Opportunity to help Pattaya schoolchildren

The Director Nattasetha Phosrithong said instead of given money and walking away, he prefers that contributions be made on an ongoing basis. He outlined three areas of significance. First, the groups of students who have the grades but not the money to continue their education need to be helped. Secondly, the artistic students who excel in music, drawing, painting and other arts need assistance. Thirdly, help should be given to the workers of tomorrow who do not have the grades to go to college but would do well in vocational training.

It is better to help a single child all the way through to his or her professional start than it is to repair a roof of a building, the director said.

Explaining his idea for a mentoring program Drew Noyes asked if it would be possible to set up a meeting with large numbers of students at different schools and have the foreigner give a small presentation of his company and then have a Thai staff member who has learned the technological transfer of information from the foreigner boss speak to the kids in Thai and explain that they can also learn a new area of expertise if they want or have a foreigner as a mentor.

The director said this was an excellent idea. Mike Strouse, Managing Director of Final Wave, Co., Ltd. said that his company would strongly support such a program and that he and one of his protégés would be happy to speak to groups of students.

The group agreed to a second meeting to include the Chief of Banglamung District and other school officials at Bruno’s restaurant for a working lunch.