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Leadership skills for youngsters taught at RYLA camp
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District Governor Dr.
Arnon Chirajavala, speaks of the benefits
of RYLA. |
Past District Governor
Premprecha Dibbayawan explains how to form an Interact Club in a
school. |
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Assistant
Governor Thawatchai Somatestarin, chairman of the RYLA organizing
committee. |
President
Surin Rattanavicha of the Rotary Club of Laen Chabang, the host
club. |
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is Rotary’s leadership training
program for young people emphasizing leadership, citizenship, and personal
growth, and aims to demonstrate Rotary’s respect and concern for youth,
provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential
leaders, encourage leadership of youth by youth and recognize publicly young
people who are rendering service to their communities.
 DGE
Pratheep Malhotra speaks about leadership.
RYLA participants can be ages 14-30, but most Rotary clubs and districts
choose to focus on a narrower age range, such as 14-18 or 19-30.
Rotary districts all over the world annually organise a RYLA training
program in their respective districts.
This year the Rotary Club Laem Chabang played host to the RYLA programme in
District 3340. The 4-day training programme was held from October 20-24 at
the prestigious Vajiravudh Scout Camp in Sriracha district of Chonburi
province.
Dr Arnon Chirajavala, governor of Rotary International District 3340, and
Surin Rattanavicha, president of Laem Chabang Rotary Club presided at the
opening ceremonies.
 Past
President Dennis Stark, awards a pin of achievement to a young participant.
President Surin said that the 16th RYLA project was held at Laem Chabang
under the Rotary ruling that clubs in all four regions of Thailand should
participate in holding the project to help develop the skills of youngsters
nationwide. Every year the district governors assign a club to take care of
the project. Last year the governors assigned the Rotary Club of Plutaluang,
and this year the event was hosted by the Rotary Club of Laem Chabang.
Youngsters who took part in the project were from Rotary District 3340 in
the East and Northeast regions of Thailand. Each club selects students in
its own area to participate. The goal that is set for the project each year
is for 300 youngsters to attend, but this year there were only 140 children.
Flooding in the Northeast region and the 24th SEA Games in Nakhon
Ratchasima, with the schools rescheduling their holidays had an effect on
the attendance, said Surin.
 President
Elect Sanit Boonphuen (right) and his fellow members of the Rotary Club of
Sattahip, will host RYLA in 2008 pose proudly with the flag, along with DGE
Pratheep Malhotra.
Each day the children were rotated to be group leaders for holding
activities such as a walk rally and a debate. Leaders conducting the
activities were rotated during the entire training period.
Experts gave talks on various subjects. Dr Arnon spoke on the objects of
Rotary; Pratheep Malhotra, district governor elect of Rotary International
District 3340 gave a talk on leadership; and Janya Jetjaroen, a lecturer
from Kasetsart University’s Sriracha Campus gave an informal talk on global
warming.
Along with the activities in camp, the youngsters were taken on a study tour
of the Institute of Science, Progress and Technology at the Thai Oil Public
Company Limited site.
Pratheep, speaking on leadership, said that being a leader needs
self-discipline and self-training. To be a good leader in the future
requires that we start now by being good followers, because if you don’t
know how to follow and learn, how will you, as a future leader, know how the
follower thinks and acts?
“The rule for starting to be a good leader is that the leader must be
discerning, visible, and sharp,” he said. “We should not only give commands
but also to empower others with the freedom to make their own decisions.
Being a good leader is not a matter of ‘I the leader and you the workers’.
It must be ‘us’ the team. To be a good leader, you must be an outstanding
co-worker yourself. Don’t think of it as ‘our side and their side’. Lead by
example. Show your team that you are willing to roll up your sleeves and get
your hands dirty, doing exactly the same things that you would expect them
to do.
“Stimulate and motivate your co-workers to understand the purposes and aims
of your organisation and ensure that ‘we’ will achieve ‘our’ goal
‘together’. This applies throughout your lives. Always be aware that
leadership is a never ending cycle of listening, learning, training,
teaching and dedication to hard work.”
The kids from many parts of
Thailand made new friends at RYLA.
It was an emotional ceremony
at the end of RYLA as the young participants bid fond farewells to their
new-found friends.
Sattahip presents playground equipment to Fleet nursery
Government officials from
Sattahip present playground equipment to the Naval 7 children’s nursery
of the Royal Thai Fleet.
Patcharapol Panrak
Sattahip Administrative Organization has presented playground
equipment to the Naval 7 children’s nursery of the Royal Thai Fleet.
Pairot Malakul na Ayutthaya, head of the Sattahip Administrative
Organization on October 24 led a team of officials to present the
equipment to Capt Noparat Thantapong, who is director of the children’s
nursery, and Mrs Patthanan Thangam, head teacher.
The playground equipment was purchased by the Sattahip Administrative
Organization under a budget of 90,000 baht.
The Naval 7 children’s nursery of the Royal Thai Fleet currently has 109
children, along with four teachers and four nursemaids. Most of the
children are from Naval officers’ families.
Pairot said the equipment was presented to the nursery to support the
children’s physical and mental development.
Manoi has her own exhibition to demonstrate potential of the autistic
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Manoi, a young autistic girl who is becoming an acclaimed artist had her
work exhibited by the Pediatric Society of Thailand at the Royal Cliff
Beach Resort over a three-day period from October 24 to 26.
 Pediatrician
Dr Oran Prommalikit, speaking at the opening of the exhibition on
October 24, said the event was all about individual achievement and the
potential that lies within every child
Pediatrician Dr Oran Prommalikit, speaking at the opening of the
exhibition on October 24, said the event was all about individual
achievement and the potential that lies within every child if the
opportunity is presented to allow the child’s development.
In the case of Manoi, said Dr Oran, she is fully supported by her family
and teachers, and her artistic talent has consequently been able to
flourish. An autistic child is part of society and needs help from
society, because each of these children has a talent and ability for
achieving something.
 Manoi
won the gold medal at the 36th International Children’s Art Exhibition
held in Tokyo for this picture.
Manoi is the recipient of a gold medal from the 36th International
Children’s Art Exhibition held in Tokyo. Known to everyone as Manoi, she
was born Pitchaya Lertsapcharoen on August 11, 1994, and is the second
child of Dr Pornthep and Dr Thewee Lertsapcharoen.
Manoi is now studying in a special project at Chulalongkorn University’s
demonstration school, and at Thammanuwat School. Her talent first began
to emerge at the age of four, when she started to draw circles with a
ballpoint pen on paper.
Concurrent with the exhibition of Manoi’s work, the Pediatric Society
held an exhibition of works by children who are suffering from AIDS.
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