Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Sunee Resort
Amanda and I (Rachel) first came across Sunee Resort when we were looking for an opportunity to teach in Thailand. I discovered an advertisement online posted by Mongkol, a local from the village who now lives in Bangkok and is constantly looking for ways to help the school. He is currently assisting us in getting the money we raise to the children of the village, along with the help of his friend Sunee. Mongkol met us upon arrival in Bangkok and drove us both into Gangkrajan to our new home for the month at Sunee's Resort. Sunee is an amazing women who has made this school and the children her life. She allowed us to stay at the resort for free, while teaching us thai, cooking for us and driving us around to see all the local tourist attractions. She is retiring this year, but I'm sure she will still play an integral role in the lives of the children of Gangkrajan.
If you are ever in Thailand I highly recommend a stay at Sunee Resort!
If you are ever in Thailand I highly recommend a stay at Sunee Resort!
Kids Of Gangkrajan Fundraiser
Thanks to all those who came out for the fundraiser at the Madison! It was a huge success! We would specifically like to thank the three bands that donated their time (The Breakdown, Shobha and Dress Rehearsal) and The Madison for donating the space and appetizers.
We raised $1660 that night and are continuing to collect donations which have put us over $2000. So far we are able to send 2 children to the entire 4 years of high school!
We will keep you posted on our next fundraiser!
We raised $1660 that night and are continuing to collect donations which have put us over $2000. So far we are able to send 2 children to the entire 4 years of high school!
We will keep you posted on our next fundraiser!
HOW TO HELP
If you would like to support us in this project, we have set up a paypal account (with the email address below) to receive donations.
If you already have a PayPal account, it is a free transfer to send $ directly from the funds on your account to ours. Otherwise, when sending from a credit card the fee is 2.9% + 30 cents.
Go to: paypal.com > personal > send money
kaengkrachanfund@gmail.com
Thank you so much for your support!
If you already have a PayPal account, it is a free transfer to send $ directly from the funds on your account to ours. Otherwise, when sending from a credit card the fee is 2.9% + 30 cents.
Go to: paypal.com > personal > send money
kaengkrachanfund@gmail.com
Thank you so much for your support!
THE FACTS
1) Ban Nong Puen Tag School is located in a poor village in central Thailand called Gangkrajan, where most people earn a living by working banana or pineapple plantations. Many of the children we taught live in an area where the houses are simply one-room huts and there is only one outdoor toilet for several families to share.
2) Until about 10 years ago, there was not school at all in this poor village. The monks down the road donated land for a school to be built on and a few very caring and dedicated people worked hard to raise the funds neccessary to build the first school in Gangkrajan.
3) The school can only educate children until they reach grade 7, and the nearest high school is far from town. Although there is no tuition for high school, the cost of transporation, school supplies, uniforms and food is far beyond what most families here can afford, therefore very few of the children actually have the opportunity to go on to receive further education. Without higher education, the window of opportunity is closed for these kids and for the majority of them, their only choice is to stay in the village working low-wage jobs on a banana or pineapple plantation, just as the generation before. This only contributes to perpetuating the poverty here.
4) The children WANT to go to high school! But they just don't have that option now.
2) Until about 10 years ago, there was not school at all in this poor village. The monks down the road donated land for a school to be built on and a few very caring and dedicated people worked hard to raise the funds neccessary to build the first school in Gangkrajan.
3) The school can only educate children until they reach grade 7, and the nearest high school is far from town. Although there is no tuition for high school, the cost of transporation, school supplies, uniforms and food is far beyond what most families here can afford, therefore very few of the children actually have the opportunity to go on to receive further education. Without higher education, the window of opportunity is closed for these kids and for the majority of them, their only choice is to stay in the village working low-wage jobs on a banana or pineapple plantation, just as the generation before. This only contributes to perpetuating the poverty here.
4) The children WANT to go to high school! But they just don't have that option now.
BACKGROUND
The three of us have all been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to volunteer as English teachers at a small elementary school in rural Thailand. The experience was unforgettable. The people of the village were incredibly warm, welcoming and they had a great indescribable spirit about them. The children were eager to learn, but despite their best efforts many will never have the chance to attend high school, as the nearest one is hours away. The trip made us all realize what we take for granted and how lucky we are to grow up in a country where everyone has access to proper education. When we left the school we promised ourselves we would not forget about these kids and we would find a way to help them in their education once we were home. This year we have started a fundraising project to send the kids of Gangkrajan to high school. Because the three of us are the initiators and sole organizers of this project, we really need support from our friends and family to make it work!
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