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A New Start
Derek Franklin
Schools, colleges and universities throughout the Kingdom
will be opening for a new school year in early May, and the Redemptorist
Vocational School for People with Disabilities recently welcomed eighty new
students.
Special prayers are made to ask for a blessing for a successful term.
From all over Thailand these young people with
disabilities have made the decision to leave the comforts of their families
and homes and spend two years studying in Pattaya. It can be a very nervous
time for many of the new students, so the current students welcome them all
at a special ceremony which takes place on the first day of term.
After forming two lines the old students applaud and
cheer the new students and shake their hands as they pass by. Special
prayers are made to ask for a blessing for a successful term, and the new
students all take an oath to promise to work hard, study hard and help
others who are less fortunate than themselves.
The new students all take an oath to promise to work
hard, study hard and help others who are less fortunate than themselves.
There are now two hundred and fifty students at the
school, all studying a variety of courses which will eventually give them
the skills and knowledge that will enable them to find employment; not the
menial jobs that no able bodied person would do but decent well paid work
that will make them independent and less of a burden on their families.
Leaving home, family and friends and re-entering education after many years
is a big decision, but one that they will not regret.
The Redemptorist Vocational School for People with Disabilities is one of
the projects managed by the Fr. Ray Foundation. For more information on
their work take a look at their website www.fr-ray.org or email
[email protected]
After forming two lines the old students applaud and cheer
the new
students and shake their hands as they pass by.
Ready for a bright new future.
It can be a very nervous time for many of the new students,
so the
current students welcome them all at a special ceremony
which takes place on
the first day of term.
From all over Thailand, young people with disabilities
have made the
decision to leave the comforts of their
families and homes and spend two
years studying in Pattaya.
Children saving lives
Derek Franklin
It is estimated that seven children under the age of
eighteen die by drowning each day in Thailand. That’s more than two
thousand five hundred deaths each year, the majority of which could have
been prevented if the victim had received swimming lessons at an early
age.
Young Jack rescues two damsels in distress.
Earlier this year the students at the Fr. Ray Day
Care Center started swimming classes after one of their classmates
tragically drowned, and during the long summer holidays the younger
residents from the Fr. Ray Children’s Home are receiving not just
swimming lessons but also skills which one day may save their own lives
or help save others.
Members from the Thai Life Saving Society are making
sure that the children, some as young as five, are confident in the
water and that they are aware of the dangers that can occur. The
children are learning to recognize the signs of someone in danger, the
proper use of life-belts and floats, and how to make their own floats by
using plastic bottles half filled with water. They are made aware of not
putting themselves in danger or at risk and the importance of getting
help and assistance.
The lessons are fun as well as informative.
Of the total number of under eighteen year olds who
drown in Thailand, half of them are under the age of four. Many families
do not have the finances to send their child to swimming lessons, or
there may not be available facilities, but if schools and local
authorities do what the Fr. Ray Foundation is doing and train children
to swim and teach them life saving skills this can only be for the
benefit of society and will hopefully save more young lives.
For can find more information on the work of the Fr. Ray Foundation
on their website www.fr-ray.org or email them at
[email protected]
Almost there...
Swimming to safety.
Asian University’s Summer Camp Two draws to a close
The second 2010 Asian University Summer Camp is almost over now,
and some of the campers have written about their experiences
Deputy Director Rob with teacher assistants.
Mr. Chawit (Toh),
Ms. Sirapat (Aun) and Ms. Jirawan (Aeiy)
We’re campers in English summer camp at Asian
University. Our names are Toh, Aeiy and Aun. We came here because we
want to practice our English language, meet new friends and live with
new people which has made us adapt our behavior. In this summer camp, we
learn and do many activities together from Monday to Friday. On Saturday
night we have parties and dress up ourselves for theme parties and we
have a lot of fun. On Sundays we go outside to visit many places.
Teacher Assistant, Jaiko, leads the youngsters round the zoo.
Last weekend, we had fun and went to Khao Kheow Open
Zoo. We saw many kinds of animal. It was fantastic! Then we went to
Lotus in South Pattaya in the afternoon. We went with our friends and
bought things that we needed together. We had a great time at camp and
we won’t forget everyone!
Mr. Vachirawit
(Gun),
Mr. Thanapat (Gun) and Ms. Benjaporn (Mai)
We heard the news about the Summer Camp at Asian
University so we thought that it is a good idea to spend our summer to
practice English, make new friends, learn to manage our lives. The
things we like about the camp are the classrooms, friends, teachers and
more. There are a lot of activities such as sports, cooking, dancing,
arts. On Sundays we have an excursion, we went to Jomtien Beach, Khao
Kheow Open Zoo and the department store. On weekdays we have English,
Math, and IT classes and sometimes we have a movie night to learn
English. On Saturday night we have a party. We have to dress up
ourselves by the theme, so we enjoyed about dress up and party so much.
Last week we went to Khao Kheow Open Zoo. We learn
more about the animal so we take the tour car to see all of the animals.
We can touch the snake and two baby bearcats. Then we went to Tesco
Lotus to buy useful things. Two weekends ago we went to Jomtien Beach,
we cleaned the rubbish off the beach and some campers swam in the sea.
After that, we went to Central Festival to buy things. We all had a good
time together.
We get a lot of English skills in speaking, reading
and writing. We’ve made new friends and new experiences. We will never
forget this camp!
The campers (AUSCAMP community) are keeping in touch
with their new friends through this forum:
http://www.auscamp.net/forum/
Gun, Ham, Poy, Oat, Titi, Smile, Gun, Rock,
Tony and Shiv; campers at Khao Kheow.
Hungry campers set off for lunch.
Garden International School welcomes the
Camillian Center for their annual Songkran visit
Doug Lynch, CAS
Coordinator
On Friday, April 30, Garden International School
welcomed 36 children from the Camillian Center for their annual Songkran
visit.
Natasha and Dear are all smiles.
For over 10 years, GIS has invited the Camillian
Center children to spend the afternoon with our students and then
present them with their individual ‘Songkran box’. Each box is filled
with items such as toys, clothes and personal items donated by every
student and staff member at GIS.
During the afternoon, some older children played
football; while others watched DVD’s or played UNO. In the Primary
building there was painting, drawing and many other fun activities to
keep the children busy.
As the afternoon came to an end, the children were
presented with their boxes and gathered for a group photo. Everyone at
GIS would like to thank the Camillian Center for taking the time to
visit us. We look forward to seeing them again real soon!
Some GIS students learn some new football moves.
Sitting around checking out the goodies.
Some Year 4 girls make a new friend.
A few Year 4 boys pose for the camera.
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