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Canadian Children Make a Great Impression

 Foundation Blog, Lead  1 Response »
May 012011
 
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On Thursday this week we were treated to a visit by 11 great kids from Canada who came with Art International Volunteers to help out with painting the Mural around the children’s playground.

Arriving at around 10.15 pm the group soon set up some fun ice-breaking games in the front yard.

Our children’s initial shyness soon vanished as everyone joined in the fun.

The children the split into 2 groups with one group starting work on the Mural and the other taking part in a craft workshop, making paper wallets.

After lunch the groups swapped activities.

The Mural work was all finished by the end of the day thanks to great effort by all the children and Volunteers together.

We would like to say thank you, once again, to Art Relief International and to all the visiting Canadian Children, who generously donated toys, books and colouring pencils, as well as buying ice cream for all our children.

A great day, with a beautiful result. See the photos below the videos.

Top Marks

 Foundation Blog, Lead  1 Response »
Apr 042011
 

As well as the Summer Fair at Panyaden Saturday was sign up day for May 2 at her new school as she moves up to Mattayom and joins Gu and Tai in Sarapee next term.

It was a morning of much queing and waiting but it was worth it to see May getting sorted for her move up to the ‘big school’.

Gu and Tai were there to offer support and also to collect books for their new year in May.

Then on Sunday morning it was back there bright and early for the boys to collect their grades.

A morning of pride in the boys as Tai collected his special certificate having come in 7th in the top grade of Mattayom 1, with grades of 4 for all but one subject.

This was followed shortly by Gu who has continued to show huge improvements over the year. I glowed as I noted 4′s , 3.5 and 3′s amongst his grades. Previously 2.5 had been the highest.

Indeed Gu received recognition from the school for outstanding effort, being chosen by his teacher to receive a financial reward towards educational materials.

Well done both of you, hope you know how proud I am of your efforts, enjoy your holiday and keep it up next school year:)

Holiday at Home For Yong and May

 Foundation Blog  No Responses »
Mar 202011
 

Half way through Saturday afternoon Yong and May1′s Mum turned up to take them home for an extended home visit over the Song Kran period.
Hope you have a nice time girls, miss you already, see you after Song Kran.

Coming Soon..Stratton House Circus

 Foundation Blog  1 Response »
Mar 102011
 

At the end of another hot day, our two eldest boys came up with the idea of using some of our neighbours young bamboo to make stilts. With some encouragement from me they went round to ask our elderly neighbour whether they could cut two pieces to use. The kindly old man happily said yes and Gu and Tai went round to choose their bamboo, watched by Jack.

After selecting their wood they came back and set to work. The finished stilts are not yet complete, Tai is still outside working on his (9 p.m); but I’m sure they will have lots of fun when they’re done.

Very inventive!

The Fish Get an Upgrade

 Foundation Blog  No Responses »
Feb 212011
 

Our original fishpond, made from an unused plastic dog bed, didnt really work very well and at the childrens suggestion we moved our mosquito eating fish closer to the house and into a large concrete “basin”.
Complete with a beautiful lilly plant and various other asthetics, we think the fish are probably much happier in their new home. This Sunday, after their English lesson, some of the children got to work beautifying the outside of the new fish “pond”.
Much concentration, and some work left to do but its certainly starting to look very good.
Excellent:)

Happy Birthday May

 Foundation Blog  1 Response »
Feb 162011
 

Mays 12th birthday was actually yesterday but as Mum was leaving early Monday morning it was agreed that we would hold her birthday party on Sunday evening whilst Mum was still here.

Cake, crisps, all the usual party food and drink, dissappeared rapidly.

On Saturday May went to the market and chose new clothes and then on Sunday she received gifts from Mum and myself, including a small “hello Kitty” alarm clock, an octopus multicoloured lamp and art materials. She also got small gifts from some of the other children, made during the day.

A happy day for a happy girl.

Dreams Can Come True…May 2 Thanks The Anonymous Ukelele Player.

 Foundation Blog  No Responses »
Feb 022011
 

Thanks to an anonymous donation from an American Ukelele player, living in Chiang Mai, another of our children has had a dream come true.

May song wanted to be able to learn to play the piano.

Getting a full size piano may have been a bit difficult and expensive but she now has a handy Casio keyboard for her initial learning.

A gift given with the true spirit of giving….no thanks asked for but we thank you anyway:)

Tai Works Hard On Our Banner For Chiang Mai Friends Party

 Foundation Blog, Lead  1 Response »
Jan 232011
 

Once again The Stratton ABC Foundation would like to thank Panyaden School for generously giving up their space at The Chiang Mai Friends Party this weekend to us to help us promote our work.
We also owe great thanks to our longtime friend and supporter, Ally, for manning the information stall and letting visitors know what we are all about.
The Banner on the stall was produced by 13 year old Tai who gave up three evenings working hard to follow the design supplied by Li Li Tan.
Well done Tai, excellent work and much appreciation for your selfless work.
And of course thanks to anyone who visited the stall and we can only hope that you may have been impressed enough to want to take a closer look, and maybe extend your much needed support in order that we may continue and develop our services to disadvantaged Children in Northern Thailand.

Hmmm- Does It Run In The Family?

 Foundation Blog, Lead  1 Response »
Jan 122011
 
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A good Thai Teacher friend told me once that working with children either requires you to be a little on the crazy side or sends you that way.

My Mum seems to be showing me that it runs in the family:)

The kids have watched amazed as she has skipped and ridden her way around the garden.

She had donated skipping ball rings and the kids couldn’t work out how to use them, so in true Mad Dogs and English (wo)Man fashion she leapt into action with an excellent demonstration of fitness belying her years.

So proud of you Mum.

She also joined the children bicycle riding around the garden. She still rides a bicycle to work back in Worcester so this was no problem.

The children have all warmed to her lively friendly character and are clearly amused by the banter between myself and my Mum. They keep asking whether I’ve managed to convince her to stay on for good, all I can say is I’m trying my best.

Mums Visit Off To A Good Start.

 Foundation Blog  No Responses »
Jan 092011
 

So Mum is here for 6 weeks, and so far is loving the time here with the kids.

She arrived after midnight on Tuesday 4th and made a special effort to get up in the morning to be able to say “hi” to the kids before they left for School.

Then the next thing I knew she was doing what Mothers always to….tidying. Try as I might I can’t stop her.

She came armed with a whole box full of gifts for the children and has been enjoying spending time with them, and me, I hope:)

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