GlobalGiving.org: Character and Leadership Training for Thai Youths

The Receiver becomes the Giver: Young Volunteers

Vena Lung — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:53:12 GMT

Prepared with food,medicines,portable toilet etc

Dear Donors and Supporters of the “Character and Leadership Training for Thai Youths” Project,

As you already know from our last report, we in Thailand have just gone through the worst flood in 50 years and many areas and victims are still reeling from its aftermath. At least 20 families that we know of were severely affected, with floods coming into their homes, some up to 3 m in depth, totally submerging the ground floors.

In the midst of the flood, the Foundation was able to round up the young people under the Character and Leadership Training in the preparation, the packing and the distribution of food and essential items to flood victims where they live, and also in evacuation centres. It was very challenging for them as they had to wade through dirty and stagnate waters for hours, to reach the victims.These young volunteers also gave their time and energies to travel to Nakhon Prathom to an Evacuation Centre to help shampoo the dogs of flood victims, who had been left there because of the floods.

In a sense, the flood disaster was a positive occurence, as it gave our young people hands-on, real-life experiences for all that we had prepared them for, in terms of giving back to society what they had gained. It was heart-warming to see these young volunteers coming out of their comfort zones to serve those less fortunate than themselves, knowing that they have to go through some difficulties to fulfil these tasks.

In addition,as soon as it was possible to visit the disaster areas when the floods receded, the Foundation sought for donors and volunteers to help pack and distribute Life-packs to the affected families of the children and youths under the Character and Leadership Training Project. A total of 50 families in the Chalongkrung and Lartkrabang districts benefitted from the distribution.

Your help in advocating for our work would mean that the children and youths get the help that they need. Please consider telling your friends and family about our project - share the link on your blogs or social networks, use the tell-a-friend feature on the project page to email your network, or just bring us up in conversation.

Thank you for taking the time to read this email.

You may also see the video clip of the involvement of the youths in YouTube:

http://youtu.be/B2dgN4Tc7Dc

With gratitude,

Vena Lung

Wading through water to distribute lifepacks

Happy to serve!

Dogs get a good rub-down with herbal shampoo.

Bottled water is scarce during the flood

Water is deep and stagnant

Giving Lifepacks to kids in Chalongkrung District

Lifepacks given to kids in Chalongkrung area

News of present Situation in Thailand

Vena Lung — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:01:34 GMT

Dear Donors and Supporters of the “Character and Leadership Training for Thai Youths” Project,

I would like to sincerely thank you for your previous donations through GlobalGiving for our Project. Indeed you are one of the elite few who see the value of the phrase “Better to teach a child how to fish than to give him a fish”, because the consistent training of a child, builds character and self-leadership.

I would like to give you a special update of what has been happening in Thailand since our last report.

As you may already have known, Thailand is facing its worst floods in 50 Years. This year the floods came early in March and devastated several southern provinces. By July, floods started to affect the northern provinces and as the dams started to fill and water had to be released, the provinces below, started to be severely affected.

As a result, 63 of the 76 provinces experience flooding, with Ayuthaya, Nayok Sawan and Loburi being the worst hit. 6 industrial estates have been been submerged, some are about 3 metres underwater, with more than 14,000 factories destroyed.

The central plains of Thailand, also known as the Rice Basin, has lost 10 million rais of farmland. Where once rice fields used to be, is now a vast, enormous lake, some as deep as 5 metres!

3 million families or nearly 10 million people are left homeless, with 381 deaths to date.

It is difficult to estimate the exact cost in numbers, as the situation is truly 'fluid' and water barriers leak or are broken even as I write this email, and people have to flee their lives in the middle of the night.

This has resulted in cut-off of food supplies coming to Bangkok and the flooded areas. Because of the shortage, prices are increasing, eg vegetables and sandbags have increased up to 300%! And there has been numerous thefts of flooded homes, thus victims are double victimized.

Our Organisation had planned to run 3 Annual Leadership Camps in mid October, but due to the menacing advance of the enormous run-off from the north, we had to cancel the event 5 days prior to the camps as parents were beginning to be worried. As the waters travel into the capital city of Bangkok, the Thai government had to announce that the school term has to be delayed for about 3 weeks, as travel becomes almost impossible in flooded areas, and is becoming more and more widespread.

It is at these times of difficulties that the fruits of our efforts to train those under our care, manifests itself. As the saying goes, it is in a crisis that it shows what we are made of. As families face floods head-on or prepare for the onslaught, we are beginning to see the fruits of our labor. We hear of how our young leaders willingly help with the relief work that is near their homes and sacrificing their comfort zones for the sake of others in their community, by packing and transporting sandbags (a strenuous job) so as to strengthen neighbourhood dikes, and eagerly volunteer to help prepare and deliver meals for evacuees.

Due to the floods there has been much obstacles in reaching our children and youths, but once the situation improves, we will definitely seek them out to ensure that they are safe and will try to provide for their immediate needs, so that they can be given the care that they need.

Thank you again for taking the time to read this email.

With gratitude,

Vena Lung

You may view the gravity of this year’s disaster on the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itnsMke4X1M&feature=email

PS: We will try to update on the Global Giving website, as long as our office can operate. According to the Thai government, most grounds in the capital city of Bangkok are expected to flood, especially in these 2 days.

Imparting Skills to a Young Generation of Leaders

Vena Lung — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 11:10:29 GMT

Learning and Planning

During the Summer Holidays, a group of about 50 young, energetic and enthusiatic leaders gathered at the Nong Bon Water Sports Centre for a planning retreat 29-30 April, 2011). They came from Bangkok and the upcountry like Chonburi, Khon Kaen and even Chiangrai.

Their task was to plan for 2 Nationals Camps :one for the girls and another for the boys, at the campsites in the southern province of Prachuab Khirikhan. These young lives have had various opportunities and trainings as young leaders in the past, and thus were quick to gel as a group, so as to plan for activities that were fun, build teamwork, and instill good moral values.

After a whole day of planning, learning the techniques of a good camp coounsellor and even producing an invitation video, these leaders were treated to a movie at night.

The next day, they were up early, to prepare for a full day of water sport activities, being trained by the coaches in the Water Sport Centre. They had tries in sailing the dinghy, kayaking and wind surfing. It was a physically tiring day for all, but rewarding and funfilled.

Mana said, " At last I can sail and control my boat!", while Mike sun-tanned and exhausted, smiled proudly at his efforts to steer his wind surf back to shore.

As the young leaders bade each other farewell, they were also looking forward to meeting soon, as each went back to his / her hometown, with a piece of duty assigned to them, for the coming National Camp in July.

This is Cool!

Ready to sail away!

Small groups planning for different activities

Surfing is tiring but really rewarding

PROJECT TRAIN THE TRAINERS (VOLUNTEERS)

Vena Lung — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 05:39:00 GMT

Serious talk about personal money matters

The Project Train the Trainers (Volunteers) on “Money and Wealth in the New Millennium”

The Foundation started a pilot project on savings called the “S.M.A.R.T. (short for Stewardship of Money And Responsibility toward Treasures) Scheme” aimed at instilling the habits of savings and wise spending for children and youths, about two and a half years ago. It was so successful that the adult volunteers called for an in-depth adult version of the “S.M.A.R.T. Scheme” for themselves. Thus the Foundation decided to do a seminar on the theme “Money and Wealth in the New Millennium” was organized from 21 – 23 March at the Petch Rim Tarn Resort, Phetburi. The 40 participating volunteers came from Bangkok and other provinces like Chonburi, Khon Kaen, Roi Et, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, etc

The topics discussed included emphasis on savings and the various creative means involved, living the sufficient life devoid of debts, and principles involved in buying insurance, etc. In a nutshell, the S.M.A.R.T. Scheme teaches one to GIVE, to SAVE and to SPEND wisely.

May, a volunteer who has been working with children and youths for more than 10 years said, " I will make it a point to save some money every month, even though my husband and I have to pay off a lot of debts, as I now see how important it is to save for a rainy day"

Pit said," Through this training, I have learned that I can afford to be sharing more in the "Give to Others" part of the SMART Scheme".

Participants left the seminar, determined to make changes in their lives, as they realize that being wise with their finances is actually a very "freeing" experience!

Sharing Experiences

Question time

The proposed S.M.A.R.T. savings house for launch

Training in Financial Responsibility

Vena Lung — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 04:05:15 GMT

S.M.A.R.T. Scheme - Simulation Game in Camps

Throughout the 17 years of working with youths and indirectly with their families, it has been obvious that the poverty cycle is a vicious cycle, where debts of the parents are passed on to their children, either through extreme poverty or financial ignorance and lack of self-discipline. The Foundation for Life's philosophy to "Teach a Child How to Fish" rather than just to give them a fish everyday, is the reason why the Organization persists on training our young generation with skills, a mindset of integrity and tenacity, together with self-discipline, so that they may be able to overcome the difficult times in their lives and to eventually be of assistance to others in their families and communities. For the past 12 years, many small scale projects was conducted so as to help instill financial education for both children and adults. An evolving curriculum on Financial Intelligence was written and re-adjusted over the years, so as to fit the local Thai needs. As a result, the S.M.A.R.T. (Stewardship of Money and Responsibility towards Treasures) Scheme was launched in 2009, as a pilot project for the children and youths. The S.M.A.R.T. Scheme was introduced in various camps that was conducted and about 900 children and youths went through this program.The young people were encouraged to begin a life of savings for the future and for what they wanted instead of just asking from parents or borrowing to buy what they want. In order for them to understand the principles taught, role-play was employed as a means to educate them and it was well received as a number of them began to use what was taught in their daily lives. The S.M.A.R.T. Scheme also taught them to give to others and this has borne good results as can be seen by Nok, our adult volunteer who said, " Of late, a number of kids who is using the S.M.A.R.T. Scheme, has come to me and donated on a regular basis, so that the funds can be used to help run activities for children and youths! This is amazing as it has never happened like this before in my 20 years as a youth worker!" The Foundation is grateful to all donors and supporters for their generous giving, that has empowered Thai kids with tools to overcome various obstacles in their lives. Any feedback, response and advice that will enhance our outreach to youths, is most welcome!

Play money used in one of the camps

Youth who is practising SMART scheme in his life

LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR YOUTHS

Vena Lung — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 12:45:09 GMT

"Shining Together" emphasizing teamwork

This year’s leadership training for youths was on the Theme of “Together We Can” from 12-15 October. The campers were sub-divided into 3 groups to cater specifically to the Girls of primary school-age, Girls of secondary school-age and the Boys, so that they would receive training appropriate to their genders and age group. Topics aimed at adding value in a wholistic fashion, e.g. in their physical, emotional, intellectual and social aspects were employed. About 300 campers from the local communities in Bangkok and upcountry provinces like Khon Kaen, Chonburi, Chiangrai, Chiangmai, Rayong,etc. gathered to better themselves in skills like teamwork using activities like ‘Shining Together’ to learn about social responsibilities, leading small groups, management and planning principles, handicrafts, adventure events like forest trekking, tenting and outdoor cooking, and last but not least, they were taught in how to keep up their good performance by learning the habit of “Sharpening their Saws”.

Meow, a teenager from Wiang Papao district in Chiangrai (northern Thailand) said,"I have never ever enjoyed any activity more than the "Shining Together" game that we played tonight. I learnt the invaluable lesson that we all need to work as a team and look out for each other"

Kong another camper from Chonburi recalled the time when all the boys in the camp helped the public water works vehicle that got really stuck in the mud after refilling the campgrounds water tanks, saying, "I am really impressed that when all of us guys put our hearts, minds and strength together, we can get that huge truck out of the mud. I believe that really, Together We CAN!"

Indeed, this year's camp was a Character Building event - as it was a year when it rained everyday at camp, YET, all outdoor activities that was planned for was carried out during times of intermitten sunshine. All campers were thankful as they gained tenacity in their attitudes and learnt to remain of good cheer despite facing obstacles in their way. On top of it all, when the camp was over and all campers went their various ways back to the provinces from which they came, it rained so hard around the campsite, that there was a metre-high flood on the main Highway, due to the run-off from the surrounding hills. Had we delayed a day, we would have been stranded with no way out of the campsite. It was certainly a camp to remember for years to come!

The Foundation is ever mindful of the challenges facing all of us and we are grateful for your support towards our work to instill the character of integrity and tenacity into the youths of tomorrow, so that they may carry on the good works that you have ignited in their lives.

Thank you from our hearts and may you and your families have a Blessed and Fruitful New Year in 2011!

Any suggestions or feedback regarding our project is most welcome.

Yes we cooked this!

Help light my candle, please

Together We Can-SHINE!

Together We Can-Do good works!

Different backgrounds, 1 spirit-TOGETHER WE CAN

"Shining Together" emphasizing teamwork

Training Hill Tribe Leaders in wholistic approach

Vena Lung — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 02:29:12 GMT

The training sessions

The population of Thailand is made up of various people groups and a portion of them are scattered amongst the hilly regions. These hill tribe groups generally live off the land and common amenities like water and electricity reach them last.

In terms of education, schools in the hilly regions are limited in number and upper secondary education are even less so. Therefore, the hill tribe students have to travel to the towns for their higher level education. Due to the vast distance from their homes to school, these students have to stay at the boarding schools and they only get to visit their homes during longer school holidays.

The Foundation thus trained 27 dormitory-persons-in-charge, as well as youths from about 12 tribal groups from the local school in Chiangrai on the 19th June, so that they would be able to run wholistic activities (that develop them physically, intellectually, spiritually and socially) for the tribal residents in the boarding homes during the weekends. In the process of running these activities both the leaders and participants get a chance to develop their leadership skills, as well as creative use of their free-time.

Activities during training

Boys in part of their traditional costumes

Girls wearing their traditional hilltribe costumes

ENABLING Core Youth Leaders to help give back to Society

Vena Lung — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 04:40:21 GMT

We are all Ready to sail the seas!

Young people, no matter their status or backgrounds are energetic, vibrant and looking for avenues for meaning and purpose. Understanding their needs, the Foundation for Life runs projects that would support in engaging youths, helping them discover hidden talents and giving meaning to their existence.

On 29 to 30 April, the core group of 40 Youth Leaders from communities in Bangkok and the neighboring provinces gathered for an additional training. These Youth Leaders who have been trained at various levels in previous camps are sponsored by the Foundation for Life to this training, and they were gathered to help plan for the National Drill Competition event in November 2010, for about 400 boys and girls from all over Thailand. They also attended Workshops on “Life-skills in Relationships and Healthy Attitudes toward the opposite sex".

Besides that, these young leaders were given the opportunity of learning new skills by the Staffs of the Nong Bon Water Sports Center, Bangkok. They now have a wider choice in the use of their free time to better their new-found skills in kayaking, sailing and wind-surfing.

These young people were unanimous in their approval of the training, as can be heard from comments like.... "I will be responsible to prepare for the portion of the Competition program that was delegated to me", Pinyo promised "The water sport activities were so new and challenging for me!" said Milk, "I want to do this again!" said Pure and "I now understand how the opposite sex thinks," said Tew,

We know that these Youths now have better self-esteem and understanding - which is vital foundation for helping others.

Learning the Ropes

Yes! We did it!

Look! We are Standing up!

Workshops and Planning

EMPOWERING Volunteer Leaders through Training

Vena Lung — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 02:46:06 GMT

Kinaesthetic Learning

As the saying by Lao Tzu goes,"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." This is also the standpoint and goal of the Foundation.

On 23-26 March 2010, the Foundation organized training for the about 60 volunteers, from Bangkok and the other provinces on the topic of Being a Servant Leader at the King Park Avenue Hotel. The trainer-facilitator Ms Khoo Seok Lin from Singapore emphasized on how a Servant Leader has to develop on the personal and team levels, in a wholistic manner namely, the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual arenas. The ‘Best Test’ in evaluating one’s leadership as a Servant Leader that is sustainable, as described by Robert Greenleaf, was passed on.

Each trainee also brought home their reflections and goals for personal, team and organizational development. Many little gifts that were distributed by the trainer helped remind trainees of the major principles that were transferred, so that all can take these principles back home to practice on oneself, the team and the youths that are under our care.

It was a memorable time of learning and sharing between like-minded advocates for equipping the Next Generation.

The training sessions

The Happy Learners

GLOBAL GIVING WORKSHOP PROJECT

Vena Lung — Wed, 12 May 2010 06:33:20 GMT

Global Giving Workshop

Since the Foundation is of a charitable nature, we are dependant on the donations of others to help develop the society. With the present financial situation, the Foundation also faced challenges in her sources of income. However, with the help of Global Giving (an USA-based Organisation that helps to liaise charities with potential donors), the chances of higher visibility via the internet was given to assist our fund-raising efforts. When Mr Bill Brower from Global Giving came to Thailand to conduct workshops for non-profit organizations, the Fondation helped to orgsanise the event for 17 people from 11 organisations who attended his talks on 19 February, held at The Nine Park Residence located off Srinakarin Road. Mr Brower also had the opportunity of visiting the kids in Klong Toey and Samut Songkhram activity centres.

Vocational training for Disabled@Klong Toey Centre

Klong Toey Slum Community

CHILDREN’S DAY PROJECT and EDUCATION FOR KIDS PROJECT

Vena Lung — Wed, 12 May 2010 05:56:07 GMT

Items for Children's Day toYannawa District Office

The Foundation contributed sports equipment, gifts and daily necessities to the Yannawa District Office in celebration of the Children’s Day for the year 2010, on 9 January that was given to the Wat Dok Mai School so that students have the opportunity to express themselves, developing them in areas of the physical, emotions, social and wisdom.

The Foundation gave Educational equipment, books, stationery to the underprivileged children in the district of Lardprao, through partnership with the Baan Prachrit Foundation, including teaching materials that were beneficial to the development of the children in that area

Items donated to Baan Prakrit

Items donated by Foundation for Life

Samut Songkhram site visit

Bill Brower — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:11:34 GMT

Praciting throw-ins (the kids much preferred practicing PKs)

Bill Brower is a Field Program Officer with GlobalGiving who is visiting our projects throughout Southeast Asia. On February 6th he visited a Foundation for Life weekend session for Thai youths in Samut Songkhram.

As I discuss in a recent blog post (http://blog.globalgiving.org/2010/02/06/a-tougher-sell/), Vena and Somkid of Foundation for Life have a tough task to attract donors to their project. The youths they work with aren’t necessarily orphans, sick or poor. They aren’t providing urgent care for the least advantaged. But their aim is no less noble: They seek to equip the next generation in Thailand with the leadership skills and commitment to service that are so important to a well functioning society. They do so through periodic camps, for which the teens themselves determine the activities, and youth centers throughout the country, which bring together talented individuals from across society.

It was to the weekend session of one of these centers, a couple hours outside Bangkok, that I recently visited with Vena and Somkid. The kids get lessons to supplement their schoolwork, and also in leadership, responsibility and other interesting skills. For attending they get vouchers toward future rewards. This particular weekend, a professional futsal player was scheduled to come to do some training with the kids. He had to cancel at the last moment, and the kids were stuck with a decidedly unprofessional American soccer player, yours truly, to run them through some drills. We capped it off with a fun scrimmage, during which I, of course, as keeper let in the only goal for the other team.

At the end of the activity time a few of the boys went to get drinks from a local vendor and were subsequently late coming back to the classroom. Somkid gave the class a lecture on responsibility and punctuality. The boys had to sing a song to apologize to the others. Finally, the group discussed whether they thought the boys should get their attendance vouchers for the day. They decided they shouldn’t since they were not in attendance the whole time. One could see how these lessons at a young age, along with the support of their peers and the Foundation, would set these young people up to be effective leaders tomorrow. Thanks for supporting this project!

Me with a few of the kids.

Leadership in Practice

Vena Lung — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:17:12 GMT

Only when a leader walks his talk, does anyone really benefit by his leadership. This update describe events that have been conducted so that the young have the occasion to live out the head knowledge learnt, training them to be doers in the real world.

The Foundation wishes to thank all supporters for their altruistic giving and any feedbacks that would help us improve our services to the next generation is most welcomed.

Attachments:

3_Updates_ENG_JulSep_2009.pdf (PDF)

Instilling a Sense of Responsibility

Vena Lung — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:06:26 GMT

While the world around demands for personal rights, individualism and caring for 'I-Me-Myself' only attitude, the Foundation strives to go against the grain to instill a sense of responsibility to the children and youths that what they do, will impact others, in both good and bad ways.

The attached update describes the activities done toward this end.

The Foundation wishes to thank all supporters for their altruistic giving and any feedbacks that would help us improve our services to the next generation.

Attachments:

Apr-Jun Update_ENG (PDF)

Social Outreach and Training Adult Volunteers

Vena Lung — Sat, 16 May 2009 06:03:01 GMT

As Thailand comes face to face with the economic, enviornmental and political tough times in Year 2009, many families thus children and youths are adversely affected. There is a pressing need to help the communities in concrete, tangible ways and to train leaders in excellence, so as not to waste precious resources.

The attached document details the activities carried out from Jan - Mar 2009.

We welcome and thank all supporters for their giving and feedbacks.

Attachments: