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Painting Umbrellas for Peace
Sue K
After the tsunami hit the coast of Thailand in 2004, leaving massive
devastation and helpless victims, numerous projects were initiated by locals
and foreigners to help.
Among those was Walter Kretschmar, who with the cooperation of TGI-ITS (Thai
German Institute - Innovation Technology Services), Siemens AG in Germany,
BDI-APA and Lapp Cable GmbH had set up the Academy & Community Center (ACC)
in Ban Pru Teaw village close to Takuapa, Khao Lak.
 Ulrike
with her children
The center’s purpose is to provide vocational training for relocated tsunami
survivors and practical training for the local villagers. These vocational
skills have enabled the people to be able to work again and bring some
income to their surviving families that have suffered from the loss of their
breadwinners, or their own jobs being washed away by the tsunami.
Two years down the road, the courses are still popular. Many volunteers come
in from overseas, especially Germany, to provide English and German language
training free of charge.
One of the volunteers was Urike Muerz. With her love for Thailand and
teaching spirit, she came back for the second time to teach languages to the
villagers, and to continue her special activity at the center called
“Painting Umbrellas for Peace”.
The “Umbrellas for Peace” project was originated after the tragic event of
September 11, 2001, by Matt Lamp, a German Artist, who painted umbrellas
with the orphans caused by the 11th September as a symbol of protection - a
symbol of protection against anything like rain, sun, wind and more. Up to
now, more than 400,000 umbrellas have been painted to express the need and
wish for peace in the world.
 Painting
Umbrellas for Peace.
The project is part of the activities of the Schengen Peace Foundation who
promotes peace, tolerance, understanding, hope and love in the world. The
foundation’s peace program reaches out to all people, regardless of their
nationality, religion, race or background.
Several “Umbrellas for Peace” from Thailand are displayed in Germany as part
of an exhibition by Matt Lamp.
The children of Pru Teaw village painted with great enthusiasm and produced
wonderful results.
Proud Ulrike said there’s nothing more rewarding than to receive gratitude
from her students and to see them progress in their learning, and the gleam
in their eyes as they accomplish a given task.
Ulrike is a wife of a diplomat, travels extensively, and appreciates
cultural diversity. That was why when Walter Kretschmar asked her to help in
South, she jumped on the plane, for the second time, without hesitation.
Back at home Ulrike teaches students in their after-school activities, is a
scout leader, and just came back from her 2 weeks scout-camp in Switzerland,
where she took care of a group of 16, among the 1000 scouts from around the
world, before emptying her suitcase of worn clothes, packed in new ones and
flew to Thailand.
She is in love with Thailand and Thai ways; the polite and hospitable
villagers, and the landscape itself, with variation of vegetation in the
jungles.
She definitely will come back again, but in the meantime there will be other
volunteers to carry on the torch of teaching, each staying for about 4
weeks.
If you would like to join the program as a volunteer, and if you like
teaching and meeting people, email Ulrike for information at ulrigge@
hotmail.com
Why not share your knowledge and expertise and help the underprivileged
people, while traveling around Thailand and seeing more of the country? It
will surely be a fulfilling and memorable experience.
English and German Courses
prove popular among villagers.
Proud painters, participants
in the Painting Umbrellas for Peace project.
The tsunami approaches shore
on Boxing Day 2004.
Young PR Ambassadors tee-off for Diana Group golf training
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
The Diana Group is providing a professional golf skills
training course for the Pattaya City Young PR Ambassadors, starting from
August 23, so they can better understand the game that attracts so many
golf players to Pattaya and the superb courses in the region.
 P.G.A.
Coach David Race teaches golf technique to the young ambassadors.
The Diana Golf Academy Training Course has been arranged in support of
the Young Ambassadors project.
Sopin Thappajug, managing director of the Diana Group distributed golf
training course scholarships to 10 of the young ambassadors, who will be
trained by professional golfers.
Sopin said the course would encourage interest in the game for the
youngsters taking part, and allow them to speak with knowledge about
golf in their Young PR Ambassador duties.
The Diana Group has invited professional golfers to provide instruction,
including David Race, who has more than 30 years’ golf experience, Pasit
Rungsita, a career golf referee from the Thailand Golfing Association,
and Prachakchat Rasriratana, director of the Diana Golf Driving Range.
The course covers 10 hours at the Diana Golf Driving Range, with
sessions held for two hours during the mornings, finishing on September
20.
Sopin said that the Diana Group would provide all the equipment, and
distribute certificates to all 10 Young PR Ambassadors attending the
course training.
Sopin Thappajug (back row,
center) poses with
the young ambassadors and instructors.
Pasit Rungsita, a career
golf referee from the Thailand Golfing Association, teaches the young
ambassadors how to properly grip the club.
Are you ready? The main event is just a week away!
Lewis Underwood
That’s right our Children’s Fair, the main event of the
Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive 2008, courtesy of our Diamond
Sponsors Steve J. Lake, Glencore International, the Herrod Foundation
and the Canadian Jackalope Open, is next Sunday, September 14th! And it
is about time already!
It’s our 11th year of organizing charity drives, our 10th children’s
fair and the 7th consecutive year that the Diana Garden Resort and
Driving Range in North Pattaya has graciously hosted our annual family
outing. We would like to thank Khun Noi and the Diana Group management
and staff for their continued support and hospitality.
We would also like to thank our sponsors: 4 Diamonds, 26 Platinums, 17
Golds, 23 Silvers, 51 Bronzes and 22 Pledges. We are tremendously
grateful for your generosity and making this yet another record-breaking
year of 6.3 million baht and counting in sponsorship alone.
Actually, we would like to thank all of you who have helped us in a
myriad of ways, including the schools, stallholders, advertisers, and
supporters of every kind. We are delighted that you too are committed to
providing the needy children of Thailand with hope of a brighter future
through education, vocational training and safe shelter.
We wish you, your family and your friends, a wonderful day at the Fair
among the very kids you are helping from many of our beneficiaries,
including the Fountain of Life Center, School for the Blind, Ban Jing
Jai, Mercy Center, Camillian Social Center and local schools.
Our hard-working committee has put together an exciting entertainment
program and an extensive fair layout to accommodate over 100 stalls and
fun-filled activities for the whole family.
Check it out!
Jesters Children’s Fair 2008 Program of Events
(subject to change)
10:00: Opening Ceremony for Fair
* National anthem by Marching Band from Pattaya School
* Opening Speech by Chairman Lewis Underwood
* Welcoming Speech by Pattaya Mayor Khun Ittipol
* Ribbon-cutting ceremony by Mayor Khun Ittipol, Khun Sopin and Graham
Macdonald
* School marching band performance
10:30: Start of children’s variety show
* Fountain of Life Children x3
* School for the Blind x 4
* ISE Circus Art
* Ban Jing Jai Children x2
* Mercy Center Children x2
* Young PR Ambassador
* Dr. Penguin
* Salsa Dancing
12:00: Children’s games
12:30: International School of Martial Arts (Taekwondo Branch)
13:00: Children’s games
13:30: Pattaya Aikikai Dojo show
14:00: Presentation of bicycles to ‘best of the class’ FOL kids in
memory of Chris Kays
14:30: Children’s games
15:00: B.O.Y. concert
15:40: Children games: tug-of-war
16:00: Children’s Raffle Drawing
16:30 to 18:00: Live music
* American Blues Band
* Pop’s All-Stars
And remember, 6 days after the Fair is our Jesters Party Night packed
with entertainment, auction bidding and grand raffle drawing on
Saturday, September 20th at Jameson’s Irish Pub.
We are ready and we hope all of you are too!
We look forward to seeing you at both events!
Jesters move into 11th year of fund raising
for underprivileged children
|
Suwanthep ‘Tony’
Malhotra, director of Pattaya Mail and media liaison for Jesters
Care for Kids Charity Drive. |
Lewis ‘Woody’
Underwood,
chairman of Jesters Care for
Kids Charity Drive |
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Diana Group MD Sopin
Thappajug |
Former Chonburi MP
Chanyuth Hengtrakul |
|
Deputy Mayor Ronakit
Ekasingh |
Sister Joan Gormley |
Organizers and friends
pose for a group picture after the press conference for the 11th Jesters
Care for Kids Charity Drive.
Pattaya Mail Reporters
The Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive Committee has
announced the next round of events to raise funds for underprivileged
children in Pattaya and in neighboring areas, marking its 11th annual
program.
The Fountain of Life Center, Mercy Center, Ban Jingjai, Nongprue School,
Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind, the Youth Rehabilitation
Camp, a fund for a future educational project for Social Welfare, and
schools in the southern part of Thailand are just the few of the many
organizations to benefit from the committee’s proposals.
August 26 at the Diana Garden Resort in North Pattaya saw Deputy Mayor
Ronakit Ekasingh, Diana Group MD Sopin Thappajug, former MP of Chonburi
Chanyuth Hengtrakul, chairman of the Jesters Care for Kids committee
Lewis “Woody” Underwood, and committee PR and media liaison officer Tony
Malhotra hold a press conference to announce the 11th Jesters Care for
Kids Charity Drive 2008.
With Tony translating the speeches from English to Thai and vice versa,
the event started with an introduction from Woody, who said it was the
avowed belief of Jesters that every child regardless of his or her
circumstances deserves the opportunity to receive an education. If the
child has special needs, then he or she should be entitled to
specialized education. “We also believe that every child deserves
shelter and a safe environment free from abuse,” said Woody.
The Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive started 11 years ago when Alice
Poulsen, member of the Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) saw the
need at the Fountain of Life. This was just after the founding of the
Jesters Motorcycle Club, which was established in 1996, and the club was
brought onto the scene to help and support the work of the PILC towards
the Fountain of Life Center, where they lacked funds for daily
operations.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit praised the Jesters Care for Kids committee and its
way of operating by saying that it has serious policies intended for
underprivileged children. They have been able to create a strong network
to organize these enduring activities, and to increase the numbers of
people who respond to every year.
“On behalf of the mayor, the city of Pattaya and the Thai people, I
would like to thank the Jesters Care for Kids committee for all the
support that you have given for the last 10 years, especially towards
underprivileged children. I wish you all many more successes and hope
that you will continue with all of your good work for many years to
come,” said the deputy mayor.
Chanyuth said he has great faith in the organizers and totally supports
the work of the Jesters Care for Kids committee.
“I remember about 11 years ago when I went to a bar which was
underground [it was actually Delaney’s] with Peter Malhotra to attend
the first gathering of Jesters and many Pattaya expatriates. I was
hesitant to go in as I wasn’t sure what kind of an activity or operation
was going on down there, until I realized that these guys are real and
they are working together to help Thai children.
“So, I started to take interest in them. It is now more than 10 years
and I never missed attending an activity organized by the Jesters,” said
Chanyuth.
Sopin said that she was happy to see such good activities in Pattaya
City, especially those for underprivileged children. The Diana Group has
provided the golf driving range at the Diana Garden Resort each year for
the past seven years for the Jesters Care for Kids Children’s Fair, and
would be doing so again on Sunday September 14.
“We hope to see as many people as possible joining in for this fun and
charitable activity on the day and wish the committee the best of
efforts and make this year bigger and better than ever,” said Sopin,
adding that her company would continue providing the venue for as long
as the committee wishes.
Woody said that Jesters Care for Kids has been able to raise funds of
more than 38 million baht over the past 10 years.
“Last year we raised 7.15 million baht from sponsors, supporters and
through various events organized, to provide funds for scholarships,
construction of educational buildings, preparing children for further
education and health care for kids and underprivileged children.
“This year is another year where more and more support is being received
from organizations, and we predict that even more will be raised than
last year.”
Woody added that the Jesters Care for Kids committee consists of a wide
range of co-opted experience, skills and contacts.
“All are unpaid volunteers, Jesters plus honorary Jesters,” he said. “We
raise money by sending letters to companies and individuals, not only in
Thailand, but internationally as well. Also through press releases,
primarily through the Pattaya Mail media group and through
interviews on PMTV.”
“Two main events are the Children’s Fair and Party Night. There is also
the sponsored Bike Ride by two Scandinavians, Erik and Robert, who
typically ride from Trat to Pattaya, 276km in one day on our Party
Night. Since 2001 they have raised 2.7 million baht.”
The Children’s Fair will be held on Sunday 14 September at the Diana
Garden Resort North Pattaya, where children and youngsters will perform
various dances and songs, and there will be an exhibition and the
selling of products, food and games with more than 80 booths. The
highlight for this year’s Children’s Fair is the presence of B-O-Y, or
Blood Of Youth, a well-known teen band from GMM Grammy. The entrance for
children under 12 is free while tickets can be purchase at 50 baht for
the big kids.
Before the end of the press conference Sister Joan Gormley and Kru
Wannee from the Fountain of Life were introduced. Sister Joan gave a
heartfelt thank you address, saying that she would like in public to
thank everybody who works for Jesters Care for Kids.
“I thank Woody, and all your coworkers, all those who contributed, and I
also thank all those who are helping to prepare this event. Working in a
small organization, I cannot imagine the amount of details that have to
go in planning this and every year, it works so well.
“I know from Woody that people in many parts of the world now know about
Jesters Care for Kids. When Jesters Care for Kids first started with the
Fountain of Life, what we needed was only rice and fish sauce. Later,
the problem of dental care for children came up and Jesters Care for
Kids offered immediately that they would support us and pay for this
care for children.
“As Woody said today, we all want children to have a chance to go to
school to have an education and in our center this is very important. It
is also important for us to help the parents and the guardians of the
children to know and to appreciate education for their children.”
University presidents sign MoU
Susan Joyce
Dr. Boris Misikov, the rector of Sakhalin University and
deputy of the Sakhalin State Duma, and Dr Viphandh Roengpithya, the
president of Asian University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding
to enable further cooperation between their universities in the future.
 Dr
Boris presents Dr Vip with Russian bear and salmon
The formal signing, along with an exchange of gifts, took place on the
top floor of the Ambassador Hotel in Bangkok on August 20. Also present
were Dr. Misikov’s wife, Marina, who also works at Sakhalin University
along with Dr. Ruslan Yakimenko, the director of the Faculty of Service
and Tourism.
The universities have already been working together as 15 students and
one lecturer from Sakhalin have been on a specially designed three week
Summer University programme with Asian University. The students are
studying Tourism in Sakhalin and were keen to learn about tourism in
Thailand, especially as Russians are the fastest growing sector of
tourists coming to Thailand at the moment.
Asian University is located on Highway 331, about 20km from Jomtien,
while Sakhalin Island is in the very far east of Russia, to the north of
Japan.
Dr Vip presents Dr Boris
with Asian University shield
Sakharin students greet
their president
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