An ESC worker prepares a base
coat before applying the final color.
Warunya Thongrod
During the great floods of 2011, a group of people from
the public and private sector came together to form the Pattaya Relief Group
whose mission was and is to help the people who suffered immeasurable losses
caused by natural disasters or other misfortunes.
In December 2011 as floods receded, Steve Graham, MD of
European Security Concepts (ESC) and head of the group said, “More aid and
assistance will be needed to return the inundated regions to normal. We have
initiated more fundraising efforts to help with the post flood cleaning and
renovation programs.”
Members of the Pattaya Relief
Group together with volunteers and their children at the center are all
smiles during the official handover. (l-r) Samran Naepong (ESC) Steve Graham
(MD ESC), William Macey (PSC), Pol. Lt. Col. Preecha Samrit, (5th left),
Peter Malhotra (4th right), Gudmund Eiksund, (3rd right) President Rotary
Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, Korn Kitja-amorn (2nd right) and Supang Samrit
(right) director of the ALSC.
During that period and the present many renovation
projects have been implemented bringing relief to hundreds of families in
the central plains of Thailand.
Another area of concern that many may have overlooked is
right here in Pattaya where regular flooding has also caused severe
hardships to our citizens. During heavy rainstorms many people living in the
low lying areas have also had to endure tremendous physical and mental
suffering as they saw their homes inundated.
One of the damaged homes was the Autistic Life Skills
Center in soi 46, off Sukhumvit Road.
Members of the Pattaya Relief Group, having visited the
home on May 2, decided that it was a worthwhile project and that immediate
assistance was necessary.
Within a matter of 2 weeks a team of workers was sent
into the centre to refurbish the entire premises. Construction was quickly
completed and with the Pattaya Relief Group’s funds the room was soon filled
with a new white board and tools for helping develop autistic children’s
muscular and physical skills, their communication abilities and memory
retention.
The old air conditioner was
expensive and inefficient, and needed to be replaced.
The repairs covered all the details, including new
toilets, air conditioning, fans and teaching materials. ESC welfare
coordinator Samran Naepong also delivered 10 cabinets to store all the new
items.
On May 21 the completed premises was officially handed
over to Supang Samrit, president of Autistics Life Skills Center and
Thailand Autistics Foundation, Pattaya branch.
In attendance were Steve Graham, MD of ESC, Gudmund
Eiksund, president of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, William Macey,
Charity Chairman of the Pattaya Sports Club and Peter Malhotra, MD of the
Pattaya Mail Media Group.
Supang was overjoyed and ever so grateful saying, “I
thank the Pattaya Relief Group from the bottom of my heart for helping
society and for helping renovate the center, making the children’s dreams
come true by giving them such a beautiful home. Now we will be able to
accept more children who need our help.”
ESC welfare coordinator Samran
Naepong assembles cabinets to store all the new items.
Patchamomt Tohmudbumrung, the mother of an autistic child
and volunteer at the center said, “I am extremely delighted to see that the
activities rooms have been refurbished by the benevolent Pattaya Relief
Group. This renovation is of utmost benefit to the children and I am happy
that my child and the other children here will get an opportunity for a
better education at their new home.”
The center was established in 2009 to help not only
parents understand and learn about how to care for their special children
but also to help train the children to develop skills and abilities so that
they can look after themselves as much as possible.
The Autistic Life Skills Center currently cares for eight
children, offering lessons in language, communication, social and mobility
skills.
The ‘Pattaya Relief Group’ has amongst its supporters the
Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation, Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya,
Pattaya Sports Club, Pattaya Mail Media Group, St Andrews International
School, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard and many more
who have contributed in cash or kind.
The Autistics Life Skills Center is located at 186/24 Moo
9 Nongprue Banglamung Chonburi 20150. Contact Supang Samrit, telephone
number 087-0253020, fax: 038-429120 email: dek:
[email protected]
The finished center is 100%
better now.
This young girl is already
learning new skills at the center.
A happy day for all when the
new air con arrives.
ESC welfare coordinator
Samran Naepong points out another area that could use some help to Supang
Samrit, president of the Autistics Life Skills Center and Thailand Autistics
Foundation, Pattaya branch.
