Every day of Man’s short life he has been carried by his father. For eighteen years his father has carried him to the bathroom, carried him to school, carried him when the family went to eat and recently he carried him to the Redemptorist Vocational School for People with Disabilities to register for the new school year.
He came to enroll at the vocational school here in Pattaya as he no longer wants to be a burden on his family. He wants to be independent, learn new skills, find a job and earn money to help take care of himself and his parents.
Man was just one of more than seventy young adults, all with varying degrees of ability, who registered at the school. For two years Man, together with the new students, will be trained on a variety of courses; English, Electronic Repair, Information Systems and there is also an elementary course for those who have not finished Grade 6.
Unlike similar further vocational education institutes throughout the country, at the Pattaya school there is no fee to the students or their families. The education, accommodation, medical assistance and three meals a day are all free, and at the end of two years he will be guaranteed a job.
And the first thing Man received for free when he arrived at the school? A new wheelchair. He is now on the road to independence and in two years time he will wear his graduating gown with pride.
More information can be found at www.fr-ray.org or email [email protected]
A parental guiding hand to make sure the forms are correct.
Eighteen year old Man, with his new wheelchair.
Students come from all over the Kingdom to study in Pattaya.
The father who has carried his son for the past eighteen years.
