Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
For 370 youngsters, the five days they spent at the 17th Rotary
Youth Leadership Awards at the Marine Corps Training Center in Sattahip from
October 11-15 were a fun way to make friends and learn about self-reliance
and leadership.
DG
Pratheep Malhotra presents an award to Jinjutha Chiangmai from the Rotary
Club of Kunying Mo-Korat.
The 150 boys and 220 girls gathered from Rotary District 3340 which covers
the eastern and northeastern regions of Thailand, at the camp organized by
the Rotary Club of Sattahip.
What were they up to?
It was a packed activity schedule after the camp opened. The young trainees
visited the islands and the Sea Natural History Museum at Kao Major in
Samaesarn District, the Sea Turtle Conservation Center at Air and Coastal
Defense Command, the Buddha image at Kaochichan, the Seedless Grape Vineyard
(Silver Lake), the Jump Tower, learned how His Majesty the King sailed
across the gulf at Toeyngam Bay and then visited the herbal garden of HRH
Princess Sirindhorn.
DG
Pratheep Malhotra presents Youth Leadership award certificates to Apicha
Lertporncharoen for members of his team.
After that it was the navy’s turn with the youngsters visiting the Royal
Thai Naval Air Division at Utapao Airport, warship at Laemtien Pier, a sea
rescue demonstration conducted by the Naval Special Warfare Group and the
Mahidol Adulyadej Naval Dockyard.
The tour finished in more genteel fashion, inspecting the flowering and
ornamental plants management system at Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in
Bangsarae.
Trainers at the camp tried to introduce the youngsters to Rotarian ideals of
leadership, friendship, helping others, doing the right thing, developing
good character, knowing how to live together in harmony with others, the
environment and technology.
What did the kids think of the camp?
DG
Pratheep Malhotra presents a Youth Leadership award to Yatchapat
Panyapratheep from the Rotary Club of Sattahip.
Itthikorn Dhammabun said, “I was excited and glad to join this activity and
had an opportunity to meet friends from different provinces. I really thank
the kind people who organized such a great activity.
“After 5 days together I felt close to friends and chaperones. All of the
activities taught me new experiences and we should all try to keep these
good memories.”
Apicha Lertporncharoen commented, “I’m happy to meet new friends. After four
nights and five days, I became closer with these friends than the first day
of the camp. This meeting taught me about patience and doing things for
myself, including surviving in a large society.”
A girl from Prae remarked, “I had great fun with all my friends. At first it
wasn’t so good because I didn’t know them. But after adapting myself, I was
happy and even didn’t want to leave on the last day. I like the places that
we visited, the food, all the friends who attended and the kind organizers
who looked after us well.”
After
passing their tests, campers receive certificates from Capt. Sanit Boonpuan,
President of the Rotary Club of Sattahip.
Pratheep Malhotra, district governor of Rotary International District 3340,
chaired the camp closing ceremony with Capt. Sanit Bunpuan, President of the
Sattahip Rotary Club and members.
Capt. Sanit said the camp went even better than expected with the kids from
different provinces showing how they could live together and help each
other.
Pratheep told the youngsters that attending this leadership training is done
only once in a person’s life. Some children were away from their parents for
the first time but while here, “We are all related in a big Rotary family.”
He urged the trainees to take back their experiences, knowledge and good
feelings and adapt them to their daily lives. He hoped to see the youngsters
one day becoming leaders in the communities, districts, provinces, or even
their country.
Members of the Rotary Club of Khunying Mo-Korat received the Ryla flag from
Capt. Sanit as their club will host the next Rotary Youth Leadership Awards
camp at Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo in October next year.
The lighting of the sacred
bonfire was performed with zeal by 4 navy personnel.
DG Pratheep joins the children
in the Rum Wong dance around the campfire.
There were tears and laughter
as children sang ‘Auld Lang Syne’ at the closing of the 17th Rotary Youth
Leadership Awards campfire evening.
