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Asian University’s Asian Experience
Chai Yo! The next few weeks
are going to be great fun.
Susan Joyce
Asian University’s Summer University 2009 started on August 3. With
thirty-nine young people from thirteen different countries, it will be a
truly international experience. They will spend three weeks in Thailand,
learning about the Thai ways, culture and history and about doing business
here.
There are two separate groups, some who are here to learn more about
business in Asia, and the others who are studying tourism and related
subjects.
After the traditional welcome by students from a local school, the first
evening activities included a welcome dinner, a Thai dancing lesson
(including dressing for the dance) and a Bi See ceremony by candlelight.
Dr Viphandh (the university president) and other faculty members joined
together to wish the visitors good luck and a fun and fruitful stay in
Thailand.
After a week at Asian University, staying on campus with the undergraduates,
the visitors will move to Jomtien for a week, and then Bangkok. There is a
busy schedule of Thai experiences for them to look forward to.
Learning the basic moves of
classical Thai dancing - it’s not as easy as it looks.
Faculty members and students
give the visitors a hearty welcome.
Growing our own rice
Children who live in the Fr. Ray Children’s
Home on Thepprasit Road were given the chance to farm the land.
Some of the children clutched fistfuls of
rice,
others put their rice into folded ends of their t-shirts,
but all had a great time and were clearly excited at farming the land.
Jatupat Bhuthongngoen
Fr. Ray Brennan often said that he wanted the children and
disabled people he looked after in Pattaya to be able to earn their own
rice. Father Ray, whose 6th Anniversary of his passing is on August 16,
would have been very proud of the younger children in the Foundation’s
care who are now growing their own rice.
The aim of the project is to reduce costs and grow organic products for
the nutritious meals the children receive every day, and for the
children to have the knowledge they are growing their own rice.
A tractor, also donated to the Foundation,
came and finished the job when the kids got tired.
The foundation owns 5 rai that was partially
donated in Nong Pla Lai,
and recently the land was rented out. Fr. Lawrence Patin, president of
the
Fr. Ray Foundation came up with the idea of the foundation farming its
own land to contribute to feeding the 850 children in its care.
Vote for Yvonne Sorensen
Hi to all,
My name is Yvonne Sorensen, daughter of Bjorn Erik & Virginia Sorensen.
I am 16 years old, and I was born in Pattaya.
I would like to appeal for your kind hearted support in my endeavor in a
singing competition at Teen Superstar Academy.
Your vote is greatly appreciated and I thank you all so much.
You can vote every 3 minutes. Round 1 will take a month.
When you cast your vote a box will appear saying “thank you for voting”.
http://www.superstar-academy.com/talent/th/profile.php?cid=6
Kind Regards,
Yvonne
Jesters Journal
Canadian Jackalope Open: Another Resounding Success for the benefit of HIV/AIDS Children
The organizing committee
of the 11th Annual Canadian Jackalope Open Charity Golf Tournament (L to
R) Malcolm, Derek, Dale, Mark, Kenny and Wayne.
Lewis Underwood
Before the event last Friday, the organizers of the 11th Annual
Canadian Jackalope Open Charity Golf Tournament had pledged Double
Platinum (200,000 baht) to the Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive, even
though they were a bit tentative to commit to that total. However,
organizers of the ever popular tournament held at Burapha Golf Course
which saw a field of 131 golfers, as well as many other non-playing
supporters, were definitely in a very generous mood.
Besides the several sponsors already on board to support the event,
their famous 50/50 draw also determines how much money is ultimately
raised. The draw is created by selling raffle tickets for not only
prizes but also a cash purse. It is designed so that half of the
proceeds go to charity, in this case, entirely to the Camillian’s Child
Care Center, and the rest to the winner to do with as he wishes.
The participants dug deep into their pockets to purchase over 204,000
baht before the draw. Mark Gorda, compere for the evening and event
committee member, not only was colorful as ever, but also ended up being
the winner of the draw. Without a blink of an eye, Mark donated all of
it to the kids at the Camillian Child Care Center!
Newsflash! This just in before the paper goes to press: The
Canadian Jackalope Open has now raised over 400,000 baht for the second
consecutive year. The exact total at the moment is an unbelievable
455,100 baht! This means in the last 5 years the Canuks have contributed
1,136,247 baht to our charity drive. Fabulous work, guys!
Currently, the Canadian Jackalope Open and Jesters are co-sponsoring two
handicapped HIV-infected children at the Center in Rayong, which
consists of kids abandoned or orphaned after both parents have died of
AIDS. Many of them come to the center with AIDS, but with special care,
medication and nourishment can be brought back to lead a normal life as
HIV-positive.
One of the children we are supporting is Fay, a 6-year old girl, who was
born HIV-positive and abandoned by her parents after birth. She is also
blind and mentally impaired. She came to the center 3 years ago and
could not stand or crawl. She would also get upset frequently and slap
herself in the head. With continued administration of antiretroviral
medicine (ARV’s), physical therapy and care-giving, her tantrums
subsided. She now can stand and walk with assistance. As a result, her
whole demeanor has changed and she now often displays moods of content
and joy.
Tavid, who is 13 years old, is the other child we are supporting. He was
also born HIV-positive and due to late the administration of ARV’s has
become partially paralyzed from the infection. He is thought to be
autistic too. Tavid spends most of his time in the company of another
autistic girl while listening to music and watching TV.
From last year’s funds raised by their golf tournament and our charity
drive we have provided both Fay and Tavid with 24/7 care-giving,
medicine (ARV’s) and food on a monthly basis to the cost of 27,525 baht
apiece.
By the way, we have also provided 166,147 baht for soya milk fortified
with calcium to all the HIV/AIDS kids there, who often have trouble
assimilating cow’s milk.
Just recently, both of these children were transferred to a new
Camillian Center located in Latkrabang, which is where disabled children
who have their HIV status stabilized are now taking up residence. Here
there are specialists who better help the kids learn to live with there
disabilities.
If you would like to help children like Fay and Tavid have better lives,
please go to our website www. care4kids.info. And please do not forget
that our Jesters Children’s Fair is now less than a month away coming up
rapidly on Sunday, September 13th at Diana Garden Resort and Driving
Range in North Pattaya.
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