The Father Ray Foundation’s Redemptorist schools do a number of things for the disabled in Pattaya, but Job One is helping students build careers and develop their potential.
The disabled students of the Redemptorist Vocational School for Persons with Disabilities and the Redemptorist School for the Blind have numerous activities to enjoy during their free time that are based on the policies laid by late founder Rev. Raymond “Father Ray” Brennan. His work is continued today by current foundation President Rev. Pattarapong Srivorakul, who follows Brennan’s motto of “help the disabled, who cannot help themselves, to not become a liability to others.”
Electronic students at the Redemptorist Vocational School for Persons with Disabilities are able to build their careers through learning.
The foundation has a vision to become the leading disabled organization in education, job search, and developing the disabled to have the potential to become leaders of change and empowering them in society with equality with an environment of public service, happiness and success; all of which are ideals encouraging the foundation.
The vocational school offers courses on computers, electronics, English, design and more. There are more than 2,000 graduates with jobs in Thailand and neighboring countries. In addition, the foundation offers a job-hunting center providing services and advice on careers, skills and preparation for employment.
It also offers services to businesses about hiring disabled individuals, including management and evaluating results, promoting freelance careers, and marketing.
Power Buy opened a center at the Pattaya Redemptorist Foundation to provide the disabled with employment.
The Father Ray Foundation works to protect the rights of the disabled. It has campaigned and protected rights while monitoring public and private operations so they comply with relevant laws requiring an environment devoid of obstacles.
In regards to research, the foundation has collected and studied laws, motions, regulations, policies and information regarding the disabled, suggesting guidelines to promote and develop lifestyles for the disabled to relevant agencies through its Flying Wheelchair website.
It also provides lecture and seminar services, including training of the disabled, such as training human-resources employees, volunteers, and personal caretakers.
Father Ray’s mission extends to building a positive outlook for the disabled to confidently enter society and create an optimistic self image of their disabilities, as well as their families and society.
The foundation has a radio station in Pattaya, a television show broadcast through radio, Channel 11 and online. Finally, the foundation’s core mission is to raise funds, since the services provided by the foundation such are free of charge.
Supranee Saenin, 25, a contact-center employee for the Power Buy electronics retailer, thanked the company for providing her with the opportunity to have a career and care for herself and her family.
She became disabled as a result of an accident and she can type with only one finger. The obstacle she faces at work is typing slower than others, but she types the forms ahead of time, which are copied, to solve the delay in work.
Attapol Phulom, 27, another contact-center employee at Power Buy, said he’s delighted to be working for the company and in a job that he is comfortable with, since his lower half is disabled. Luckily, however, both his hands are working perfectly, he said, so he is not a liability on society.
