Warunya Thongrod
City officials hope more than 100 boys from
Pattaya-area schools will attend a three-day camp next month aimed at
boosting their self-esteem and teaching them to respect their parents in
hopes of keeping them away from drugs and danger.
Deputy Mayor Wutisak
Rermkitkarn listens intently as social workers explain the project.
The “Youths Far Away From Risk” project, which will
have up to 130 boys spend April 26-28 at the Sin Siam Hotel in Rayong.
The sixth-annual camp first begun for homeless and street children is
now targeting regular school boys with hopes of reducing aggressiveness
and youth violence.
Students from Pattaya’s 11 public schools, along with
Photisampan and Banglamung schools are eligible to join. The program
will attempt to teach the youths to better respect and love elders as
well as think about their long-term life plans.
At a March 12 planning meeting at city hall, Deputy
Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn was realistic about the camp’s lofty goals.
“I do not expect immediate results,” he said. “It’s
all on the children and how much they take from the training. The city
is just a catalyst for them to understand the importance of changing
themselves for their own and their families’ benefit.”
