‘Be Safe’ was the order of the day on Wednesday the 17th of January for the children who attend the Hand to Hand Foundation as each of the 43 children were given a motorbike helmet donated by the Rotary Club Phoenix Pattaya and the Lions Cub Phoenix Hong Kong.
The vice president of Hand to Hand Margaret Grainger sang songs to the children with the words: ‘When you ride a bike – be safe’ and a local officer, Police Senior Sergeant Major Yos Areewong, also joined in and explained to the children the importance of wearing a helmet and that it should fit them correctly.
Helmets of all different sizes await their new owners.
Hand to Hand acts as a drop in center for parents whose children do not attend school and usually have to accompany their parents when they are out working, be it selling snacks at stalls or collecting scrap metal and plastic bottles.
The centre acts as a place where the kids can go, interact with other children and learn some basic English skills, as well as engage in educational play and sing songs. In addition, the centre also has a scholarship programme to help finance the educational needs of the children within the government system.
Police Senior Sergeant Major Yos Areewong underlined the importance of wearing a helmet and that it should fit them correctly.
Margaret stated that the children are provided with aprons and that if they turn up without their apron the parents have to pay a ‘fine’ of 50 baht. This is to instill some rules and practices and help the children when the time comes when they will go to government school.
The vice president of Hand to Hand joins Police Senior Sergeant Major Yos Areewong with one of the children with her new helmet.
Regarding the new helmets, the staff and volunteers at Hand to Hand will check on a daily basis to ensure that the children who arrive at the centre by motorbike should be wearing the helmet that was given to them.
The Rotary Club Phoenix Pattaya and the Lions Cub Phoenix Hong Kong had previously helped the Hand to Hand centre by providing a playground for the children in December 2015.
More information about Hand to Hand and the work they do can be found online at: www.handtohandpattaya.com.
Now all the kids at Hand to Hand are much safer on their parents’ motorbikes thanks to the Rotary Club Phoenix Pattaya and the Lions Cub Phoenix Hong Kong.
In December 2015, the Rotary Club Phoenix Pattaya and the Lions Cub Phoenix Hong Kong donated this playground equipment.
