HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

80 street children receive goodies from Rotary

The 4 Lions Clubs in Pattaya celebrate "changing of the guard"

Gourmand or Gourmet?

From Russia with Jazz

ISE Seniors Graduate!

107 - A record number for 2002

80 street children receive goodies from Rotary

Ribbon cutting ceremony: (from left) Martin A.C. Brands, Assistant District Governor of Rotary District 3340; Henny Vermey; Alvi Sinthuvanik, President of Rotary Club Jomtien-Pattaya; Fr. Ray Brennan and Sampan Akkalapongpanit, Director of the Redemptorist Street Kids Home.

The Redemptorist Street Kids Home provides a safe refuge to some 60 boys and 20 girls. These children, some as young as five, come from a variety of very sad and disturbing backgrounds. As Father Ray Brennan puts it, “Every child that comes to us represents a precious victory over what society has done to them before.” The Home is one of the many activities for the poor carried out with great dedication and success by the Redemptorists and their many helpers in Pattaya.

One of the organizations helping them is Rotary. The three Rotary Clubs in Pattaya have all contributed over the years. Recently it was the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya carrying out a 750,000 baht international project which was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Wallasey, Merseyside, UK and the Rotary Foundation. Additional financial contributions were received from Rotarian Marlies Fritz and her friends of Tropic Restaurant.

Father Ray Brennan with his children at the Pattaya Orphanage.

The project gave the Home a playground for basketball, volleyball, and takraw, 64 large, especially adapted steel individual storage units for the boys, 19 large steel cabinets & cupboards, mattresses, sheets, pillows & pillow covers, a fire escape for the boys’ dormitory, 2 heavy-duty washing machines, and furniture for the new library. While the large playground provides plenty of opportunities for team sports for all the children, the new individual storage units are highly appreciated by the boys as each unit is the only really private space available to them. They will not only be used to store their clothes, but also the few other private possessions, such as toys and anything else a kid likes to collect. Let’s hope this will not include frogs and other animals!

Last, but certainly not least as far as the children were concerned, the project included a personal gift of their own choice with a value of 500 baht. The boys used this mainly for football shoes and remote control cars, and the girls mostly for a variety of dolls. These gifts, and those for the Home’s 14 caretakers and management, were handed out by Rotarians during a “Thank You Party” organised last Friday. Two roasted pigs for this event were kindly donated by Ad Simons, and other food & drinks by the always generous Past Rotary District Governor Premprecha Dibbayawan, his brother Steve, and his assistant Khun Rin. This included such generous helpings of ice cream that many kids hardly touched any of the other food!

Kids perform a Thank-you dance on stage.

The initiator of this very rewarding project was George Tomlinson. He ensured the vital support of the Rotary Club of Wallasey in England. Rotarian Henny Vermey, community service director of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, carried out most of the work for this project, which took around 5 months of nearly daily visits to the Home. Not a burden at all, as the contacts with the children and the staff were always a joy. As Henny says, “Being able to help these kids is one of the best experiences of my life. The Home’s staff, especially Director Khun Samphan Arrapongpanich, and Manager Khun Chah, deserve great respect & gratitude for what they do for these children, often under difficult circumstances.”

The party, attended by the 80 children, Father Ray, and some 20 Rotarians and guests, was a great success. The kids performed some wonderful & endearing shows to thank their benefactors. In his words of thanks to Rotary, Father Ray mentioned that the children were all anxiously awaiting their personal presents, telling him over & over again what they had chosen. “When I asked them what my present would be, they thought hard and replied, ‘Father Ray, we are your present, the greatest gift of all!’”

More than anything else, this sums up the purpose & reward of the great works of charity so professionally carried out every single day by Father Ray and his outstanding team. Thank you, Rotary Club of Wallasey and the Rotary Foundation for helping to make this happen! It was a great honour and privilege for the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya to contribute to these efforts! Once again it proved that in works of charity there are always two winners: those we help, and those who help!

The 4 Lions Clubs in Pattaya celebrate "changing of the guard"

The swearing in ceremony of the directors of all the four Lions Clubs.

Lions Clubs in Pattaya celebrated the changing of the guard in a grand affair at the Asia Hotel last weekend. The Lions Club’s of Pattaya, Pratamnak, Pattaya Naklua and the new cub on the block, the Lions Club of Jomtien Pattaya gathered to bid a fond thank you to the outgoing presidents and welcome in new blood for the following 2002-2003 Lions Year. The occasion was particularly special for recently formed Lions Club of Jomtien Pattaya as it is their charter year, as they have been officially recognized by Lions International.

The mayor of Pattaya Pairat Suthithamrong- sawat congratulates the newly installed presidents.

Members from other local charity organizations and the private sector along with special guests Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat and past president of Lions International, Kajit Habanananda and Lions district governor’s for district 310 C Naris Pethcharat, district governor 2001-2002 joined the evening’s celebrations.

After a parade, Lion Naris welcomed the new addition to the Lion Clubs in the region, Lions Club Jomtien Pattaya, chartering the new club in a traditional ceremony.

Past Lions International president, Captain Kajit Habanananda delivers the keynote speech.

District governor for Lions District 310C for 2002-2003, Lion Somsak Lohwisut presented each of the new presidents with the official pins for the upcoming year, with Wiwat Pattanasin taking over the reigns of the Lions Club of Pattaya, Navarat Khakhai heading up the Lions Club of Pratamnak, Pramote Pattanasin in the top spot of the Lions Club Pattaya Naklua and Paul Davies head of the pride for the newly chartered Lions Club Jomtien Pattaya.

Outgoing president of Lions Club of Phratamnak Lamai Piewthong (L) congratulates the new president Navarat Khakhai (R).

Past World President Kajit welcomed the presidents and committee members of the four clubs before presenting flowers and gifts to the outgoing management.

Naris Petcharat (R), immediate past governor of District 310C and a visiting Lion from Japan flank newly installed president of the Lions Club of Phratamnak Navarat Khakhai.

 

Naris Petcharat (R), immediate past governor of District 310C congratulates Paul Davies, the new president of Lions Club of Jomtien-Pattaya.

The newly installed presidents of the 4 Lions Clubs.

Students from Pattaya School No. 5 performed traditional Thai cultural shows.

Lions International in Thailand has a long history of working for the community, assisting those less fortunate. With the motto, ‘We Serve’ Lions International currently has over 44,500 members in 185 countries around the globe serving their communities helping to make a better life for all with a number of major projects underway, including the Sight First program, providing assistance to aurally impaired, promoting education, providing and promoting a better community, preserving nature and the environment, public health projects including promoting drug prevention and diabetes awareness programs and promoting international relations.

Gourmand or Gourmet?

Ever wondered just what the members of ancient gastronomic associations actually eat for lunch? Do you know the difference between a gourmand and a gourmet? Would you like to see just what this “camaraderie of the table” is all about? Well, if you have the slightest interest in your taste buds you are being offered a chance to experience fine dining at an open Chaine des Rotisseurs Brunch on Sunday 23rd June commencing at 11 a.m.

The Chaine des Rotisseurs can be traced back to 1248 AD when the Royal Guild of Rôtisseurs “Les Ayeurs” was founded under Saint Louis, King of France. It was granted a Royal Charter and a Coat of Arms in 1610. The object of the Guild was to perpetuate the standards of quality befitting the Royal Table. Today the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs and its branch, the Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs is present in 120 countries, with 90,000 members. It creates a bond of friendship across professions, cultures and boundaries, giving special attention to maintaining the art of the cuisine and supporting the young professionals.

The activities of the Chaîne des Rotisseurs are not limited to dining in the “grand manner”. There are less formal meals, picnics and barbecues and the forthcoming brunch is one of these occasions. The programs vary, depending upon local resources and interests, but events across the world have included celebrations of the New Year (traditional and Chinese), Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, April Fool’s Day, the Fourth of July, Bastille Day, and theme parties such as the Roaring Twenties. Tastings, demonstrations, and educational seminars are also offered by many Chaine groups. These have included caviar sampling, salmon slicing, coffee and tea appraisals, and many sorts of wine presentations.

The forthcoming Chaine Brunch is being held at Casa Pascal (Pattaya 2 Road) and costs only 990 baht including some house champagne, but places are strictly limited. Bookings must be confirmed by June 19th, so you are advised to contact Pascal himself to reserve your seat (038 723 660). And no, you do not have to be a member; an interest in fine dining will be sufficient. This is a limited offer, so an early reservation will be required.

Just to keep your taste buds primed, here are some of the items that will be offered at this special Chaine des Rotisseurs event. Air-expressed Oysters from Australia, Rock Lobsters, River Prawns, Crab Legs, Marinated Mussels, Salmon and Tuna Sashimi, Smoked Salmon and Grave Laaks as well as hot buffet items, some Thai food, pasta and eggs cooked to your order, flambé items, pancakes and pastries.

From Russia with Jazz

A successful re-launch of the Jazz Pit

While many may not instantly recognize the name Ramil Medyarov, they will however recognize the wide smile and musical enthusiasm which emanates from this Russian keyboards player. Originally classically trained, Ramil advanced into Jazz as he advanced into the free world from his native land. That advancement has now taken him to the Jazz Pit on Soi 5, where he is the entertainment director and resident pianist.

General Nippon Paranidh (center) is joined by Dr. Sunya Viravaidya (right) and Ramil Medyarov (left) for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

The newly re-launched venue on Soi 5 is the brain child of Dr. Sunya Viravaidya, the Director of Pattaya International Hospital.

During his opening speech, Dr. Sunya welcomed everyone and introduced Ramil to the bustling crowd. He spoke of Ramil and his talents as pianist adding, “By opening this jazz center, I hope the rest of Pattaya will follow and a lot of other places in Pattaya will play jazz music.”

After which, he also introduced special guest deputy commander in chief of the Royal Thai Army, General Nippon Paranidh who performed the traditional ribbon cutting ceremony. The formalities out the way, the large group of visitors scrambled up the stairs of the Thai Sala style house where they were welcomed by the lovely hostesses for the evening. Once inside Dr. Sunya introduced the first piece of the evening written by His Majesty the King, saying that His majesty has a great history in jazz circles.

Ramil twinkled the ivories of his synthesizer keyboard and was joined by two of his close friends to accompany him, Hans Kallen on drums, who also played with Ramil in the East Coast days and his friend and teacher on a very special visit Marat Yuldybaev on saxophone from Russia.

Ramil Medyarov, Marat Yuldybaev and Hans Kallen in full swing.

The trio slipped right into the first number, inspiring the crowd to get into the swing of the evening. While the drinks flowed the sounds of jazz filled the softly lit sala creating a pure fusion of swing and ambience.

The PIC Kitchen provided a Thai buffet style dinner for guests who worked up an appetite; even Governor Chadej Insawang appeared to relax in the cool atmosphere while engaging in conversation with Dr. Sunya, General Nippon and other VIPs.

The music played on well into the night and the wine flowed for as long as everyone was willing to partake of the opening night hospitality. The ‘new’ Jazz Pit, located on Pattaya Second Road, Soi 5 behind the Pattaya International Hospital, is a welcome newcomer on the Pattaya entertainment scene for those who love music. Ramil plays nightly from Thursday to Monday.

ISE Seniors Graduate!

There is always a step in life when people leave one chapter of their lives and go on to another. The senior class of the International School Eastern Seaboard took one of those steps last Thursday evening when the seven members graduated from High School.

Its picture time! Smile for the camera!

The ceremony took place at the Marriott Royal Garden Resort in the evening and was a venue for all the parents, teachers and friends of the graduating students. While the graduates marched onto stage to music from the ISE Wind Band, one could already see the delight, and sadness, in some of the parents’ eyes. The graduates gave their speeches, profoundly thanking their parents, God and their friends and teachers. Many people wept quietly as the words were all very touching and heartfelt.

As the diplomas were handed out cameras flashed to capture each graduate’s end to a beautiful High School experience. After the ceremony, more pictures were taken, the graduates were congratulated, hugged and kissed and everybody wore a smile.

The graduates and ISE incoming superintendent, outgoing superintendent and counselor pose for a picture. Back row (l to r): Mr. Bruce Hobart (incoming superintendent), Ms. Joan Fedoruk (ISE Counselor), Jack Lin, Kwang Soo Hong, Yi Hao Ching, Michael Tang, Dr. Stuart Young (outgoing superintendent). Front Row (l to r): Teurn Chaichit, Daisy Vogt, Chie Shizuma.

The graduates of ISE will be heading in different directions; however, many have decided to stay in Thailand to continue their studies. Yi Hao, Jack, Kwang Soo and Daisy have already started attending ABAC (Assumption University) in Bangkok and will be studying for their respective majors in the faculty of BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration). Chie will be returning to Japan in order to begin studying for the Japanese University entrance exams before she takes the tests. Teurn will start at a University in Bangkok in the fall in order to become a children’s doctor, and Michael will be returning to the United States to study Computer Science at Cornell University in New York.

The graduates listen closely to each other’s speeches.

All the graduates are going on towards a new experience in life, and will definitely miss each other’s company as well as their old school for which all have been going to for at least 3 years. However, the past is never forgotten and this group will without doubt never be forgotten by the school or by each other.

107 - A record number for 2002

This is not a cricket score, nor is it a record Fahrenheit temperature; it is a record of a different type. It represents the largest number of adolescent girls (107), from among hundreds of disadvantaged young people from the north and north-eastern regions of Thailand, ever selected for the ongoing Youth Career Development Program- me (YCDP). This latest intake was presented at a most impressive ceremony held at the Pan Pacific Hotel, Bangkok, recently.

William Sayce, general manager of the Pan Pacific Hotel, welcomes the participating supporters, guests and recruits to the 2002 intake.

Pioneered in 1995 by the Pan Pacific Hotel in Bangkok and supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), this unique programme has developed from a few hotels back seven years ago, taking on some trainees, to 14 hotels taking in 67 young people as trainees in 2000, rising to 18 hotels taking in 100 last year. Now, this year, with a 107 girls selected for training, 19 of Bangkok’s leading hotels supporting the scheme, the Bumrungrad Hospital increasing its trainee nurse programme from three months to a full nine-month intake and, for the first time, a financial institute, the Standard Chartered Nakornthon Bank joining the venture, the 2002 YCDP does, indeed, present an avenue of hope and a promising future for this group.

Dr Gamini Abeyseke- ra, UNICEF representative, extols the virtues of the training programme.

Children to the fore

The market for these new recruits will be enormous, if recent events in the tourism sector are to be taken as an indication. For example, the programme is also related - albeit indirectly - to the Royal Thai Government’s determination to upgrade the tourism sector, in accordance with Khun Juthamas Siriwan, deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s pledge to raise the number of tourists to the Kingdom to 15 million by the end of 2003. Although it took 14 years to reach last year’s record intake of 10 million, starting with “Visit Thailand Year, 1987”, nevertheless this new goal IS attainable and, of course, the hotel and tourism sector will be the key proponents in attaining this target.

UNICEF Youth Envoy Kathaleeya McIntosh exhorts the young girls to go forward to the challenges and adventure of a new life. Furthermore, at the March International Tourism Bourse in Berlin, Pattaya was re-launched and, led by HRH Princess Ubol- ratana, with the full support of the Pattaya public and private sectors (reported at length in the Pattaya Mail, Vol. IX, #15, 12 April, 2002), our fair “City-by-the-Sea” is set for a “risorgi- mento”, opening an even wider avenue for the young, pretty and highly-skilled staff, graduating from this new programme.

Ichigo Umehara, president of Pan Pacific Hotels, up from Singapore to underwrite the Pan Pacific’s full support for a programme which he personally finds “most admirable”.

Interestingly enough, also in May, the first-ever United Nations General Assembly’s Special Session on Children gave a cross-section of the world’s children a chance to be heard - and seen! Three young Thai delegates were among the thousands who attended as representatives of many of the world body’s 191 member states. However, one can only postulate just how much was achieved for the world’s children after the final report was converted into UN bureaucratese, whereby - as always happens at any world forum - each participating country makes certain that their government’s own interests are intact - through language. In any event, unlike a treaty, such a document is not binding upon any individual country.

As an example, the working document for the assembly prepared by a committee titled, “A World fit for Children”, reiterated “the promises that world leaders and governments are making about children’s’ rights for the next decade.” Interestingly enough, a “child-friendly version” of this mammoth text, explaining some of the bureau- cratic jargon in relatively easily-digestible terms for young people, itself ran to 44 single-spaced A-4 pages: merely a “summary” of the official assembly document.

On the other hand, witnessing the type of positive application which took place in Bangkok recently, one has a certitude that something tangible and concrete is being done for children - especially the poor, disadvantaged and at-risk groups.

UNICEF joins forces with the private sector

Mr William Sayce, general manager of the Pan Pacific Hotel, is an ardent advocate of this programme which not only acts as a preventative strategy against the exploitation of children and youth, but also - and equally importantly - it imbues these young people with skills in the hotel, tourism and related industries and, for some, skilled training as nurses. It does guarantee all of them a future of gainful employment, upholds their dignity as people and reinforces their own feelings of self-worth.

Mr Kevin Beauvais, general manager of the J.W. Marriott, addressed the big gathering as chairman of the Youth Career Council, comprising Mr Sayce and Mr Richard Chapman, general manager of the Sheraton Grande, who noted the enthusiasm all the hoteliers had for the continuing development and expansion of the scheme - and the benefits to the hotel industry and tourism generally.

Kathaleeya McIntosh, UNICEF Thailand Envoy for Youth spoke in the most encouraging terms to the 107 new recruits, many of whom smiled and fidgeted a little nervously, with their innocent faces shining with pride.

The gathering was honoured by the presence of Mr Ichigo Umehara, president of the Pan Pacific Hotels, who had come up from Singapore to show the hotels’ ongoing support for “this marvellous scheme”. Mr Ichigo, a little mesmerized by the beauty of Ms Kathaleeya and visibly moved by the array of lovely young adolescents who were about to embark on life-enhancing careers, looked to a long future of such assistance.

Group picture of all concerned: a most animated occasion for the big crowd which attended this, the eighth intake of hotel trainees.

Safina Komoltamaetee, head of corporate affairs, was equally delighted that her bank, the Standard Chartered Nakom- thorn Bank, saw the extreme benefit to young Thai girls of the Youth Career Development Programme, guaranteeing a future for some lovely young Thai girls - and, by extension - a new direction for Thai society as a whole. The selected girls, disadvantaged by poverty and, thus, vulnerable to exploitation, drug abuse and prostitution, from which the only way forward is downwards, undertake a five-month course provided by the participating hotels, which trains them in a wide variety of facets of the hospitality industry: house-keeping, laundry, flower-arranging, food and beverage services; in fact, the whole gamut of the hotel and tourism business. Added to this more practical training is a range of the vitally important “life-coping” skills, including sex education, the study of the insidious dangers of HIV/AIDS, job interviewing skills, child rights and child protection awareness programmes.

Since its inception seven years ago, more than 50 percent of the total of some 350 graduates of the scheme have been absorbed into full-time employment in the hotels which sponsored them and the remainder work in related fields, are employed as teachers in day-care centres, or work in hospitals. Mr Sayce was justifiably proud of all the graduates, naming one in particular who had become so adept that she quickly rose to a responsible supervisory position at the Pan Pacific. At the Bumrungrad Hospital, too, one trainee nurse became so proficient that she is now assigned to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), one of the hospital’s most demanding and frequently used services.

UNICEF people with supporters of the programme.

UNICEF representative

for Thailand, Dr. Gamini Abeyse- kera, again reiterated UNICEF’s strong support for this scheme, saving hundreds of adolescents from a grim road to a life of virtual slavery. “The collaboration between the hotel industry, the Royal Thai Government and UNICEF has brought about very positive results,” he informed the gathering. It is not just the number of young women who benefit, but the YCDP overall is a means of improving the quality and security of life for all youth.

“The public and private sector partnership support for the programme is very much in line with the Ninth National Development Plan and the economic and social policies of the Royal Thai Government,” Dr Gamini pointed out. The United Nations, particularly UNICEF, looks to leadership and partnership of the private sector, he added, noting that “all participating hotels (and the business community) are not just giving funds for charity, but through the YCDP are demonstrating their great sense of responsibility and commitment to social causes - in this specific instance, elevating young persons who have been excluded from mainstream society and allowing them to earn a livelihood and develop life-coping skills.”

The following leading Bang- kok hotels are supporting YCDP: Grand Hyatt Erawan, Grand Pacific, Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, J.W. Marriott, Merchant Court, Novotel Bangna, Novotel Lotus, No- votel Siam Square, Pan Pacific, Pathumwan Princess, Penisular Bangkok, Regent, Royal Orchid Sheraton, Shangri-La, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, Siam Inter-Continental, Sofitel Central Plaza, Sukhothai and the Westin Banyan Tree. Partner in the health sector again is the Bumrungrad Hospital and, now, from the finance sector, the Standard Chartered Nakornthon Bank has joined the scheme for the first time.

The expansion and replication of the YCPD integrated model of livelihood/life-skills/child rights awareness is being undertaken by both the Government Skills Development De- part ment for training nationwide in the services sector and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), such as the Royal Project Foundation, providing agriculture training for hill-tribe youth in five northern provinces. Furthermore, the Bio-Technology and Genetic Engi- neering Centre, Ministry of Science also has joined the scheme by providing training in tissue culture and other areas of agro-industry, for at-risk adolescent girls.

The YCDP is a tangible pro- ject, yet, still a vast number of adolescent girls and young women are in need of and awaiting good quality skills training. Who knows, this most positive programme in Thailand may yet galvanize the United Nations General Assembly into action, to translate their lofty words into pragmatic programmes for the millions of disaffected and disadvantaged children around the world. We, in Thailand, can be very proud of our efforts to implement this.

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