WWM fish project comes full circle
 Kylie
Grimmer
The harvest of catfish (Pla Duk) is underway in Sattahip
for the disabled and Women With a Mission (WWM). WWM started working in
Sattahip with the disabled families in October 2009. As we approach our 1
year anniversary for the project, we have enrolled 21 families with the
support we have received from the community. We will soon be in our second
harvest.
WWM and Seaton Foundation started with seven families in
the Sattahip area. All of the families are very poor and have a disabled
person to care for. In the past three months, we have added eight more
families with the support of the Regents School and PSC. The students and
teachers from Regent’s joined us to help build the ponds. What a day!
The
students and teachers from Regent’s joined us to help build the ponds. What
a day!
As WWM continues to facilitate this project we will
provide training and monitor the families’ progress. The families are
learning how to be catfish growers and entrepreneurs, providing a means of
support for their families.
In June 2010, we added eight more families to the program
in Nong Prue, with the support of PILC and even more students from Regents
School. Families included, we’ve learnt together how important it is to buy
your fish from a reputable supplier and that fish do not eat as much in the
colder weather! The training includes how to build ponds and ensuring their
fish develop healthy.
As WWM
continues to facilitate this project we will provide training
and monitor the families’ progress.
The second round of fish are now being marketed with the
sale of fish to local markets in Sattahip and back into the Father Ray
Foundation, as many of the disabled persons were introduced to WWM by the
Foundation itself. We are very happy that this project’s efforts have now
come full circle. With the money raised by the sale of fish we’ve taught the
families to build and care for the fish ponds and are enabling them to
become self-sufficient.
The
training includes how to build ponds
and ensuring their fish develop healthy.
In October WWM will work with the Round Square Program of
Regents School to show the visiting international students how the program
works with the view they will also do similar projects in their countries.
WWM can continue our work with the disabled and projects
in northern Thailand; assisting children with food and shelter, with the
help of local sponsors and fundraising efforts and we continue to need your
help! WWM’s annual fundraiser in Thailand will be our 2nd Annual Charity
Golf Tournament on October 29th, 2010.
Contact WWM on [email protected] or Rosanne at [email protected] to
sign your team of four up now! B2,500 per individual golfer, shotgun start
from 12:30pm on Friday 29 October 2010. Visit www.mywwm.org for more WWM
info!
The
families are learning how to be catfish growers and entrepreneurs,
providing a means of support for their families.
Prepare now for U.S. November elections
J.C. Phillps
Last week I wrote about how important it is for Americans
living in Thailand to register now, just to get your ballot for the November
elections.
This week, I visited the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, and we
talked about the cutoff dates that some states have for U.S. citizens living
abroad. Their response was that you should act immediately if you hold a U.S.
passport and want to exercise your right as a citizen and vote!
Here’s the reason: Each state has a cut off “received date”
for overseas citizens to send in their ballot, and some states require you to
request a ballot before it will be mailed to you. Here are some examples of
states with cutoff dates: Nevada and South Carolina, Oct. 2; Alaska and
Mississippi, Oct. 3; Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, DC, Kentucky, Louisiana, Indiana,
Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wyoming, Oct. 4.
So, if you have a U.S. passport, or know someone who may not
be aware of this, please pass the word.
One thing that was pointed out by U.S. Embassy staff is that
every state, by law, must have a website with an e-mail address where you can
write and request a ballot. However, not every state has complied with this,
and, of course, not everyone uses a computer (i.e., not everyone uses email).
Also, you have to consider the time it takes for the mail to reach you in
Thailand from the U.S., as well as for your ballot to arrive in the U.S. from
Thailand.
The American Embassy has made available forms for Federal
Write-In Absentee Ballots, Absentee Ballot Requests, and Voter’s Declaration /
Affirmation, and they will be available at the Markland Hotel on Soi 1, Beach
Road in Pattaya later this week. So, if you need help, or have any questions
concerning overseas voting or registering to vote by e-mail, please write to Jim
Phillips, [email protected], or e-mail directly to the U.S. Embassy: Kerry or Jim
at “American Citizen Services” [email protected]. Please mention “U.S. Overseas
Ballot Request.”
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