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St. Andrews School, Rayong students
set off for Phi Phi Island
Day One: Ready for work.
Beverly J.
During the first part of this school year St. Andrews International
School, Rayong students set off for Phi Phi Island. But this was to be no
holiday. The students were joining forces with three other schools (one from
Thailand and two from Australia) to continue work on the Round Square Laem
Tong International Community Resource Centre Project.
 Getting
dirty!
This project involves the construction of a Community Centre on the island
to serve as an education and training centre for the local population, in
order to provide them with the training and skills necessary to find work on
the island, notably within the tourist industry. Ironically, it is the
growth of tourism, and the development of resorts upon resorts on beaches
previously occupied solely by local fishing communities, which threatens
their traditional livelihoods. It will also double as a tsunami evacuation
point, occupying a high point on the island and so providing a safe haven in
the future.
The six students are the first IB Diploma students at St Andrews School. As
part of the IB programme, they are required to get involved in service
projects for the local and wider communities - and this was certainly that!
The students, 34 in all, spent six full days digging, moving earth, mixing
and pouring cement and constructing steel reinforcement cages, as they
prepared the footing for a large retaining wall. Exhausting but rewarding
work, they all agreed. And they’ll be back, after the blisters have healed.
That, at least, is the plan. The project only advances when there are
student labourers available, and when there are funds available to purchase
raw materials needed for the building.
So now back in school, students are busy fund-raising in order to continue
the work. Any school or organization that would like to support Baan Laem
Tong and be involved in the Community Centre project either through
financial or physical participation can contact Scott Langston, CAS
coordinator at St Andrews International School,
[email protected]
When we are finished this is
what it will look like.
Stage 3 of the Regents Laem Tong Bay Koh Phi Phi Project
Work continues even
through the heavy rain.
Minki Kim, Bridget Liggins and Pupae
Minki Kim - Year 12 IB student: The Koh Phi Phi trip! This was
my second time to Koh Phi Phi for the Regent’s Round Square project. As
usual the start of the trip was very tiring. I had to wake up at 3am,
and I arrived at school at about 4.30am. Then we travelled by bus to the
airport for our flight to Phuket. When we reached Phuket we stopped at
Central for some shopping, and then travelled by ferry for another four
hours. Even though it was tiring it was still fun and lots of my friends
were going.
 Hard
work digging that retaining wall.
Plus, on this trip I met many different people and got to know more
about my friends. I met six students from St Andrew’s School and lots of
other students from the TAS and NEGS schools in Armidale, Australia. All
the students were enthusiastic and good people overall. It seemed
everyone was getting along with each other very quickly. Moreover, I was
surprised how teachers were working really, really hard even though they
don’t get any CAS hours. Also, it was very nice to see that everyone was
helping each other on the work site.
Simply over the week, the work that we did was digging and cementing to
make a retaining wall for a new community centre on Koh Phi Phi. We had
to dig a long trench, 1m deep and 1m wide around a cement foundation
which was within the local school. It took us about three days! Then we
had to bend a long metal wire and put it inside the holes to make a
simple structure for the cement to go in. This took about a day with
everyone helping. Then we finally brought sand and rock from the beach,
which was needed to make cement mix for the walls. Dragging the sand
bags from the beach took some work and was an extremely hard job. After
we mixed the cement, we formed a chain gang to pour it into the
trenches. Overall, by the end of the week we were all tired, proud and
happy.
I believe that from the trip we all learned that working together will
make our life much easier. Everyone faced and learned new experiences
and skills, such as leadership and communication skills. This Koh Phi
Phi trip has given me personally, lots of great memories which I will
have forever. Thanks to Mr Tomlinson, Miss Polomka and Khun Sabai for
coming with us!
Pupae - Year 12 IB student: The Regent’s School Koh Phi Phi service
project is to build a community centre within the Baan Laem Tong School.
The building site is located near the actual teaching area, so from time
to time we took turns in having a go at teaching the local children.
There are about 50 students in the school and some of them came from the
nearby island to study, but most of them are the local sea gypsy village
children.
The children were very eager in their learning and had lots of
enthusiasm towards sport such as football which both the boys and girls
played equally. The eldest students are in the secondary school and yet
their English is very poor. I was lucky to have a chance to teach them,
it was a real success. They were all eager and willing to accept new
challenges that we brought up for them. At the end of the week we gave
the students and teachers equipment such as pens and paper, and lots of
lollies and some toys to use after we had gone. They approached us with
positive attitudes and I hope that I’ll have a chance to teach them
again in the future.
For more information on the Regents Koh Phi Phi project at Laem Tong Bay
please contact pcrouch@ regents.ac.th or visit www. regents.ac.th
(Pattaya Campus).
Working hard on the
project site.
All four schools come
together for a group photo.
PILC … give, give, give
Delivering in the rain.
Happy recipients - no more
hand washing!
A much appreciated work
saver.
Ingrid Cunliffe
I am pleased to be able to share on behalf of the Pattaya
International Ladies Club Welfare team that last week we purchased 3
washing machines on behalf of Fisher and Paykel at a greatly reduced
cost for 3 of our projects.
The first recipients were Kate’s Project, who are in the process of
building at present. This will be a safe shelter for families to come
and a vocational training center for the many jobless Thais they
support.
Ban Jing Jai, the orphanage that houses over 50 children at present,
received a 10.5 kilo machine, which the staff were very grateful for, to
cater for all the washing they have on a daily basis. Us mums can
appreciate that one!
The third recipients were the 24 children at the Independent Living
Shelter that Khun Jat is heading up for the St Kids of Pattaya. When the
machine was delivered, in the pouring rain may I add, I noted that 2 of
the girls said they are thankful “no more hand washing”!
Much thanks to Andrew Paykel and his wonderful staff and drivers who did
such a great job with delivery and installation.
PILC Black & White Ball postponed
Loran Davidson for PILC
Due to the mourning period for HRH the Princess, the PILC Black & White
Ball has been postponed until January 17.
The Dusit received a formal letter from the Royal Household asking for
their cooperation to stop or decrease any shows, performances and any
entertainment during the period of the Royal Funeral for HRH Princess
Galyani November 14 - 16. Although the Dusit were extremely apologetic,
their hands are tied and we will not be able to have the PILC ball there
on the November 15 as planned.
The (Pattaya International Ladies Club) PILC Black & White Ball has
therefore been postponed to Saturday, January 17, 2009.
All other details of the Ball will remain the same: It will be held in
the Grand Ballroom at the Dusit Thani Resort, beginning at 6:30pm with
cocktails, sparkling wine & canapés, and afterwards a lovely 3+ course
menu with free flowing beer, wine and soft drinks provided throughout
the night.
We are still taking reservations! Tickets are 3,500 baht per person, and
you can contact Adene on 08 6149 1771 or at aapaykel@iprimus. com.au or
Jacinta on 08 6997 0671 or at jacintachamberlain @gmail.com to make a
reservation.
We sincerely hope that the unexpected change of date will not be a
problem for our guests that have already booked. If you have prior plans
and are not able to make the January 17 date, we will of course refund
your ticket price, but if this is the case please let us know as soon as
possible. As we have several guests booked who are not PILC members,
please also help us by notifying any non-member friends who you know
have also booked.
Although we will no longer be sending off the 2008 year at the Ball, we
will instead be ringing in 2009! With the sudden change of date, we need
your support more than ever. The annual ball is still the major
fundraiser for the PILC, so we hope all our members will get behind us,
make your reservations and get ready to dance the night away in two
months time.
The PILC would also like to express our sincere sympathy, respect and
condolences to the Royal Family for the loss of their loved one, Her
Royal Highness the Princess.
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