|
Laem Chabang spreads Lin Ping fever with 7,000 panda dolls
Theerarak Suthatiwong
Just in case you haven’t had enough of Thailand’s celebrity panda,
Laem Chabang officials handed out 7,000 Lin Ping dolls as part of this
year’s Children’s Day celebration.
 A
youngster hugs his new Lin Ping doll by the shore in Laem Chabang.
Food and drinks were offered at the Jan. 8 festival and children who
participated were given panda dolls provided by the city.
Little Lin Ping became the world’s most-famous panda after her birth in
Chiang Mai May 27. Thais went nuts for the little furball, going so far as
to form fan clubs. Some 13.2 million votes were cast to give the Lin Ping
its name and Panda Live TV was launched, giving diehard fans
around-the-clock access to its daily activities.
Thammasirisuksa School promotes education day
Patcharapol Panrak
Students from Sattahip’s Thammasirisuksa School showed off their
skills in drawing and math for parents and community members, and
discovered that learning can continue outside the classroom, during this
year’s Education Day.
 Students
proudly show off their handiwork to visiting officials.
Organized to coincide with the Jan. 9 Children’s Day celebration, the
activity was attended by Chakkapong Suwanratsamee, deputy director of
the Chonburi Education Office and 1,000 students.
Students were presented with educational items and each class was given
special projects including “different uses of everyday objects,” drawing
and quiz games. Many of the youngsters proudly showed off their
handiwork to those in attendance.
Principal Tawee Suksang said the program was to promote learning outside
the classroom and give parents and community members an opportunity to
evaluate the learning center.
Students created a usable hammock out of cut
up plastic water bottles.
Learning English at the “Match Me” booth.
Satit Udomseuksa students
meet their superheroes
On Thursday January 7,
Satit Udomseuksa students were lucky enough to have had a chance to meet
some very famous superheroes. Royal Garden, Pattaya introduced Mr.
Ripley, Catwoman and Batman to delighted Satit students.
Providing youth with the resources to become entrepreneurs
Andrea Krause
The Foundation for Youth Social Entrepreneurship (FYSE) this
week launched the first online database in Asia Pacific to provide young
people with information where to get support to start their own
ventures.
As many countries cannot create adequate jobs to integrate all young
people into the economy, youth entrepreneurship has emerged as
alternative, as it integrates unemployed youth into the labor market and
tackles poverty through the creation of jobs.
 However,
youth entrepreneurship in the region remains low. While, for example,
51% of university students in Singapore desire to have their own
business (Wang & Wong 2004) only 5.3% start a business. The most cited
reasons for not starting their venture include a perceived lack of
skills and knowledge, a lack of educational and financial support. So
far, if a young person wanted to find information about available
resource, they had to identify information about entrepreneurship
courses or financial support in a time consuming and individual base
from various sources on the internet.
To overcome the perceived lack of resources and to enable aspiring
entrepreneurs to access information in an easy and convenient way, the
Foundation for Youth Social Entrepreneurship (FYSE) has compiled a
database of resources available for young aspiring entrepreneurs in Asia
Pacific. The information includes a list of courses, workshops and
trainings on entrepreneurship and available business plan competitions
in which young people can take part.
The aim of the database is to provide young people in Asia with a
one-stop source for young aspiring entrepreneurs to get all the
information they need to take the first steps towards becoming an
entrepreneurs and a source for organizations to attract aspiring
entrepreneurs to their programs. The database will be extended in the
coming months to include interviews, podcasts and videos with leading
entrepreneurs in Asia Pacific to provide knowledge and expertise to
young start-ups.
The Foundation for Youth Social Entrepreneurship (FYSE) is a regional
organization focusing on building an entrepreneurial environment for
young people in Asia. Our programs, the Paragon fellowship and the
annual Paragon conference, provide unique platforms to identify, nurture
and connect the most inspiring young social change leaders and
entrepreneurs in Asia to drive real change in their communities. The
Resources can be found at http://www.paragon100.asia Under “Resources”
or at http://bit.ly/6NJsxT
Japanese technical college students meet Thai counterparts in Sattahip
Thai and Japanese students
meet at Sattahip Technical College
for an international knowledge-exchange program.
Patcharapol Panrak
Students from Japan’s Nagano National College of Technology met
their Thai counterparts at Sattahip Technical College as part of that
school’s international knowledge-exchange program.
The Jan. 7 visit saw 50 Japanese students attend seminars and tours of
the production technology, electronics, instrumentation and control
technician and electronics technician programs. Sattahip school
officials said the exchange of ideas will improve learning techniques
and help the school obtain new technology.
Chainan Saengmaeka, director of Chonburi Technical College, also
observed the visit and said the information will help his school develop
its programs as well.
Christmas Party at Pattaya Orphanage
attracts hundreds of visitors
Staff reporter
For the children and helpers from Pattaya’s orphanage December
25 started very early in the morning. First stop was the Redemptorist
Center where they visited Father Lawrence Patin who after an unexpected
stay at a hospital in Issan had finally recovered and returned.
Accompanied by Father Michael and Radchada Chomjinda, the children
brought him flowers and performed a song for him.
 After
singing to Father Lawrence Patin (right), the children give him flowers
and a fruit basket.
After lunch and a nap the action started in the garden at the orphanage.
There were food stalls, and toys and slides had been provided to keep
the children entertained until the big party in the evening.
As always, “Toy” Chomjinda, heart and soul of the orphanage and director
of the Human Help Network’s Pattaya branch, seemed to be everywhere at
once and looked after everyone and everything.
At 6 p.m. the masses arrived to join the party and participate in the
lighting up of the Christmas tree. Guests of honor were Reiner “Calli”
Calmund, famous German sports journalist and soccer coach, Gerrit
Niehaus, owner of Thai Garden Resort, and his wife Anselm. Together with
friends they had built a soccer field on the grounds of the orphanage.
Richard Smith, president of Pattaya Expat Club, his wife Janet and
Pattaya Blatt’s Elfi Seitz were further guests of honor.
 (L
to R) Richard, Calli and Elfi light the Christmas tree.
Finally Calli, Elfi and Richard were called onto the stage to jointly
push the button that would light up the tree. Everyone that made a
donation and signed a list was awarded two lottery tickets for the
chance to win great prices. Two lucky children from the Development &
Protection Center won a TV and a microwave each.
But Father Michael, who played Santa Claus, made sure no-one went home
empty handed as he gave a gift to every single child.
Reiner Callmund also played Santa and presented the Child Protection and
Development Center with a cheque worth 10,000 euro, donated by himself
and Joey Kelly. This will finance the center’s fifth house, the “Calli
and Kelly House”.
Late in the evening visitors left with the memory of a beautiful
Christmas Day and smiling children.
(Photos: Pattaya Mail, Pattaya Orphanage and Heidi Glemeau)
Children sing Christmas
carols for Father Patin and guests.
(L to R) Radchada, Richard
and Calli enjoy the party.
(From right) Anselma and
Gerrit Niehaus together
with Radchada and the orphans.
Lit-up faces everywhere
following generous donations. “Calli” (middle) is happy.
|
