Character and Leadership Training for Thai Youths

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

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.

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 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.

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.