November - December 2007
May we take this chance to belatedly say HAPPY NEW YEAR to all supporters and friends of Yaowawit School!
We wish you a wonderful year with lots of happiness all year round...
Time flies just so quickly, and here we are entering another year again. These past months we have had quite a lot of festivities here in Kapong town. We have participated in most of them and enjoyed ourselves very much.
Before we start to share it with you, we would like to begin with Kapong's tourist attraction #2, continuing from our last newsletter.
Tourist Attraction #2: Hin Lard Waterfall
Hin Lard Waterfall is located approximately 7 Kilometres east of the center of Kapong. The water comes from a mountain called "Mae Kaew", which runs through Kapong all the way to Takuapa town.
Local people love to come here on the weekends because it is surrounded by beautiful green nature and the atmosphere is very relaxing. "Hin" means rocks, and "Lard" means sloping. So, you won't see any steep or high falls here, but only beautiful sloping rocks all along the way.
Please follow our next issues for more tourist attractions!
Activities:
Summer Fun:
We love the rain as it creates this amazing environment where we live. When the sun and smiles shine however, its time to get out into the community and involve our children in some worthy projects. This year's initiatives include:
- Cleaning up the beach areas around Khao Lak and Baan Nam Khem. The children are wearing the specially designed Yaowawit team jackets so we can represent our wonderful school as a group. A big thank you to Kru Gai, (aka - Doctor Chicken) for volunteering her free time to make these for us.
- Walking to and from our local market in Kapong on Sunday and picking up rubbish as we go.
- Visiting volunteer organisations in the area and helping with lots of extra little hands for whatever is required.
These activities will allow all of us to enjoy all our area has to offer as well as contributing in a small way to support those in the community in need as well as our environment.
Bang Sak Beach Clean Up:
Our first clean up activity took us to Bang Sak Beach, located about 40 minutes from the school. This is a beach visited mostly by local Thai people on the weekends where they enjoy excellent thai food and a beautiful view of the Andaman Sea. We were joined by our volunteers, as well as our friends Roger and Chris from Phuket. Everyone worked very hard and afterwards enjoyed a well deserved swim and lots of ice-cream. Thankyou Roger and Chris yet again for your generosity shown to our school and children.
Stay Awake Campaign:
In Thailand, the car accident rate is very high during the New Year's because it's a get-together time and people need to spend most of their time on the road traveling back to their home towns. Most accidents then happen because the drivers get tired and fall asleep while driving.
Therefore, Yaowawit joined forces with Takuapa police and our children manned one of the check points to give a small packet of sour tamarind to each car that came through the check point. The sour fruit helps keep the drivers awake when they are most tired.
Music Club:
We were fortunate to get all these wonderful marching band instruments donated from some kind donors, who agree with us that music is helpful to the children: Esther Patterson (England), the Barely Broke Group (Thailand), Beatrice Juhlin-Dannfelt and Lars Zibet-Sandberg (Sweden). Thank you so much!
Pictures below show children playing the national anthem every morning for other kids to sing along to.
Loy Kratong Festival:
Held on the 24th November, it is one of Thailand’s most charming and traditional festivals, which offers thanks to the water goddess, Mae Khongkha. “Loy” means to float and “Krathong” is a lotus shaped vessel made from sliced sections of banana tree trunks decorated in banana leaves. Flowers, candles, incense sticks, coins, a few strands of hair and fingernail clippings are set afloat to be carried wherever the current will take it.
The Krathong is believed to carry away the maker’s bad karma and make wishes come true for the following year. Our students spent the day creating their ‘Krathongs” with the help of our staff as well as preparing for performances in the festival organized by the town. A wonderful event enjoyed by both young and old alike.
Father's Day:
On the 5th of December, we celebrated the King's 80th birthday at the school. Our beloved King Bhumibol has been on the throne for 60 years tirelessly taking care of Thai people all over Thailand.
This day is also the Father's Day and National Day of Thailand. Therefore, we tried our best to do good deeds to celebrate these important occasions. The pictures below are our morning activity to clean up the whole area of the school.
The bigger children went out and joined a community work project with the Thana Sub-District Office to plant trees in the area. Everyone felt really great that day.
In the evening, we meditated and devoted the merit to our King. Then we lit the candles and sang songs to wish him long life.
Happy Holidays:
Christmas came a few days early for the children of Yaowawit to coincide with our founder, Philipp (aka Santa Claus)'s visit. Santa Philipp is a very busy man but found time to stop in and see all our children and staff, each one receiving a gift as well. And no matter what religion we are, we enjoy Christmas very much. It is also a great way to let the children learn what children around the world are doing on this important day.
While some of our children returned to their families to make merit, the remaining celebrated New Years Eve in our amazing garden. We built campfires, made Somtam Papaya for dinner, roasted marshmallows and wild bananas, held a yo-yo competition and finished with a small fireworks display. The weather was perfect and the moon was full. A wonderful way to greet 2551/2008. A handful of children stayed up until midnight for a countdown, but most were tucked into bed early because they were tired.
Supports and Visits:
Our Super Architect - William Gaynor:
One of our kindest initiators and family members is William Gaynor, our talented American architect who has helped us since the beginning. He's the one who created all the designs of the beautiful, comfortable, and practical buildings that we have now.
Despite his busy schedule, William often comes to visit Yaowawit to make sure the buildings are being built as planned. He recently came to Yaowawit again for the completion of our Yaowawit Lodge construction.
Thank you very much William for your never ending support. We love you!
Pi Shin Wu and the Bangkok Patana International School:
Pi Shin or Betsy Wu of Bangkok Patana International School often comes to Yaowawit and not only gives fun dance workshops to the children, but also many exercising games that encourage the children to work out and have fun at the same time.
Furthermore, she also helped spread the word about Yaowawit at the Bangkok Patana International School, and got some generous donations including money, clothes, shoes, and a lot of equipment needed in the dances and exercises she has taught.
Big thanks to all supporters from the Bangkok Patana International School including staff, students and parents. Thank you David Knott, Jennifer Mclaughlin, John Tranter, Supatra Rmanat, Atchariya Pej-Indra for your kind donation. We cannot name everybody, but we do appreciate every help from you.
Bangkok Hospital Phuket and Hongyok Family:
Yaowawit School has been extremely fortunate in welcoming many visitors, both Thai nationals and foreigners. They all come with the same view; to help and support our children and our project. This month, staff and board members from Bangkok Hospital Phuket came and entertained the children as well as bringing donated items. It was such an honour to get a chance to welcome you here.
Eric van Beurden, Bev Crossley, and Their Lovely Friends and Families:
We were so lucky to have our volunteers, Eric van Beurden and Bev Crossley with us here in Kapong. They spread their help and taught in other poor schools here in Kapong area. Their flexibility, open mind, and kind attitude will be something we will never forget. Thank you so much! We love you! And we wish to thank their many fellow workers, friends and family in Australia for their generous contributions ($3,700) to our garden funds. Kob Koon Ka! Thank you very much. We are looking forward to welcoming all of you here one day.
Feature Teacher of the Academic Year:
A very dedicated teacher, Kanchana Maila-Iad or Kru Eed, was voted the teacher of the academic year. She not only teaches Grade 6, but has the difficult task of creating our schedules and timetables for all the classes. In the afternoons after her day is finished, well just about, she then supports and tutors some of the children who are struggling with Maths.
Kru Eed lives locally, is married and has a lovely daughter, aged 3.
Updates!:
• Nong Praew After the Eye Surgery:
Nong Praew is very famous when she returns to the Bangkok Phuket hospital for a check-up. She is greeted with many hugs and smiles by all the staff, she certainly made a lasting impression.
Her doctor is very happy with the results and she was recently fitted with glasses. Now all we need to do is remember where she leaves them each day. Pictures below are Nong Praew before and after the surgery.
• Our Yaowawit Lodge:
At the Yaowawit, pressure to finish the “Yaowawit Lodge” is rising. The countdown for completion of the hotel is now not many days, when there will be a grand opening with the presence of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Final touches to the construction of the 12 guest rooms are currently being made. The hotel will include three different types of rooms, but the classifications of these are yet to be decided.
What makes the “Yaowawit Lodge” particularly unique is the contribution from the Yaowawit students. They are involved in the decorations, as well as the service aspect of the hotel. Impressively, 43 children have volunteered to either work in the kitchen or as a waiter/waitress in their free time. At the moment the ‘hospitality classroom’ is being used in order to the help students who have volunteered to train for the opening of the “Yaowawit Lodge”.
Apart from the exceptional hotel itself, the “Yaowawit Lodge” is set in a beautiful region of Thailand, which has a number of activities to offer. The hotel recommends activities, which give tourists an insight into Thai culture. At the top of the list is the Tsunami Memorial in Khao Lak. Also, local temples, handicrafts and factories, as well as markets are quite impressive. For the more adventurous travellers, there is a chance to visit the hot springs, Khao Sok National Park, elephant trekking, or even visit Phang Nga James Bond Island.
Thailand is beautiful all year round, however, the nicest time to visit is known to be from the beginning of November until mid March.
Here’s How You Could Help Us:
1. Make a donation
You can make a donation through our bank accounts:
* Account in Thailand: Siam Commercial Bank
Branch: Yanyao
Acc.Name: Yaowawit School
Acc.No.: 533-2-34492-6
Swift code: SICOTHBK
* Account in Germany: Commerzbank AG Essen
Acc.Name: Stifterverband/Children's World Academy
Acc.No.: 122232203
IBAN: DE43360400390122232203
BIC/SWIFT: COBADEFFXXX
Reason for payment: Yaowawit School
* Account in Australia: ANZ BYRON BAY (BSB 012554)
Acc.Name: Yaowawit School
Acc.No.: 489438891
All donations go directly to the operation costs of the school and all its activities.
2. Give a scholarship to a child
We do have a scholarship program for those of you who are interested in
having a long-term support for a child:
• € 30, - per month to secure covering the costs for food, clothes, medical
care and qualified personnel to take care of them
• € 50, - per month to secure a first-class education by covering the costs
for teachers, school materials and teaching devices
• € 80, - per month, with a very generous donation of € 80 per month, you
would cover the costs for everything we need to educate and raise your
child
3. Donate materials
We also do appreciate any materials such as stationery, books, clothes,
shoes, personal hygiene products, or anything that is necessary for the
childrens' living.
4. Visit and stay in our guest rooms
We offer cozy and comfortable rooms for you should you wish to stay
and enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery. We also encourage you to
observe our activities and participate in certain activities such as cooking
classes.
The room fee will be in the form of a minimum donation, which has not yet
been decided upon. Of course, we will be delighted if you generously choose
to pay more than this amount. Again, these donations will be used directly
for the school operation expenses.
*Guest rooms will be ready for use by the end of March this year*
5. Volunteer as an English teacher
We do need volunteers to help out with teaching English to the children as one of our goals is to become a bilingual school.
What’s In Our Next Issue?:
• Events:
- Children's Day
- Teacher's Day
- Makha Buja Religious Day
• Updates:
- Reports about Yaowawit Lodge Operation
... and more...
Thank you very much and once again... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!.
Sawadee!
From the Yaowawit Crew
