January 2008 Update

Many, many thanks to all of you who very generously donated to the  project…

First the good news…

The Thailand Ministry of Education became aware of our efforts and very generously decided to fund the whole project !!!!  This means the children will get their new buildings and be able to enjoy life a little more.  We understand the foundations are already in place and the project should be finished before the rains start in earnest.

The even better news…

The Education Department has put us in touch with a school in the next village who need assistance and we have received the following information from Mr. Jatuphoom Jaem Mor, Director of Ban Kok Noi Wittaya School…

Ban Kok Noi Wittaya School - General Information
The Ban Kok Noi Wittaya School is located on Moo 5 Tumbon Huay-chom poo, Amphur Muang, Chiang-rai, is under the educational area of Chiang Rai Group 1, in the office of the member of a board committee, The ministry of Education. It was established in 2002as the branch of Ban-Pa Lung school. On 24 April 2006, The Ministry of Education announced it to be one own school by the name of “Ban Kok Noi Wittaya”.

The Ban Kok Noi Wittaya is a special area school in the dry area. The surrounding geography is hill, 550 metres above the sea level in 19 Rais and is in land rented from the Forestry Department for 30 years. The distance from the center of Chiang Rai to the school is 45 km. The school serves 5 areas in Moo 5, Tumbon Huay chom-poo consisting of 5 communities - Ban Sira community, Ban Klang community, Ban Hua-na community, Ban Ja-ha community and Ban Ti-say community.  They are all Moo-Ser Hill tribes, all farmers growing crops, and very poor.

At present at the school there are 6 government officer teachers and one government officer. There are 155 students (boys 97,girls 58) There are three temporary buildings and 2 teachers temporary houses. There is no electricity and it uses water from the mountain.

From the above obstacles and shortages, the school urgently needs the most help as follows:
1.    One Electric Generator Machine  Approximately 85,000 Baht
2.    3  Student’s houses,  the budget approximately 150,000 Baht
3.    155 Students uniforms ( one uniform = 250 Baht)
4.    155 Students shoes ( boy’s shoes 155 Baht/ pair: girl’s shoes 230 Baht /pair)
5.    155 Textbooks (Prathom 1 : 361 Baht per set, Prathom 2 :359 Baht, Prathom 3: 438 Baht, Prathom 4  :470 Baht Prathom 5: 441 Baht, Prathom 6 :567 Baht).

Thank you.

Mr. Jatuphoom Jaem Mor
The Director of Ban Kok Noi Wittaya School

As you can see, the needs for this project are just as great as the need for the original project, the total being around Bt 305,000…

The fantastic news…

The project fund now stands at Bt. 291,290.37..!!! (approx.£4,550…$8,875…)

There are still one or two pledges to collect, so we are going to bust the target wide open…

Due to heavy rains in the last couple of weeks a planned trip to the school was postponed as the roads to the village were washed out.  Access is only by 4 wheel drive or boat.  We are hoping to make the trip in the next two-three weeks  and get the project under way.

I will keep you all posted…

Pete Bond

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