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Bridge Club Thailand youths host lunch
for 200 underprivileged kids
The
youngsters learn teamwork during the tug-o-war event.
Phasakorn Channgam
The Bridge Club of Thailand hosted lunch for more than
200 orphans and underprivileged youths from the Child Protection and
Development Center.
The May 1 event saw kids and family members enjoy not
only a meal, but also games of football and tug of war, plus foot races.
Afterward, club members donated books and magazines to the centers Education
Center. Parents did their part by donating what food they could.
Bridge Club Thailand was launched in 1988 by the Ministry
of Social Development and Human Security and today has children and teen
members from around the country. The club not only works to better the lives
of members, but is registered as a charity organization with the
Asia-Pacific Children’s Convention in Japan.
Following the mission of the APCC, which has members from
15 countries, the Thai club members are taught the significance of living
together harmoniously with the understanding these young people will become
Thailand’s leaders of tomorrow.
Following their luncheon, the bridge club members went to Burapha
University for a similar event.
Who’s
the fastest?
Trying
to be the first one finished in the eating competition.
Bridge
Club members and youngsters from the Child Protection and Development Center
pose for a commemorative photo.
The
Bridge Club of Thailand treats the orphans to lunch.
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Students from St Andrews School participate in Model United Nations conference in Doha, Qatar
This
year’s participants for the Model United Nations conference: Jasmine, Misty,
Mr Wrightson, Marshall, Toby and Calvin.
Neil Wrightson, Head of
Secondary, St Andrews International School
For the past 5 years students from St. Andrews
International School, Green Valley have participated in the Georgetown
University Model United Nations Conference in Doha, Qatar. This year over
350 students took part in the conference as a whole, from 60 different
schools in over 30 countries.
The Model United Nations is a student-run simulation of
the United Nations, where students take on the roles of foreign diplomats to
learn about international politics and diplomacy. Participants are required
to research the country they will represent at the conference, along with
specific topics related to the student’s individual committee.
As the only school from Thailand, our students have done
an excellent job representing a number of other countries in the past.
Typically each MUN committee discusses two or three topics in an order
determined during the committee’s first meeting. All delegates are expected
to be thoroughly familiar with each topic and use their work in the school’s
MUN club as a starting point for their work at the actual conference. The
idea is that by working with others from a wide range of diverse schools and
countries, major world issues can be addressed and resolutions can then be
written for debate at the conference. Just as at the real United Nations,
the resolutions are debated, amended as appropriate and then voted upon.
We were delighted that a team of 5 students from Years 11
and 12 returned to Doha this year and they represented Libya as their
country. At the time, little did they know how future events would unfold
for their country! Topics under discussion were wide ranging and included:
Migrant workers in the Middle East, The Gaza flotilla crisis, the situation
in Sudan, Refugees and displaced persons in Africa, Water use and
management, the response to the BP oil spill, Piracy and the Korean warships
crisis.
The students undertook a huge amount of work during the
conference and their skills in debating and thinking on their feet were
extended a great deal. The days were long and one committee was roused at
midnight to solve a crisis simulation. In the future we hope to join MUN
conferences a little closer to home, so that more students have the
opportunity to attend.
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Not Strictly Ballroom
Visiting students from the UK meet one of the dancers.
Derek Franklin
As the long school holidays are coming to an end,
many local children are getting bored, ready to return to class and get
on with their study. To break the boredom, children from many local
charitable organisations were recently treated to a wonderful
performance at Alcazar Theatre.
The Ballroom Dance Company from Utah in the United
States is traveling through South East Asia performing their award
winning show, and they were in Pattaya for just one performance.
The Father Ray Foundation was asked to assist in
organizing the event, and residents from the Father Ray Children’s Home,
Father Ray Children’s Village and the Father Ray Drop-In Center joined
students from the Father Ray Center for Children with Special Needs for
ninety minutes of the best dancing they had ever seen.
Residents from the Pattaya Orphanage, Baan Jing Jai,
as well as youngsters from Fountain of Life, also arrived to watch, and
the audience shouted their approval and clapped loudly after each
routine.
The dancers, all members of the Church of Latter Day
Saints, have won the national United States Championship for the past
three years, and they certainly showed Pattaya why they are winners.
From waltzes to the latest hip hop moves the children
were enthralled by the show. They gave their loudest cheer when the
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles tumbled onto stage and gave a stunning
performance, and once the show was over the children rushed the stage,
all hoping to get a photo taken with the dancers.
Children and workers from the Pattaya Orphanage were very excited to
meet the handsome dancers.
All
the boys agreed the dancers were very beautiful.
Meeting a real life Ninja Turtle.
Residents from the Fr. Ray Children’s Village meet Corny Collins.
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Musical evening at Mulligans Lakeside
aids Father Ray Foundation
Award winning brass player, Clarence Mansell, performed several tunes.
Derek Franklin
The Regents School recently hosted a musical evening
at Mulligans Lakeside Bar overlooking Mabprachan Lake, all in aid of one
of its community partners, the Father Ray Foundation.
The Regents School has a very large music department,
and several teachers agreed to perform. The evening started with two
teachers, Karen Partyka and Phil Larkin, taking to the stage. This was
followed by one of the highlights of the evening when award winning
brass player from the UK, Clarence Mansell, performed tunes on both the
trumpet and flugelhorn.
Top of the bill was the popular and well known singer
Conn O’Neill, originally from Northern Ireland but now resident in New
Zealand, and the audience sat in silence as he performed a selection of
acoustic songs.
Top
of the bill Conn O’Neill performs a selection of beautiful songs.
The aim of the evening’s event was to raise funds for
a new sports court at the Father Ray Children’s Village. This will
provide the young residents of the Village a space where they can play a
variety of sports including soccer, volleyball, basketball and takraw.
Entrance fees on the door raised 13,600 baht and the
raffle, which included a 2000 baht dinner voucher at the Mata Hari
Restaurant, raised a further 12,285 baht.
The Father Ray Foundation has received much needed
support from the Regents School, with much of the hard work done by
teachers Paul Crouch and Steve Tomlinson.
More information can be found at www.fr-ray.org or
email [email protected].
Conn O’Neill’s 2008 album ‘The Fishermans Tale’ is available on
iTunes.
Regents School teachers, Karen Partyka and Phil Larkin open the
evening’s performances.
This
lucky lady won a 2000 baht for dinner at Mata Hari Restaurant.
Teaching staff relax for the evening and enjoy the show.
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