Where is our school?
20 January, 2005
In the aftermath of gigantic Tsunami that dragged away numbers of lives
and property of people, many schools of children in the 6
hardest- hit provinces at the Andaman coast in Southern Thailand were also wiped off
the seashore. All awhile people have spent most of the time seeking for
the dead bodies and the missing people, the fact children losing their
schools seem to be got out of focus. It has been until news about a donation
from our King for rebuilding schools was released.
“Our King donated bath 20 million for rebuilding schools for children
in the affected areas. The
schools include Bang Sak School, Tambon Bang Muang, Kuraburi District,
Phang Nga.”
From this, a topic on the left- behind children becomes a talk of the
town, followed with helps from the concerned people. Despite those aids,
many children in the affected areas still lack a school. It was only
2 days before their school opened and they would start their new term.
What they found left on the day schools opened, after the disaster, was
only the ruins of their schools completely devastated. The devastation
was too immediate for any aids to be managed in time.
In the darkness, there still is a light. The owner of Kamala
Bay Garden Resort is the one who kindly lends a hand to 337 children by allocating
some rooms in his hotel for children to continue their study. He said
that currently, the number of guests staying in his hotel has dramatically
decreased, resulting the very low occupancy rate. He thought that now
children lost their schools and what he could help more or less was to
have the hotel rooms as their temporary school until new schools would
be rebuilt. Besides, the hotel's yard area and swimming pool become the
places where children's recreational activities are taken place.
“Preecha Phuerak”, the Director of Baan Kamala School, told that Baan
Kamala School was established since 75 years ago, before devastated by
Tsunami within only a few minutes. Two buildings were wiped out to the
sea, the rest was the ruins, which could not be used, losing almost bath
7 million. They also lost their teacher, parents and their friends.
“We really appreciate helps lent by many organizations such as Oichi
Company, intending to help financially for the reconstruction of Baan
Kamala School, at a total expense of bath 10 million; the Christian Associate,
allocating another bath 10 million for a new cafeteria. Nevertheless,
the reconstruction takes at least 6 months to be complete. Children need
a place to study as an urgent. That's why, by the kind decision of its
owner, Kamala
Beach Resort becomes our children' school for a period
of time until the new school to be rebuilt”, said Mr. Preecha.
“The Tsunami victim children cannot not make their mind settled at the
moment as the result from the great lose. Therefore, during the school
hours at Kamala
Beach Resort, the psychiatrists from the Ministry
of Public Health are sent to there to help recover the mental health of the 62 Tsunami-
affected children”, said the school's director.
The ways to help relieve the children's stress vary from meditating,
drawing, having recreational activities such as swimming in the hotel's
pool, team- working activities, including having foreigners to teach
English. |
A new school, we are desperately
waiting for it.
20 January, 2005
- Chantakarn Thepchuoy, an 8 year-old little girl, studying in Prathom
2 at Baan Bang Sak School
“In minute the wave suddenly came over us, my mom and I were about to
go to the market. I remembered the moment we both made a run for it,
up to the hill. My dad wasn't with us. He went to work at Tambon Bang
Nian in Khao Lak. And at 6 in the next early morning, my mom called him
only to hear no answer. I deeply miss him. We never get any news from
him until 2-3 days later when he was found dead. But I didn't see him.
I lost my school too. There are only its ruins left. I don't know where
to study. Our teacher brought us to study at her house temporarily until
the new school will be rebuilt. It is the overwhelming and kind- hearted
royal donation from our King and from other generous adults, that miracles
a new school for us.”
- Suriya Tangge, a 10 year-old little boy, studying in Prathom 4 at
Baan Bang Sak School
“My house located off shore wasn't devastated by Tsunami but the greater
lose is my mom who was working construction at Baan Nam Kem. She leaved
home at 7 am as usual. We and even she didn't know at all that was the
last time we were together. She is gone forever. I have only my dad beside.
A day later I went to school and what I found is only the ruins of the
school completely swept out into pieces like small toys by Tsunami. Gracefully
our King donated the fund to be spent in reconstructing new school for
us. I am very glad and appreciate his royal kindness. He never forgot
us. I promise to study hard and help my dad earn for us and another two
younger brothers. I feel truly glad for getting a proper place to study.”
- Jesada Klinkaew, a boy from Baan Kamala School, studying in Prathom
6
“On the day Tsunami attacked the whole of my house, I was very shocked!
My school was also attacked and all damaged--- gone away with the waves.
Only one building was left but it can't be used. “Where to study?” That's
the only question...
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