Christmas in Thailand seems to be getting more popular each year. In many shops, bars and restaurants there are more lights, bigger trees and louder carols blaring out of sound systems.

The Father Ray Foundation hosted a party for all the children, students, workers and volunteers, totaling more than 800 people. This was the first such large party, and its aim was to unite the children and students together as one big family, recognize their hard work and give them a party they would never forget.
The theme was ‘70’s Disco,’ and as most children and students attending the event were not born in the 1970’s there was a lot of confusion when the young children saw their teachers dressed in the fashion of three decades ago.
Thanks to a generous benefactor, who donated funds to be used specifically for a Christmas party, the children sat down for a Chinese banquet while being entertained by many different acts. The food was superb and the children were amazed at just how much of it there was, yet no matter how many dishes appeared not a single grain of rice was wasted.

The choir from the Vocational School for People with Disabilities performed a wonderful selection of traditional Christmas carols. This was followed by the teenagers from the Special Needs Center whose performance saw the audience jumping to their feet and dancing along.
The audience were once again on their feet when Miss Apple, former student from the School for the Blind, took the stage to perform a few numbers. The young blind students immediately recognized the song and they too were on their feet dancing along.
Highlight of the evening was when the foreign volunteers climbed onto the stage to perform a medley of hits from the 1970’s. As the volunteers finished their last dance, and the sounds of the Village People’s hit YMCA faded away, the ringing of bells saw the arrival Santa Claus.
Most young children came running forward, all wanting to shake the hand of Santa, but there were just as many who had never met the big man in the red suit and they ran away screaming. That was until the volunteers started throwing candy from the stage, and then they soon came running back.
The children left with full bellies, armfuls of gifts and smiles on their faces, all looking forward to next Christmas.

Together we have all made a difference in how people–Thai and farang, local and abroad–think about the dangers of litter, from our ongoing efforts, educating the unknowing, asking the uncaring to please refrain from leaving behind toxic cigarette butts which take up to 12 years to decompose, bottle caps, disposable lighters, plastic, Styrofoam and other non-biodegradable litter that can hurt children, wildlife, make ill or kill, contaminate our soil and waterways.
We have been cleaning Jomtien Beach, Dong Tan Beach, Pattaya Beach, Hat Nang Ram Beach and Sattahip, plus putting up posters in those and other areas in Thailand from Buriram to Chiang Mai for the past 11 years, usually seven days a week on Jomtien beach. Thailand has been affected by our walking the walk and talking the talk.
The New Year’s resolution that we would like to suggest to all that could change the world and one’s inner wealth is to take action. Understand how wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world, and be ashamed to die until one has won some victory for all living things.
Please take a little time out of one’s busy lives to give back to Mother Earth. Nothing is worth more then this day, each and every day.
Now is the only time there is.
Waster-Sizing is one way to stay fit, helping Mother Earth, earning inner wealth at the same time, all one needs to do, is go to a beach, lake, river, stream, creek, park, neighborhood, wherever. If you see anything that could be harmful to children, wildlife, soil or our waterways, take a few minutes, bend to pick up the waste, dispose of it properly and start getting rid of both waist and waste.
Please remember storm drains carry our life’s blood (water) to our oceans, lakes, rivers, streams and creeks.
“Packing out what one packs in” is showing love and concern for all living things, removing litter that another left behind, is going the extra yard and gives one priceless inner wealth, that must be earned, can’t be bought.
We are all in this neighborhood together.
Again we thank Pattaya City Hall, local newspapers, TV specials and radio for assisting us through all the years past. Also the many Thais and farang who have helped us remove litter and have donated baht for posters and dog food, hopefully they, as we, will continue for years to come.
Today is the first day of the rest of our lives, let’s all reach out for our home, Mother Earth.

GM Michael Ganster and his dusitD2 baraquda pattaya staff  visited the Camillian Centre  in Ladkrabang, Bangkok. The group was eager to learn more about the Camillian Centre, which provides relief for orphans and disabled children, and to present the kids with a 20,000-baht donation.

The team was greeted by Faisal, a volunteer from Canada, who explained the workings of the centre. The dusitD2 staff then romped with the kids and played games.
Peter, a 14-year-old with Down syndrome, said, “What dusitD2 baraquda pattaya contributed to the centre today was priceless; it’s not just the money or the gifts, it’s the sincerity that dusitD2 staff brought and expressed to us that we really appreciated. We all really had a great time.”
Ganster reflected, “It was certainly a great and meaningful day for all of us, and I am confident that the dusitD2 staff now have a much better understanding of the problems and will continue to support this centre throughout the year as our social care project”.

Rotary Club Phoenix Pattaya and Lions Club of Phoenix Hong Kong is arranging two joint charity projects in Pattaya: the home for the elderly in Banglamung and some financial support for Dr. Philippe Seur’s HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention activities in Pattaya.

A delegation of  Lions Club Phoenix Hong Kong arrived on 10th of December at Suvarnabumi Airport in Bangkok and were welcomed by the president of Rotary Club Phoenix Pattaya, Hubert Meier, together with some board members of the club. The reason of the journey to Pattaya was the realization of two charity projects in Pattaya, which were financed by both clubs.
After arrival, both clubs visited the home for the aged in Banglamung to donate a six-seat electric golf carts to the management there. The golf carts will be used to give the very old and handicapped elderly residents more mobility in and around their home. The carts were the hope of the elderly home management and the residents themselves.  Hubert Meier, and the Lions Club of Phoenix Hong Kong chairman of the project, Rosita Li-Meier, gave a speech followed by the director of the elderly home, Utit Boonchuay, who thanked both charity clubs also on behalf of the elderly for the generous 210,000 baht Christmas donation.  After the official event, all participants celebrated the handover of the golf cart by dancing and singing karaoke and enjoying tea, coffee and cakes.
In the evening, Hubert and his wife hosted a dinner for both clubs and friends at the Cabbages & Condoms Restaurant. In  a very relaxed atmosphere, everybody enjoyed the excellent Thai food and used the time to make new friendships.
The second event took place at noon in the Diana Garden Resort convention center to give financial support to Dr. Seur for his selfless work for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention in Pattaya for more than 13 years now. The reason of this event was to hand over a check of 200,000 baht donated by both clubs equally. Individuals from Hong Kong donated directly to Dr. Seur another 80,000 baht. Dr. Seur has been working in Pattaya for over 13 years without any fees and has given a great contribution to the Pattaya community with his restless, selfless and passionate work. The event had the honor to welcome the deputy mayor of Pattaya City, Ronakit Ekasingh, who joined this event  representing the mayor, and also Sopin, the owner of Diana Group, joined as a VIP.
A video clip was shown at Dr. Seur’s clinic , where he explained in more detail different aspects and the medical requirements of his work followed by several speeches, including that of the deputy mayor. All speakers honored the work and contribution of Dr. Seur to the Pattaya community. Dr. Seur expressed his thanks for his recognition and donations. He gave a very inspiring speech,  giving basic understanding and guidance how to protect everybody from the HIV/AIDS disease.
The event concluded by exchanging souvenirs and appreciation documents followed by a Thai buffet invitation for all participants. Rotary Club Phoenix Pattaya and Lions Club of Phoenix Hong Kong expressed their intention to continue with other international joint projects in the future.

For the past five years, Krungthai-AXA Life has been the fastest growing life insurance company in Thailand and currently has more than one million customers.

Last month, Santi Prompat, Minister of Social Development & Human Security, presented the company with an award for its contributions to people with disabilities.
On accepting the award, company CEO Mike Plaxton said he did so on behalf of the almost two million people living with disabilities in Thailand.

Eight young people with varying disabilities are now working at the Krungthai-AXA’s Bangkapi headquarters. Most of them are graduates of the Redemptorist Vocational School for People with Disabilities in Pattaya.  They are employed not because of their disabilities (there is little pressure to employ a person with a disability), but because the company wants their employment rolls open to all sectors of society.
Most people living with disabilities do not want charity. Nor do they want to be pitied, or employed just because the company wants to be seen to be ‘doing the right thing’.
Qualified graduates do not want to be employed in work that no one else wants to do. Instead they want to be treated fairly, as individuals, and be allowed to prove to new employers that they are just as worthy of a position as the person sitting at the desk next to them.
People with disabilities want to show that the skills and abilities they have gained are beneficial to employers and their disability should not be a barrier to gaining suitable employment.
Each year the first Saturday in December sees the graduation ceremony for successful students at the Vocational School in Pattaya. For two years the students have studied a variety of courses ranging from electronic repair to English to computers. They gained not just new skills but the confidence to go into the workforce as equals.
If a large multi-national company such as Krungthai-AXA Life has benefited from such an initiative, then other companies could also gain valuable human assets by opening their recruitment processes to all sectors of society.
For more information on the Job Placement Agency for People with Disabilities contact info@fr-ray.org

Some of the bloodiest fighting of World War One took place in the Flanders and Picardy regions of Belgium and Northern France, and the poppy was the only thing which grew in the aftermath of the complete devastation.

For 90 that red flower has been worn as a symbol of remembrance for those who lost their lives, not just in the Great War, but in all wars and conflicts since.
The Royal British Legion Chonburi branch held a Service of Remembrance at St. Nichlaus Church and on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month more than one hundred servicemen, veterans, family of servicemen and women, students and dignitaries bowed their head for two minutes of silence to remember those who have fallen.
Father Michael Picharn of the Father Ray Foundation celebrated the Mass and delivered a sermon remembering the bravery of those who give their lives to ensure the freedom of others.
The British ambassador, His Excellency Asif Ahmad, travelled from Bangkok to attend the Service and gave the reading.

Other dignitaries attending included Gary Biesty, Honorary Irish Consul, as well as representatives from the US Embassy and the Thai, Australian and New Zealand military services, all of whom laid a wreath of poppies to remember the dead. Business leaders also attended, including Graham MacDonald and John Anderson, presidents of the British and Australian Chamber of Commerce, respectively.
This year is the ninetieth anniversary of when the first poppies were worn as a sign of remembrance. The first poppy appeal in 1921 raised £106,000, (more than 30 million pounds in today’s terms) and this year it is hoped that the Royal British Legion will raise more than 40 million pounds to help support ex-service personnel and their families. Support is given not just to those who fought in two World Wars, but also in the many conflicts since 1945 and those still fighting today.
The Royal British Legion in Pattaya meets weekly at Tropical Bert’s and more information can be found at www.rblthailand.com

The 2011 SOS Rice appeal will take place over three weekends from the 18th of November to the 5th December.

The aim of the annual SOS Rice appeal is to encourage the people of Pattaya to donate rice to help feed the 850 children and students with disabilities living at the Father Ray Foundation.

However, this year the Foundation needs your help more than ever.
The flooding in Bangkok has seen many people leave their homes and make their way to Pattaya.
The Father Ray Children’s Home has opened its doors to 50 children from a similar home in Nonthaburi. The Vocational School is giving shelter to 90 people living with a disability whose homes have been flooded and the Drop-In Center for Street Kids is once again providing a safe haven for children who have no other place to go.
From November 18 to December 5, the Father Ray Foundation is asking for your assistance to help feed the children, students with disabilities and the evacuees from Bangkok.
Over three weekends there will be volunteers and children from the Foundation stationed at many supermarkets in Pattaya.
The Foundation is asking that the next time you go shopping at Tesco Lotus, Big C, Makro, Best, Friendship, Tops, Villa Market or Foodland you will buy an extra bag of rice for the children of Pattaya and the flood victims of Bangkok.
Donations of rice, foodstuffs and cash can also be dropped off at the Father Ray Foundation Welcome Center on Sukhumvit Road, between North and Central Pattaya Roads.
Please help the victims of the floods, and remember the children of Pattaya.

With financial assistance coming from many organisations including Pattaya Sports Club, The Child Protection Development Centre in Huay Yai in the last 3 years has progressed from a baron, uneven area of land into a self contained village.

Houses, dining room, computer centre, sports areas and more have been built by Human Help Network for the residents–50 former street kids who have been sexually and physically abused or abandoned. The Centre provides protection, education, security and prospects for the future with the tireless help of Toy, Jaand and others dedicated to the task.

A simple problem arose: where do the children wash their clothes? They had bundles of laundry every day. The area that was being used was not ideal. In fact, it was dangerous in that an electricity box was open to the elements and unsteady underfoot. The obvious answer was to build a laundry area.
Pattaya Sports Club provided sufficient funds to build such a unit adjacent to two water tanks.
Now there are no excuses for unwashed clothing.

After leaving Asian University almost in the middle of the night, students and staff were quite groggy when meeting with TV3’s host Siripoon Nattapan and her team at 6 am in Bangkok to prepare for helping the flood victims on Thammasat University’s Rangsit Campus, and with Kong Roi Num Wan, a group of women police officers who organized the transport.

Piles of donated goods await helping hands at Thammasat Rangsit Campus

“I was like very lifeless until I arrived at Thammasat Rangsit and saw all the refugees who suffered from flood. I felt vigorous and wanted to help those people,” said Asama Kittimanont, a second year multimedia design student. “Each volunteer had different duties. I was responsible for take care of kids. My main work was telling them some stories.”
“We started with dividing into 4 groups: taking care the children, helping to carry stuffs, to give out  the medicines, and to do Thai massage. We spent our time with those people and helped them; it was very nice to see Thai people helping each other. We did everything that we could do. We saw the value of life on this day and were very proud to be Thai,” reported Chakrit Jedsadavisuit, president of the First Year Students at Asian U.

Asian U students ready to work at the Thammasat Rangsit Stadium

San Wannasri, president of Asian U’s Student Union, summarized the experience of all students and staff when he said, “I have understood the real feeling of those flooded victims; I have realized that how much they suffered. I agree that my friends and I were really tired at the end of the day but, again, thinking of those people, they are having a much harder time than us. For me, I have learnt to be a giver.”
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the president of Asian university, Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya, as well as staffs here for supporting us. Last but not least, a real big thanks to the Thai people that they are always there for each other, no matter how severe the situation is,” Wannasri added. Kittimanont agreed, “I have obviously seen the spirits of Thai people who are always stay beside each other.”

Student Union president being interviewed on TV