Youth Activated Phuket

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T00:23:00.003+08:00

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From the staff and members of Youth Activated Phuket, we would like to wish everyone a very happy New Year and we hope that this year will bring good luck, health and prosperity to you and your families. May all your endeavors be met with success and we hope to continue to work with you in the coming year ahead.

New Years Party for the Juvenile Center!

2008-01-01T00:23:00.001+08:00

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The juvenile center at Sapan Hin called us one morning asking if we could do a program with the kids for an hour during the New Year break to give the kids something to help get their minds off of the dreary situation they were in. Being at the center here in Phuket is a stark contrast to being incarcerated in the center at Surat Tani, and while the center here affords many benefits and comforts not available in other places, still it is hard for the teenagers not to miss their homes and loved ones during this festive occasion.

Rak Thai Phuket Import Company donated a large amount of apples and oranges which we put to good use by packing for the kids at the juvenile center. Each person received two Fuji apples and 2 oranges and those who participated in the games and activities also received a box of soy milk to enjoy on the hot day. We started off the program by reenacting the story of the first Christmas, and the kids had a great time acting out the various roles in the story of the nativity. Many of the local youth have no idea why foreigners celebrate Christmas and this was a good opportunity to help them understand the background behind this special day, as well as to clear up some myths regarding the legendary Santa Claus and his merry band of elves and deers.

After that we played some English games and the Hangman game came out as being the most popular of them all. It was a fun two-hour program and a great way to start the New Year. We hope to be back again soon.

Dinner Party for Baan Kettho Dance Troupe!

2008-01-01T00:22:00.003+08:00

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On the evening of the 28th we picked up the Kettho dance troupe and brought them over to the house for a special Christmas dinner! Traditionally we try to take the girls out for some kind of dinner party after their caroling evening and this year would be no exception. Since last year we organized a trip for them to the beach and the year before that they went to “Moo Kata” (Mongolian barbecue), this year we decided to host the party at our house.

We agreed on a western menu of french fries, chicken nuggets, spaghetti, and garlic bread and a dessert of pumpkin pie and ice cream. This was not an easy-to-prepare menu, but with eight little sets of hands helping, things moved along smoothly and the atmosphere was joyful, if not bordering on silly.

The girls loved the spaghetti and the best part about it is not only did they help to cook it, but now they can go home and prepare the same dish for their families and friends!

After the dinner each of the kids got an envelope with a Christmas bonus which they could spend on presents and gifts for their families, along with a bag of fruit and some groceries.

Ketto Girls Live on Stage

2007-12-27T02:01:00.001+08:00

coming soon

Christmas Carroling with the Kettho Girls!

2007-12-24T13:37:00.000+08:00

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The entire team poses next to a Christmas setup made entirely of cookie dough

The big day has finally arrived!

Christmas Eve was upon us and we were prepared. It took four months of hard work every day, countless hours mingled with sweat and tears but it was worth it. At 4 PM the girls gathered at the school hall for the last practice and we focused mainly on their stage etiquette and small technicalities such as starting places and how to properly introduce themselves in English. After that the kids all left for home and shower and prepare and when I arrived at 6.30 PM to pick them up, I was greeted by a group of lovely young women, all decked up like little Miss Santas, raring to go and excited about the big night ahead.

First stop was the Amora Hotel in Cherng Talay, where the girls came on as the first performing troupe of the evening. The sound was terrible (due to a broken tweeter) but the dancing was better than we had ever imagined it would be, and all the girls gave it their best shot.

A rough drive to Patong through winding roads didn’t dampen the spirits at all and the kids sang all manner of songs along the way, including the famous Loy Kratong song.

Next performance was at the Sun Sea Sand Resort, where the girls brought down the house with the spicy Ketchup dance. We couldn’t stay long as we had another appointment, but the entire buffet came to a complete standstill when the girls took to the stage and they were a big hit.

Last stop was at the Coconut Village Resort, which had booked the girls back to back for two years now. The stage was cramped and dangerously high, but the girls didn’t care; in fact, their dancing nearly brought the entire structure to the floor! The guests at this hotel were equally impressed and not one person was seen to be sitting still in their seats! Soon they were swinging to the beat of the Latin numbers and the staff had to be called back to their stations after many of them were caught dancing in the back of the audience!

The kids got home at around 11 PM, tired but in high spirits. I will post a movie of one of their songs soon, if I can get it to upload.

Gay, Kook-Gai and Daeng share a light hearted moment

Christmas Party for Sponsored Children

2007-12-24T13:36:00.001+08:00

coming soon

English Daycamp for Plookpanya School

2007-12-24T13:34:00.001+08:00

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From the 6th-7th of December we had a two-day English Workshop with 50 junior highschool students from Plook Panya School in Phuket town. The focus of the camp was to work on their English Conversation skills as well as brush up on some of their spoken grammar. –and the best way to do that is to put their skills to the test, and we did that by taking them to Patong beach to interview the tourists there!

The first day was spent reviewing some grammar, working on some of those hard-to-pronounce sounds (like the z, th, sk and r sounds) and learning how to form the letters with their lips so that the sound comes out correctly. After that we spent some time reviewing conversation tactics, such as how to approach a tourist who is relaxing, what conversation starters would be appropriate and what wouldn’t, or how to keep a conversation rolling. We did some role play and each of the student groups took turns interviewing a teacher.

The second day was spent at Patong beach, where the sun was hot and the tourists were plentiful. We divided the group into teams of four and each team was responsible to interview at least five people. It took a bit of time to get the students going and some of them were quite shy but in the end each team had made their quota, with some even going for 6 or 7 interviews!

All in all it was a great camp and we hope to work with this group more in the future.

Monthly Projects Roundup for November 2007

2007-11-26T12:29:00.000+08:00

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Note: Due to a devastating virus attack last month, much of our data and photos were destroyed. We apologize for not updating the blog for a while.

Kettho Dance Troupe

The dance team at Baan Kettho are coming over to the house three afternoons a week for lessons. So far it has been going a bit slow and we are trying to pick up the pace. Most of the dancers for this year are new to the team and a lot of time has to be spent working with them to improve their gracefulness and motions so that it is flowing and smooth. With December almost upon us we are ready to move into full-time practice mode in order to get the team up to par and ready for Christmas Eve, where they will be performing at four hotels.

English Lessons for the ”Smart Kids” Club of Puttamonkol School

This November we started weekly English lessons for the “Smart Kids” English Club of Puttamonkol School in Phuket town. The kids are all junior high school students and their English level is varied, but they all share a common desire: to be competent in English Conversation! So far we’ve covered the basics in alphabet pronunciation, how to pronounce consonant blends and even tackled some old-time enemies like the “th” sound, which is one of the hardest sounds to pronounce for Thais.

The class is made up of around 20 students and the atmosphere is lively and happy. Many of the younger students have little English knowledge but we are sure that with time they will be improving their English conversation skills through this program.

Youth Activated Host First Youth Soccer Tournament

2007-10-11T18:11:00.000+08:00

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Youth Activated organized a Youth Soccer tournament for 12-14 year olds from the 6-7th of October. The aim of the event was to encourage youth to spend their free time doing useful things (such as sports) and to stay way from drugs and crime. The event was held at the Katu Soccer stadium.

Schools which sent teams to the event included Baan Gettho (Chris Koppers United), Baan Football in Talang, Patong (Kalim and Sai Nam Yen Schools), Kamala, Bang Tao, Suan Mae Jo, Putamonkon Nimit, Bang Kue (near the Boat Lagoon) and bang Neow. The first day was marred by rainfall which turned the pitch into a sea of mud and made playing miserable. Despite the setback, the competition continued on schedule and by the late afternoon we were rewarded with a bit of sun.

The second say started out with a scare when the sunny skies turned cloudy but thankfully there was no rain all day. Despite the sun, the players still had to deal with some large puddles and patches of mud that hadn’t dried in time.

In the end, in the 12 and under tournament, Baan Football went home with the first prize while Baan Kettho and Patong went home with the second and third prizes respectively.

In the 14 and under tournament, Baan Kettho (Chris Koppers United) won 2-0 over Baan Bangtao which came in second, followed by Suan Mae Jo school and Kamala, which won the consolation prize.

The event, despite its setbacks was hailed as a success by the sponsors, who pledged to support next years’ tournament as well.

The trophies and other expenses were sponsored by the Lions Club Andaman Sea and the lunches were donated by Mr. Claude of the Royal Pawadee Village in Patong. Makro and Big C Supercenter also graciously donated drinks for the event.

Kettho Dance Troupe Begins Preparations for Christmas

2007-09-12T11:56:00.000+08:00

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With Christmas and New Years coming up in four months time, Youth Activated started practicing with the Kettho dance troupe. This year’s dance troupe has seven new faces so many of the old dance routines are being re-taught from scratch.

Another new development in this project is that some of the hotels from last year have requested that the children sing carols in the lobby or greeting room before proceeding to the party hall to perform their dance numbers. We’ve settled on about four Christmas carols which we are teaching the kids to sing. So far they have learned one and are working on the second.

We’ve been working with them for three hours every Monday, Wednesday and Friday after school. Hopefully by the time December rolls around they’ll be ready.

Rassada English Camp 2007

2007-08-27T10:40:00.000+08:00

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From the 17-19th of August Youth Activated held an English Camp for students from two schools in the Rassada sub-district, Koh Sirey and Ban Kuku. There were about 100 kids in attendance, most of them coming from underprivileged families. It was refreshing for them to be able to get a break from the norm and to be able to spend a weekend at a four-star hotel where they were able to sleep in aircon rooms, have an all-you-can-eat mini buffet every meal and swim in a big pool! –Not to mention learn English skills with native English speakers and interact with other kids from their area!

The camp was held at the Amora Resort and those three days were a whirlwind of activity which began at 7 AM (for some kids it started at 4 AM!) and didn’t stop until the last activity finished at 9.30 PM! Despite the rain that continually poured down during those three days, the children refused to get moody, even insisting on swimming in the rain if it didn’t let up!

Most of these children had a very basic understanding of English and could not really understand many of the instructions the trainers issued, which is why we had to rely on a lot of Thai being spoken. We did explain to the children about the importance of learning English so that they will be able to secure themselves good paying jobs in the future to support them and their families.

Most of the English classes covered basics such as the alphabet, giving verbal information about oneself, sight reading, phonics and pronunciation, through the use of various games and activities. We also tried to focus a lot on the children answering each question verbally in English, so to improve their self-esteem and show them that English is both easy and fun!

The English camp was organized by Mr. Tavicha and sponsored by the Or Por Dor of Rassada sub-district. The children were all 6th graders, ranging from 11-14 years old.

Guitars Fixed, Ready to Roll!

2007-08-08T11:03:00.000+08:00

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It took two trips and about 14 man hours in total, but four of the six guitars at the juvenile center are now in working condition. The other two guitars are still in pretty bad condition and will take some time to repair.

Still that is a good start for us and a big step forward towards our goal of having enough guitars to be able to hold weekly music lessons with the inmates.

Special thanks to Mr. Patrick, owner of a pub near the downtown market, who has offered to help fix one of the guitars and is considering helping to teach music coordination lessons to a group of teenagers who are interested in starting a band at the juvenile center.

Anyone who is interested in helping with the project, please contact me at the number below.

Music Lessons for the Juvenile Center

2007-07-26T11:41:00.000+08:00

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Phuket Youth Activated has been weekly holding English lessons at the juvenile delinquent center since the beginning of this year. The classes usually cover the basics of English such as the alphabet and simple phrases and words. Through the use of games and activities which promote verbal use of English, we create a happy and festive atmosphere for the inmates. Many have commented that this has helped to eliminate the stress and depression that the inmates suffer in their daily lives.

After much thought and consideration, Youth Activated is now planning on teaching music lessons as well, starting with guitar classes. Music is a language of all creeds and races and we believe that this will provide a medium for the youth to express themselves and provide them with experience for the future as well. Work is underway to repair the guitars which were donated to the juvenile center and we hope to have them ready by the beginning of next month.

Annual Special Olympics a Success!

2007-07-06T12:41:00.000+08:00

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Phuket has hosted the Special Olympics for the southern region for four consecutive years. Due to the success of the past four years, along with the generous donations that have poured in for these events, this year the Special Olympics Committee decided to increase the number of children attending from last years 200 to 450, with the newcomers coming from the far south, mainly from Hat Yai and Narathiwat.

Since we had a little over a month to do all the fundraising, the task seemed almost daunting at first. When the final week rolled around we found ourselves looking at a potential problem due to a shortage of finances to cover all the meals. It wasn’t until the last minute that we found out the attendees from the far south could not attend due to an incident where a bomb went off near their school, causing security forces to clamp down on travel in and out of the area.

Even though the two schools were unable to attend, we still had a turnout of roughly 250 trainers and students. Two of the schools were from Phuket, with the rest coming from Chumporn, Nakorn Sri Tammarat and a small contingent from Songklah. Since the numbers had declined, the committee decided it would be best to conduct the games in the Phuket Gymnasium rather than the Sapan Hin soccer field.

The first day was spent in preparations for the games and all the attendees were given a physical by local physicians. The majority of the games were held on the second and third days. All games ended at 12.00 on the third day.

We wish to thank all the sponsors of this event which helped to make it possible. Through their generous giving and support of this project we were able to feed all the kids and staff for the entire duration of their stay. Various individuals donated snacks and milk, while others cooked meals for the children and other donated finances towards the food budget. All in all it was a success and it would not have been possible without the help of our sponsors.

Koh Yao School Cluster English Camp

2007-06-26T13:27:00.000+08:00

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From the 22-24 Youth Activated did an English Camp for 160 students from a total of four combined schools in the Koh Yao area. The majority of the children came from Ao Kapor school on Koh Yao Yai, where Youth Activated has been working with the headmaster, Ajan Bideen, for the past 7 years or so. This English camp ranked as one of the largest camps we’ve tackled, being surpassed only by 2003’s Aubahn Chumporn Camp which was made up of 175 5th-6th graders.

Koh Yao is technically a subdistrict of Phang Nga, but due to its close proximity to Phuket and the convenient ferry links between Phuket and the islands, Koh Yao is beginning to see some rapid development in the tourism sector. Already there are a few hotel projects in the works, the biggest being the Evason, which is due to open soon on Koh Yao Noi, the smaller of the two islands. With the anticipated influx of tourists and visitors coming to spend their vacations on these islands, it was imperative to encourage these youngsters to develop a good command of the English language, which would enable them to get better jobs and thus support their families.

The camp was also held at the Kamala Bay Garden Resort in Kamala.

The biggest attraction of the camp was the swimming pool, complete with a water slide, which the hotel allowed the kids to use. After a long day of English lessons, the kids were able to relax and spend some quality time splashing about with their friends in a five-star pool. –No wonder they didn’t want to get out when the whistle blew!

Most of the kids who attended the camp were 6th-8th graders, the rest (about 30%) were senior high school teenagers. Since English is not a major subject in their curriculum, it was a bit difficult trying to communicate with them so we had to rely on Thai quite a bit. Much of the focus of this camp was to encourage the kids to make verbal use of their English, which we did through various games and activities which promoted conversation skills.

We do hope that next year when we organize another English camp for the Koh Yao schools that their English skills will have improved and that they will be more bold and willing to use their knowledge of English.

English Camp for Koh Yao Wittaya

2007-06-21T09:49:00.000+08:00

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Koh Yao Wittaya is one of the largest high schools in the Koh Yao subdistrict. Last year some of their students attended our annual Koh Yao school cluster English Camp which was held at the Hilton Arcadia Resort and Spa on Karon beach. Due to the high ratings and rave reviews from the participants of the camp, Koh Yao Wittaya decided it was time to have their own English Camp.

This year’s camp was to be held at the Kamala Bay Garden Resort on Kamala Beach. While the younger ones had a bit of difficulty with the English commands (most government schools don’t begin teaching English until kids enter the 5th or 6th grades) everyone did their best to try to understand and comprehend what was being said.

It was a good experience for the kids, and everyone enjoyed it. Many of the kids never had the experience of being at a four-star hotel and having a breakfast buffet, complete with waiters, placemats and all the frills that come with a hotel meal. It was a taste of something they had seen from the outside but never really had the chance to experience themselves.

The weather at the camp was somewhat dreary, with each morning staring out with a drizzle or downpour but that didn’t keep the kids from feeling down! Even though we missed out on our grand finale, a morning of fun and games at the beach, we still had a great time playing some indoor games in the meeting room. Big thanks to the management and staff of the Kamala Bay Garden Resort for their kind hospitality and for the guest who put up with all the noise!

Coming Up: Special Olympics

2007-06-12T11:50:00.000+08:00

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On the horizon and barely a month’s time from now Phuket will be hosting the annual Special Oylmpics for six provinces of the southern region. This year will be the fourth year in a row that this event has been held on the island.

The Special Olmpics is a gathering where mentally challanged children and youth compete in various sporting activites, primarily track and feild. The aim is to deveolp motor skills and promote self-confidence in the children, most of whom spend their days at government schools for the disadvantaged and have little contact with the outside world.

Youth Activated has been working with the Special Olympics Committee for 10 years or more, primarily aiding this project through finding sponsorship of food, snacks and sports equipment. Through generous funding from various individuals and companies, the past few years this event has been a success and we wish to duplicate the same results this year.

This year’s event, which is to take place at the Sapan Hin soccer stadium, will see an increase in participants and staff, from the modest 150 individuals last year to a whopping 450 trainers, staff and athletes. Due to the huge increase in participants we are appealing for sponsorship for this event, both local and abroad. Donations will go towards supplying meals and refreshments for the participants.

The event will be held for three days, the tentative dates being from the 28th-30th of June. Once the Special Olympics Committee confirm the actual dates we will post them here in case anyone wants to come by and take a look.

Food Aid for Schools

2007-05-21T14:31:00.000+08:00

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Through the generosity of various donors and friends in the Phuket Town and Patong Markets, Youth Activated has been able to distribute fresh fruits and vegetables to various schools and institutions near Phuket Town. Recently CP kindly donated 10 kilos of chicken that saw good use at the Baan Kettho school cafeteria and the owner of Thais Love Phuket Import Company donated 10 kilos of oranges and 18 kilos of rambutans which were distributed to the children at Thai Rath Wittaya school near Katu.

Five-Day English Camp with Kathuwittiya School

2007-04-10T11:46:00.000+08:00

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From the 2nd-6th of April, Youth Activated did something that it had never done before: host an English Camp for five days.

Most of the camps we do only last three days at the most. This time, Kathuwittiya School and the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO or Or Por Jor Phuket) were looking for trainers to help run their five-day event, which would see 70 students in attendance and was to be held at the Amora Resort.

It was to be one of our best English Camps yet.

PPAO has been working with Kathuwittiya School for the past few years, a project which helped to initiate their first-ever intensive English course for a core of students selected by the school brass. In order to achieve the high level of English the school was aiming for, teachers from the British International School had been contracted to head the English department. Therefore it was no surprise to us that at this English Camp we would have no reason or need to explain anything in Thai!

Our first day was spent in English classes, most of which revolved around conversation and writing skills, mostly to help get the 7th grade students (Matayom 1) who were new in the English program, to start using their English, and also to help reinforce the grammar of the 8th grade students (Matayom 2).

On the second day we took a hike down the beach towards Laguna and spent some time interviewing various foreigners and tourists we met along the way. This proved to be a good opportunity for the students to get live hands-on experience at interacting with real foreigners other than their teachers. Overall it was a good experience for everyone and the kids had a great time.

The biggest hit at the English camp was PE time where we organized a big game of Kick Ball, a variation of baseball except, instead of using a bat and baseball, we have the "batter" kick a football . The kids loved the game and by the fourth day they had gotten so good at it that the defenses weren’t allowing a single homerun!

On the last day of the camp we organized a Sand Castle competition which ended up a disaster after the tide washed in and reduced a number of castles to mounds of sand. No matter, the kids weren’t going to let that dampen their joy! Before we went back for the closing ceremony we all jumped into the ocean for a joyous time of splashing about with our friends. Many foreigners commented that after seeing the amount of fun the kids were having in the sea, it was hard for them to believe that these kids lived in Phuket since most of them splashed about and enjoyed themselves like they had never been to the sea before!

By the end of the five days we were tired and ready for a relaxing weekend but we were glad to have been able to do this camp. This kids were wonderful and everyone had a great time. A big Thank You to PPAO for their financial support of the camp and also to the teachers of the Kathuwittiya School who played a key role in making the camp a success.

English Camp for Thepkasatree Municipality

2007-04-01T12:01:00.000+08:00

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From the 26-28th of March, Youth Activated staff led an English Camp for 50 children at the Talang Rubber Research Plantation. The camp was sponsored by the Thepkasatree Municipality (Or Por Dor Thepkasatree) and attended by 5th and 6th graders from five schools in their area.

We spent the first day playing English games and getting to know the children. Most of the children in attendance had not even started on the fundamentals of English, having recently graduated to the fifth grade where English is a mandatory subject in public schools. Our aim was to help the children to understand that English is fun and speaking English is not too hard if they would only give it a try.

The second day we took the children on a hike through the Ton Sai waterfall in Kow Prataeo National Park. Some of the children had already been through this particular hike only a few short weeks prior to this camp so we focused on emphasizing the information posts which dotted the trail and making the kids take notes in English. This proved to be quite successful and many of the children got quite good at writing down the essential information offered at the stations.

When we got back to the camp the children drew a map of the trail and what they saw on a large sheet of cardboard and were able to present it in English for their teachers and parents on the last day of the camp. It was three days of sun and fun despite the thundershowers that threatened to dampen the mood on various occasions. Many thanks to the Or Por Dor staff who assisted our trainers at the camp and the personnel at the Talang Rubber Research Plantation who made us all feel welcome.

Educational VCDs for Schools in Phang Nga

2007-03-19T12:16:00.000+08:00

On a recent trip to Phang Nga, Youth Activated was able to distribute some educational VCDs to various schools in the Kok Suay district. We also visited some schools Baan Don area before heading off the Phang Nga town. We hope to find more sponsorships and be able to distribute more of these wonderful educational materials to these often poor and underprivileged schools.

The VCDs we distribute are from the “Treasure Attic” series which has become well-known throughout the world. They have been approved by the Dove Foundation in the U.S and have been aired on TV in various countries around the world, including the U.S.

For more information on these products, or if you wish to purchase a set for your family or friends, please contact the number at the bottom of this blog.

Baan Kalim English Lessons

2007-01-19T15:52:00.000+08:00

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One of Youth Activated’s latest projects has been teaching English at Bann Kalim School for a select group of children. This English course is unlike other traditional English classes in that it focuses primarily on conversation. They study from 3.00-4.00 two days a week. The children have been doing well and are progressing steadily with each passing day.

The goal of this intensive English course is to be able to eventually send these children abroad as exchange students, under the supervision of Mr. Volaj, the Consul-General of the Thai Embassy in Slovenia and the Lions Club of Slovenia. We will continue to work with these children and hope that with the English they learn they will be able to build a brighter future for themselves and their families.

Gifts for Children on Children's Day

2007-01-15T18:11:00.000+08:00

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Some children at the Thai Rath Wittaya School in Katu recieve Children’s Day goods

Children’s Day is usually a happy day for children all over Thailand, as it’s a day when the whole country stops to think about our future generation. –And we intend to make it special for as many kids as we can.

This year, with the help of generous donors, Youth Activated was able to put together some packages of snacks and toys for various needy children at some schools we’ve been working with. Altogether four schools were able to distribute Children’s Day packages to their students.

2006: A Year in Reveiw

2007-01-11T11:26:00.000+08:00

2006 was a milestone year for Youth Activated.

With each passing year it seems there’s more and more work to be done and fewer people to do it. Towards the third quarter of 2006, our team was boosted by the arrival of four new members who joined the team from Khon Kaen. This has increased our ability to accomplish more projects. We hope that 2007 will see much progress in all fronts.

To properly appreciate all that happened lets take a look at 2006 by category and see what transpired last year:

-JUVENILE CORRECTIONS INSTITUTE

We made a total of six visits to the center at Sapan Hin, organizing English classes, motivational seminars and other activities with the youth at the center. This year we plan to start music lessons with a group of boys at the center and are still in need of guitars and other musical instruments for this project.

-NEW BUILDING FOR KETTHO SCHOOL

Around the beginning of 2006 Youth Activated was involved in the Baan Kettho School Building project which saw the reconstruction an old school building which was in disrepair and unusable. Now it houses a computer room, arts and crafts room, a first aid station and a large classroom.

-ENGLISH CAMPS

Youth Activated organized and supervised the running of 7 English Camps for over 1200 students combined. Schools which participated included Darasamut Phuket, Rassada and Koh Yao school clusters.

-SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDREN AT KETTHO SCHOOL

Through the kindness and generosity of foreign sponsors, 27 children at the Baan Kettho School were able to get scholarships to cover the cost of their education from now through high school. This project has been flourishing, and this year, 2007, the number of sponsored children will be raised to 60.

-CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS

Around December Youth Activated organized and trained a group of dancers which performed at four hotels over Christmas Eve. We also organized Christmas programs for eight schools all of which were a success.

Over the New Years the show troupe performed at three other venues.
Their first performance this year is scheduled for Children’s Day, where they will be performing at three venues, including the Bangkok-Phuket Hospital.

-HOME FOR THE ELDERLY

Last year Youth Activated made three visits to the Pak Khok Home for the Elderly, two of which were accompanied by the children of Bann Kettho School, who helped to distribute flowers, hugs and gifts to the elderly, many of whom have no relatives in the region.

-CHRIS KOPPERS SOCCER TEAM

Youth Activated was involved in logistics and managed the distribution of food and drinks during various soccer events in which Chris Koppers Soccer Team was present. This included a stint in Surat Tani, and various other tournaments throughout Phuket last year.

-SPECIAL OLYMPICS

For the fourth year in a row, Youth Activated has been instrumental in obtaining sponsorship of food for the athletes and staff of this annual event which was held at Rajaphat Univeristy last year. Over 300 staff and athletes from six provinces of the south gather for this occasion, making it one of the biggest private sports events of the year.

We would also like to thank all our sponsors who played a key role in making these projects a success. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Have a happy New Year 2006!

Ban Kettho Soccer Party

2006-12-30T01:01:00.000+08:00

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Youth Activated handled the organization of the food and drinks for the participants of Chris Kopper’s Football Party which ran for the last 10 days of 2006. The tournament featured all the junior football clubs of Phuket with 25 teams from various schools attending.

The tournament was held at the Bann Kettho School and sponsored by the Chris Koppers Foundation.

Kettho Dance Team On Tour for Christmas!

2006-12-30T00:38:00.000+08:00

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The Kettho dance troupe was a complete success! After three months of hard work and daily practice, the fruits of their labors were put to the test on Christmas Eve when they performed at three venues: the Amora Hotel, Patong Tropicana and the Coconut Resort. The foreigners who were attending the Christmas festivities and saw them perform were very impressed and throughout the entire performance, not one eye was seen to wander from the stage.

A few days later the dance team performed at two schools and also visited the Old Folks Home in Talang before doing their final performance at Mr. Chris Kopper’s Christmas Party at the Margarita near Soi Bangla in Patong.

Kettho Dance Team

2006-12-09T16:34:00.000+08:00

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The Ban Kettho dance team, pictured here with one of their dance trainers, Miss Laila, is getting ready for the upcoming Christmas season. They have been working on a few dance routines and have already been booked at two venues for Christmas eve. All of these girls reside in the Ban Kettho community and have been studying at the school since we began working with the school early last year.

Miss Laila is a professional singer who hails from the Phillipines. She has donated her time to teaching the children at Ban Kettho during her time off, usually in the afternoons. She works at the Hilton Resort and Spa in Karon.

New School Building for Kettho School

2006-12-06T09:54:00.000+08:00

After the tsunami of 2004, Phuket Youth Activated was faced with the overwhelming task of providing scholarships for children affected by the tsunami. However we were still able to accomplish some long-term school projects, thanks to the help of various like-minded and generous individuals. The Ban Kettho School Building project was one of them.

Ban Kettho School is a poor school. Actually it is only a mere 4 KM away from Phuket Town, yet many people have no clue there is even a school there. One of the major projects Phuket Youth Activated undertook was the reconstruction of a classroom building for primary school children. The original structure was made of wood, and was completely eaten by termites and in complete disrepair and unfit to be used. With the help of various sponsors, Phuket Youth Activated helped to oversee the reconstruction of the school building, which began in December of 2005 and was completed in February, 2006. Many thanks to the sponsors who donated the finances to cover the costs of this project, which altogether totaled almost 1 million baht.

Today the cement structure hosts a computer lab, a first-aid station, an art room and three multi-functional recreation rooms.

The finished product, still unpainted but sound structurally.

Juvenile Delinquent Center Visitations

2006-12-05T12:49:00.000+08:00

One of our projects are visits to the Juvenile Delinquent Center near Sapan Hin. We have been working with the center for over four years now and are involved in youth counseling, offering motivational and moral-boosting classes as well as English activities for the teenagers. Our programs involve songs, dance, interactive games and lively discussions. Most are in for petty crimes ranging from shoplifting and theft to substance abuse. They often feel depressed with their situation and find our activity times a refreshing break from their mundane lives.

Our latest project is finding sponsors for musical instruments for the center, namely:

-6 quality acoustic guitars
-1 electric guitar
-1 electric guitar amp, no less that 40 watts
-1 electric bass guitar
-1 bass amp, no less than 60 watts
-1 complete acoustic drum set with all accessories (two cymbals, ride, hi-hat and chair)

If you are interested in helping with any of the following equipment or would like to contribute to this cause, please contact Khun Arunee at the address on the bottom of this page.

Kalim English Camp

2006-10-18T13:27:00.000+08:00

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From the 10-11 of October, Phuket Youth Activated did an English Camp for 50 children from Ban Kalim and Thai Rath Schools of Phuket. The camp was held at Ban Kalim School on the north end of Patong beach.

Due to the scattered thunderstorms we had to be indoors the whole time but that failed to dampen the spirits of the boisterous kids who enjoyed themselves tremendously. While their English speaking capabilities were poor to say the least, this didn’t keep them from trying to use what little they knew. We played English games aimed at encouraging the children to speak English a we hope that this will encourage them to step out and try to make progress on their own and hopefully become interested in learning English in the future.

A morning recess snack was supplied by the Hilton Hotels management, and the camp expenses were sponsored by Mr. Volaj of the Royal Thai Consulate in Slovenia .

Tsunami Projects and Aid for Schools

2006-10-12T10:38:00.000+08:00

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Relief Work in Phuket
When the tsunami stuck in December of 2004, our volunteers became actively engaged in a number of relief projects reaching out to those in need in the areas of Phuket as well as making trips to Kao Lak in Pang Nga. Our mission in the weeks immediately following the tsunami was to distribute needed supplies to some of the more remote areas as well as to visit hospitals and offer comfort and support.

Rebuilding for the Future
Although initially involved in projects to supply immediate physical care, our focus began to shift and efforts are currently centered on helping to rebuild lives for the future. A program was developed to assist individual children and families as well as working with local schools to help coordinate long-term educational needs.

Scholarship Program
Many children lost one or both of their parents in Phuket and surrounding areas while numerous families lost their income or means of support, suffering indirectly from the economic aftermath of the tsunami. Many of the relatives who are now caring for children who lost their parents are struggling financially with this increased responsibility.

A list has been compiled of these children and families and the neediest selected in a search for sponsors for our scholarship program. Our goal is to help ensure the future of these students by coordinating efforts in locating sponsors for their personal and educational needs. Educational scholarships have now been arranged for more than 60 of these disadvantaged students, although there are still many waiting for help.

Assistance for Local Schools
In addition to the scholarship program for individual students, several projects were begun with local schools that are now receiving assistance. Our objective is to continue to find sponsors and coordinate efforts to provide educational materials, vocational training, computers, desks and chairs and other needed supplies for these schools.

English Camp for Darasamut School, Phuket

2006-10-03T16:31:00.000+08:00

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From the 21st-23rd of September, Youth Activated participated in an English Camp for the Dara Samut School of Phuket. There were 150 attendees, all from the fifth and sixth grades, as well as ten teachers and staff from the Dara School. The camp was held at Amora Resort near Laypang beach and was co-sponsored by Khun Tavecha, Head of the Institute for Academic Development.

The focus of the camp was to promote English as a fun and enjoyable subject, and that was demonstrated through the various games and activities that were organized by our trainers. The audience participated wholeheartedly and everyone enjoyed the English activities tremendously. The highlight of the day no doubt was the P.E slot, where all 150 kids unanimously chose to go swimming in the big pool, an experience they will no doubt remember for a lifetime.

On the second evening we were treated to a potpourri of lively performances ranging from dramas to fashion shows and dances, all prepared by the children and their respective teams. After that we opened the floor to Disco Night where the kids danced and chanted tirelessly into the night to the beat of popular modern dance numbers.

The Camp was a complete success and we look forward to being able to work with the teachers of Dara School in the future. A special thanks to the dedicated staff of the Amora Resort for their tireless efforts which were crucial to the success of this camp.