Tabor for donating the TVs.
 One
of the 10 new standard bathrooms that Jesters Care for Kids and PILC donated
to Wat Nongkraborg School.
The school is also in need of more computers, so if anyone has one they
would like to donate please let one of the PILC Welfare Team members know.
We are Ingrid, Mari, Rosanne, Cindy, Fiona and Kathleen. Ingrid can be
contacted by email at <ingy101 @hotmail.com>
Director of Wat Nongkraborg School Pakasit Pokpalakorn thanked the three
organizations for their support. “The school appreciates all of the things
you have presented to us today. These three organizations have lent a
helping hand to support the school since March this year, and completed the
bathrooms and power system this July,” he said. “The students now have
enough bathrooms and can use the multipurpose building for normal
activities.”
(From left) School director
Pakasit Pokpalakorn, Lewis Underwood from the Jesters Care for Kids,
Kathleen Petras from the PILC Welfare Team, PILC President Rosanne Diamente,
Ingrid Cunliffe from the PILC Welfare Team, and Shedden Uhde (Thailand) Ltd
project delivery manager David Cotterell (2nd from right) are well received
by Wat Nongkraborg School students and teachers during presentation
ceremonies.
Students and benefactors pose
outside the new bathrooms.
Asian University’s 2007 Graduation Day
Susan Joyce
On Tuesday, September 25, Lord Ronald Oxburgh came to Asian University,
near Jomtien, to confer degrees to the 2007 graduates. Lord Oxburgh
joined graduates, alumni, students, parents and university staff for
this special occasion.
 Lord
Oxburgh
The procession of faculty members was led into the auditorium by Dr.
Dhriwit, as students and guests awaited. The university president, Dr.
Viphandh Roenpithya, welcomed everyone, especially Lord Oxburgh. Other
honoured guests included Apiradee Yimlamai and Jongdee from the BAAC
(Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives), which has provided
scholarships for some of the bank staff’s children to study at Asian U.
Nopakhun Sriprayoon and Kansiree Chaichermchome, from Bangkok Bank and
Chartchai Sripo-orn, an official from Banglamung District, were also in
the audience.
Dr. Vip then gave a brief report on the university’s successes over the
last year. He highlighted the Summer University, an Asian Experience for
western students; the Summer Camps which had been attended by a record
300 young people this year and also the recently established links with
AIT (Asian Institute of Technology).
 Dr.
Viphandh Roenpithya
Dr. Vip then announced the 2007 President’s Awards. These were made to
two of this year’s outstanding Asian U students. The first was awarded
to Miss Sathita Kaveevivitchai, who has a First Class Honours degree in
Information Systems Engineering, with an overall GPA of 3.91. Apart from
studying hard, Wan was also president of the Student Union two years
ago. She is one of three Thais, from over 300 applicants, who have been
awarded Panasonic scholarships to further their studies in Japan, where
she will be heading later this year.
The second award was to Mr. Songkiet Chongchitaporn who (with a GPA of
3.94) has a First Class Honours degree in English for Business
Communication. Sanz applied for a position with Qatar Airlines, and was
one of two candidates, out of 400 applicants, to be offered a place. He
is currently participating in their training programme.
Awards were also given to four faculty members for their achievements
and contributions to the University. Dr. Danai (Engineering), Ajarns
Susan and Ania (both Liberal Arts), and Ajarn Jumpong, an alumnus and
now a tutor in the Faculty of Business.
After he had conferred the degrees, Lord Oxburgh congratulated the new
graduates and then addressed the audience. He told the graduates how
lucky they had been to enjoy an international programme with plenty of
native speaking lecturers, as well as small classes. He also mentioned
that the salaries offered to the new Asian U graduates are amongst the
highest in Thailand, and that the very low staff to student ratio (about
4:1) encourages and enables the students to develop independent thought.
They have plenty of opportunities to be challenged and to challenge
their lecturers, which would not be available elsewhere. After
suggesting that the new graduates thank their parents for making it all
possible, Lord Oxburgh offered them his best wishes for the future.
The photographs show the proud and happy graduates with friends, family
and guests.
Proud of their degrees.
Nattapong, Kantika and
Wattakorn received BBA first class honours.
BBA grads are ready to
begin a new life outside school.
Guests and graduates pose
outside the university.
New Ambassador visits The Regent’s
Mike Walton,
Regent’s Headmaster
On Friday 21st September 2007 The Regent’s School, Pattaya, was
delighted to welcome the new British Ambassador to Thailand, His
Excellency Quinton Quayle. The ambassador arrived with Graham McDonald,
chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce, Thailand (Eastern
Seaboard).
 British
Ambassador to Thailand, His Excellency Quinton Quayle meets Secondary
students.
They first met a group of students from the Primary School who were very
excited to meet such an important visitor. After a brief tour of the
Primary Round Square Complex and the Globe Theatre, the students
escorted the ambassador across the oval to the Secondary School.
Secondary students coming out of afternoon lessons gathered round to
meet the ambassador, who impressed our Thai students with his
willingness to converse in Thai. The ambassador clearly enjoyed the
opportunity of talking with students from a variety of the 40
nationalities who attend the school.
Regent’s Round Square Elections … a real democratic affair
Declan McConville (Year 13 Democracy Pillar
Leader)
Photos by Ann-Marie Magus (Year 12 IB student)
On Friday Sept. 14, 2007, the Round Square elections took place in the
Globe Theatre at The Regent’s School, Pattaya campus. The positions of
The Executive for the Student Guild were being decided along with the
Senior and Junior House Captain positions.
By 2pm, over 400 students had taken their seats in the Globe Theatre to
listen to the candidates speeches and then choose their leaders to lead
them for the next academic year. Every student was issued with a ballot
paper ready to participate in the democratic elections.
The elections involved the positions of Senior House Captains and the
Junior House Captains; these people will be expected to lead their house
in the next academic year through house competitions, school events,
English Week, and if determined enough become the eventual House
Champions. The position of House Captain requires leadership,
determination and organisation. All true tests of leadership.
The positions of the Student Guild Executive have even greater
responsibility as they have the more difficult task of leading the
entire school in all things Round Square (Internationalism, Democracy,
Environmental Awareness, Adventure, Leadership and Service). This will
involve rallying support for all Round Square projects… everything from
support for the Fountain of Life to our major tsunami relief projects on
Phi Phi Island.
The positions of the Executive involve the visual arts director,
treasurer, secretary, and the chairperson of the Student Guild. The
visual arts director has the important job of communicating all the
ideas of the Student Guild through display boards and posters. This will
involve creating logos to symbolise the unity, determination and
diversification of the Regent’s School supporting its charities and
sister schools such as Baan Koh Phi Phi.
The treasurer has the important job of keeping track of all the money
that flows into the Student Guild from charity events like the Coin
Challenge and Mufti Days. The money is watched carefully to ensure that
it goes to the right place to support the right people.
The secretary works carefully with the chairperson making sure that all
the ideas, thoughts and plans are communicated to every Student Guild
member.
The chairperson has the massive job of leading the entire student body.
This position is not for the weak hearted, as it requires strong
leadership, commanding and organisation skills as well as being truly
committed. This will involve everything Round Square, from Halloween
parties to hill tribe projects. The decisions chosen by the chairperson
may affect everyone in the entire school, so they have to be diplomatic
as well!
Leaders of the Regent’s Student Guild and House system today have the
potential of becoming leaders of the world tomorrow.
Tomer stands for Senior
Green House Captain.
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John tells
everyone why he is the number one candidate for Junior Blue
House Captain. |
Chang stands for
Senior Red House Captain. |
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Melissa delivers a
convincing speech for Secretary of the Student Guild. |
Angela gives an
inspired speech for Chairperson of the Student Guild. |
Baan Jing Jai Orphanage kids have great day on Koh Larn
Roy Thornton
The Baan Jing Jai (House of True Heart) is an orphanage located on Soi
Nernplabwan that looks after 58 children from the ages of 3 years up.
Every 2 weeks we try to make their lives a little better by alternating
between taking them swimming and a trip out or a big barbeque at the
orphanage.
 Children
enjoying their lunch.
Last Saturday we decided to take them all to the Larn Island for the
day. Previously, every time we have tried to do things for them we have
always come up against the farang element, i.e., if farangs are paying
for it, the price is always higher even if it is for Thai orphans,
whether booking a meal in a restaurant or trying to hire a magician for
one of the barbeques, in the later case a 100% increase in the price we
had previously been given. However, last Saturday was something special,
from the normal contributors of funds and transport provided free for
the outing, we were treated to the Thai compassion towards children that
my wife has told me about many times before.
 The
children saying thank you to the Thai House Restaurant.
The day began at 9.15 a.m. with the collection of some very excited
youngsters and the short trip down to the pier. There we had already
hired a large boat from Metas Namchok, the owner of A.S.P. Boat
Services, who having already agreed to a greatly reduced hire charge
because it was for the children, was the first step in installing my
belief in this ‘Thai compassion for children’.
For most of the children it was the first time they had been on a boat
trip, and the smiles on their faces were evident. When we arrived at
Tawan beach pier, the problem was to stop the children trying to jump
off the boat before we had even tide up. But once the go ahead to
disembark was given by the captain, the boat was emptied within 2
minutes. Along the pier they ran and down onto the beach before we had
even time to say ‘stay together’.
 The
boat trip back.
The itinerary for the day was for the children to play on the beach and
in the sea until 1 p.m., then eat at a pre-booked restaurant 2 weeks
earlier and then back to the beach until departing from the pier at 4
p.m. In trying to pre-book a restaurant, the prices quoted went from
expensive to ludicrous, that is, until Raewat Jindasakchai, the owner of
the Thai House restaurant heard that it was for the Baan Jing Jai
orphanage. He said, and I quote, “Farangs do this for Thai children,
then I do for this price.” The price quoted was up to a quarter of some
prices quoted, but even more, after he was told that these children can
eat a lot of food, he said that he would keep putting food on the table
until they stopped eating. Brave words, but we would see.
We made our way along the beachfront to the Thai House restaurant to
make contact and give them firm numbers for lunch. There we were made
very welcome and told that we can use the deckchairs in front of the
restaurant for the whole day without charge. Once established in the
deckchairs, the children were soon in the sea, and again we were
surprised when they said that they could use all the rubber rings
belonging to the restaurant free of charge.
The day seemed to be going too well, but what would happen at lunchtime?
Well, what happened was that his brave words were as true as could be
because he did keep bringing very well prepared food until they could
eat no more. Then he brought plates of fruit, and then he told them all
to go and get free ice cream from a stand close by. But that was not
all, he then gave every child a very large bag containing crisps,
sweets, drinks and other goodies.
The afternoon went very much the same as the morning with the children
having a great time playing in the sea. Just before it was time to
leave, a mobile food unit stopped outside the restaurant and started
giving the children free pancake like items. What a great day all the
children had, and most of them a little sleep on the boat trip back!
If anyone would like to visit the Baan Jing Jai Orphanage and, or, help
with a small donation, please contact [email protected] who has
devoted her life to looking after these needy children. It costs 6,000
baht a year (or 500 baht a month) to send each child to school and
ensure they get a basic meal at school.
Children playing in the
sea.
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