By Jorn Dix | International Volunteer
The new term at our Half Day School (HDS) started on November 3, marking the start to a busy period full of feasts and activities.
DEPDC is happy to report that nearly all students who finished the previous term returned for this term. This is not always certain as quite some of our students live in very difficult economic and social situations lacking any stability. In case that the children's caregivers are forced to move following their work, the children will be forced to drop out of school and follow as well. In other cases the economic pressure on the children to go to work to support the family's income becomes to strong and dropping out of school is just a matter of time. Under these circumstances it is already some effort that this term nearly all students from the last term came back to study on.
The last two months of the year are marked with many holidays that we recognize at DEPDC including both traditional Thai and Western holidays.
On November 6, the students of HDS celebrated Loi Krathong by setting free little floats made of banana trunk, banana leaves, flowers, candles, and joss sticks on rivers and lakes. These little floats are supposed to bring good luck and make one’s wishes come true. The students made these floats themselves during an art class.
Our American English teacher, Channing, celebrated Thanksgiving with the students on November 27. She had the students create hand turkeys and reflect upon what they are most thankful for. The students were thankful for many things, ranging from family to good health to friends to music.
The next important celebration was Thai Fathers Day, which is celebrated on His Majesty King Bhumibol's birthday on December 5. In the morning, the HDS students had special lessons on the history of Thailand and its monarchy, and in the afternoon the students and staff of DEPDC held a ceremony to wish a Happy Birthday, good health, and a long life to His Majesty.
Finally, Christmas time approached and HDS English students participated in the “A lifetime of Christmas Cards”-project for Addie Fausett, a six years old girl suffering from a terminal disease, sending handmade Christmas cards to her to show kindness and to instill a central theme of Christmas: showing goodwill to all mankind.
On Christmas Day, our Christian students had the chance to stay at home to celebrate Christmas with their families and friends.
On the day after Christmas, HDS made a field trip the Tham Luang-Khun Nam Nang Non - Forest Park. In the morning, there were special lessons on the various fauna and flora native to Northern Thailand and Mae Sai District. After lunch, the students made a trip to the main cave before the children went swimming at a lake nearby.
Finally, the New Years vacation gave the students and staff of DEPDC a very much welcomed break to relax.
The staff, volunteers, and the students of HDS would like to extend a kind thank you to all of our generous donors. It is only because of the continuing and constant support of people like you that DEPDC is able to perform its mission to make a positive difference in the lives of children who are at risk of being trafficked into the commercial sex industry or other forms of exploitive labor.
Thanks to everybody and we wish everyone a Happy New Year!
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