Give 220 Disadvantaged Children a Brighter Future

Due to COVID19, schools all over Thailand started their new school year July 1^st instead of the usual May 1^st. This means that the children who live at Kamala School during term time had been away with families or friends for 3 months.

The continued effect of the pandemic has led to zero tourism and the closure of businesses all over Phuket. Families now have less, or no, disposable income.  More than ever the disadvantaged children need our assistance, as families send their children to live at Kamala School during term time to ensure 3 meals a day.

When term started, the school had measures in place to keep the children safe, distancing, hand sanitizer usage and masks were worn. As the Government has kept the boarders closed we have had zero COVID cases in Phuket for many months and school no longer practices social distancing.  This has helped us to offer a fun afterschool club for the children.  

Coconut Club Mondays we cook up a storm, always popular, especially when it’s time for the students to eat the treats they’ve made! Tuesdays we play games outside, skateboarding and twister are the current favourites. Wednesdays have indoor games and the ever popular Bingo. (When you win you get to choose a small prize… at the end of the club if you’ve been playing all that time without winning you get a small prize too!)  Thursdays are creative arts & crafts, a great way to finish a day of hard study.

Thanks to the easing of restrictions this month we were able to welcome a group of senior school children to run their CAS (Creativity, activity, service) activity at the club.  The CAS students ran great Coconut Clubs during the week and on Friday hosted a party with birthday games and cookies.  The most fun was had at the end with the pinata!

A huge thank you to our supporters all over the world; with your help, even during these difficult times, we are able to continue to help our children pursue their dreams without you!

The COVID19 outbreak has severely impacted our work at Kamala School in Phuket over the last few months. Schools all over Thailand have been closed due to safety measures since March 6^th 2020 and will only reopen on July 1^st.

The closure of schools all over the island, together with unemployment, means families now have more mouths to feed and less, or even no, disposable income. 

During these hard times our team of teachers and volunteers has not stopped supporting the local community in any way they can. We have been helping a local restaurant pack and distribute free meals to all the families in need around Kamala, providing food and water for 600 people each day. More children from low-income backgrounds will need our assistance in the near future, as vulnerable families will send their children to live at Kamala School during term time to ensure 3 meals a day and a safe place to sleep.

Due to the safety measures required by the Thai Government to keep the children and teachers safe, classes will be smaller to ensure social distancing, and extracurricular activities are temporarily suspended. Our teachers have been setting up their classrooms to ensure the children will be sitting far enough away from their classmates, cleaning the rooms and rearranging their teaching equipment. Moreover, they have spent the last month planning lessons and adjusting the curriculum for our little learners who will start a new academic term in July instead of May this year.  Primary School will be taught in the mornings and Senior School in the afternoons to further ensure social distancing.

After three months at home, the reopening of schools is a milestone for Thai children.  Our teachers are beyond excited to see their students back safe and healthy.  We are looking forward to seeing the joy on the faces of our little learners as they see their classmates and teachers again!