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Fun in the sun at Horseshoe Point
Rachel and Matthew Hoag
(right) and Diane Doell (background, center)
seem to be having as much fun as the children.
Paul Strachan
Twenty kids from the Mercy Center here in Pattaya were treated to a
great day out at Horseshoe Point recently courtesy of Laem Chabang
International Terminal Co., Ltd.
 The
happy troupe buckles on their helmets, ready for a pony ride.
They started the day with some football before a spot of lunch and some cool
drinks. When it was time to hit the pool, many managed to do so without
getting wet, as the staff from Horseshoe Point put some of the kids in huge
plastic balls that floated on the water. Then into the water for some fun
with the staff from the Mercy Center along with the woman who takes care of
the center and her husband Fred and Dianne Doell.
 This
is fun!
Matthew Hoag, CEO of Laem Chabang International Terminal Co., Ltd., was also
on hand throughout the day along with his charming wife Rachel. He explained
that his company’s board of directors decided that the time had come for
them to give back to the community, under the motto of corporate
responsibility, and therefore have pledged approximately 1 million baht to
be given to needy causes in the area.
He said he was very pleased to see the children enjoying themselves and that
his company liked to take a personal interest in any projects with which
they assist.
Pastor Diane Doell from the Mercy Center said that the kids had a fantastic
day out and that the Mercy Center welcomed any support from the community to
help them with their mission, which covers the slums, the prison, an early
learning center and provides scholarship for 80 children. If you would like
to help Diane and Fred at the Mercy Center you can call them on 081 945
4307. If you would like to see the video footage of the day go to the
Pattaya Mail Youtube website: www.youtube.com/pattayamail
Regent’s responds to destruction caused by Cyclone Nargis in Burma
Both the Secondary and
Primary Student Guilds present boxes
of noodles to Khun Tanon from World Vision.
Paul Crouch
One of the founding aims of the Round Square organization was the idea
and ability to be able to respond to natural disasters and aid those
less fortunate than us. This is embodied in all the IDEALS of Round
Square but especially those of Internationalism, Leadership and Service
to others. Over two weeks ago now our neighbours in the south of Burma
were devastatingly struck by Cyclone Nargis, an extreme storm that grew
from the monsoon rains out in the Indian Ocean and headed directly for
the Burmese coast killing up to 75,000 people and leaving millions
homeless. We in Thailand were only lucky due to the fate of nature and
the fact that the cyclone lost much of its energy as it hit land as it
approached the Burmese Thai border.
 Noel
carries rice to the World Vision truck.
At times like this it is difficult to know what to do or how to respond
to such a tragedy but the overall sense of the Regent’s School community
was that as a Round Square School respond we must. Mr. Giles Kerridge
and the Secondary Student Guild immediately placed Cyclone Nargis on
that week’s Guild agenda and discussed the options as a group. The
outcome was quick and practical, deciding to focus on food, water and
physical aid rather than financial support due to the numerous other
fund raising events happening across the school.
The Student Guild contacted World Vision in Bangkok and received a very
positive response from the team based there who sent a list confirming
the items most needed in the affected area of Burma, which included:
packaged food (rice, noodles, canned fish, etc.), bottled water,
batteries, matches, mosquito nets and toilet rolls. They also confirmed
that a team from World Vision would come and collect the goods the
following Friday giving the school a week to collect.
 Khun
Suu and Khun Tanon stand in front of the food under the clock tower.
During the next week many announcements were made in assemblies and
through form representatives in form classes. The Primary Student Guild
was also actioned and they started a collection in the Primary School.
By Friday an impressive collection waited under the clock tower for
pick-up and delivery. The Student Guild welcomed the World Vision team
on their arrival and had the opportunity to ask questions about the
relief process and they were reassured that all items collected by World
Vision are flown into Rangoon daily on AirAsia sponsored flights and
then distributed by the 500 strong World Vision team based in Rangoon.
The Regent’s students helped to load and fill the truck then sent them
on their way back to Bangkok.
Many thanks to all the parents, staff, students and Regent’s friends who
supported this quick response initiative, also to World Vision who
impressed us thoroughly with their positive and proactive attitude
towards our ideas and desire to help. Regent’s students plan to continue
to work with World Vision and create some partnership projects
throughout the Chonburi region and the Phi Phi project at Laem Tong Bay
in the south of Thailand. If you would like to know more or want to
support any of The Regent’s School service projects please contact Paul
Crouch at pcrouch@ regents.ac.th
Three charity organizations make presentation
to Ban Klongsai School
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Three charity organizations have worked with Ban Klongsai School
to renovate the school cafeteria and provide supplies for the new
semester.
 Ingrid
Cunliffe dishes out ice cream to the excited children.
On May 16, Ingrid Cunliffe, representing Jesters Care for Kids, Kathleen
Petras of the Pattaya International Ladies Club, and Mari Parino of the
Rayong Ladies Club made a joint presentation at Ban Klongsai School.
Jesters Care for Kids had repaired the supports for the school’s
multi-use building, the old support posts having become unsafe, putting
the roof at risk. At the same time, the school had also received support
from the Pattaya International Ladies Club and the Rayong Ladies Club
for school uniforms and schoolbooks, and for 10 tables with 80 chairs to
use for school activities.
The three organizations served ice cream and snacks to the students
during the presentation.
School director Somsak Bunyarit said that Ban Klongsai School has 170
students and eight teachers. The school has two buildings with eight
classrooms, one computer room with 20 computers and an internet
connection, and one small library. An extension is planned for the
school.
Ban Klongsai School is in Education Zone 1 in Rayong Province, located
in the Pala Sub-district in Banchang District. It was opened in 1972,
and teaches from kindergarten level 1 to primary school class 6.
Students at Ban Klongsai
School are happy to receive new school uniforms.
Students at Ban Klongsai
School enjoy the delicious ice cream provided
for them as a treat by the visiting benefactors.
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