Bangkok--13 May--Syllable
Today when situation in Thailand heats up with the menacing problem of social disunity, an effort of this small group of young students truly renders us a breath of fresh air.
About a year ago, 16 year-old Athichai Ounkomol founded the Rural Development Club at his school, the International School of Bangkok (ISB). As club’s president, Athichai gathered into the group his fellow students who shared the common goal to make a difference in the society by helping the underprivileged in the rural communities in Thailand. Their first project was recently launched in the form of the “English Center” for the Chonpratarn School in the Nonthaburi Province.
Together, the club members took to renovate a vacant classroom at the school and made it a happy learning place for the students of this Nonthaburi school. And that’s not all, these ISB student volunteers have scheduled regular trips to this classroom to share with their Nonthaburi peers the knowledge on various topics such as healthcare and world cultures.
“This idea of sharing came to me during the New Year Holiday. And after I proposed it to the club, all members wholeheartedly agreed to pursue the plan. In addition to our fund raising events, the club also contacted charitable corporations such as Peppermint Field to come in as sponsors of the project,” says Athichai with a smile.
After several meetings and the trips to survey the location, the club members got together one full weekend to make their dream a reality. “We spent our first day shopping for furniture and other materials needed for the room. The following day, we took to clean up the entire room and re-painted the walls by ourselves. The third and final day was the decoration time. We unpacked the new furniture and set them in the room as well as put up posters and other teaching materials.” Athichai relates, adding that he has also managed to collect some 40 books, all in very good condition, as a generous contribution from the ISB’s Library for this English Center.
“The students are really responsible and well organized, I barely had to do anything” says club advisor Sucheera Ruangtrakool who beams with pride.
Now that the English Center is complete, the club members will take turn to make a monthly visit to teach the children. Club Vice-President Prima Vithoontien elaborates: “We are confident that these sessions will be beneficial to all. We are ready to teach after successfully trying out in the class session during our trip to a rural school in Nakorn Pathom earlier this year.”
Teaching the children about world cultures, Athichai believes, will nurture in them a greater interest for learning. “By sharing with them the culture of such ‘popular’ countries as Japan, Korea, and the US, we will encourage their stronger desire to learn more about the world around them. They will meanwhile appreciate our friendship and care as we teach and play with them.
Being a multi-racial group, club members find their mission a relatively easy one. Club Secretary Andreas Rauch, a student of German-Philippine origin, confirms: “We are confident in our successful implementation because of the diverse cultures at ISB.”
With this initial success, Athichai says the club will soon explore the possibilities to extend their services to other rural schools. “I’m sure that our project will make a difference in the rural community. I also hope that they will grow up with a thirst for knowledge and thus equip themselves well enough to make the right choice in life.”