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.
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.
Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn listens intently as social workers explain the project.
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.”
