Lessons learnt from last year's appeal included:
- Timing. Visits to the Border School are strictly controlled. While the appeal was very successful, delivery of the socks was after the main cold period. Our next visit (at which Forum members will also be welcomed again) will be [Edit] 2 Sept 15 3 Sept 15, before the worst of the weather hits.
- Money. We need to control incomings and outgoings more formally. Although very grateful for all donations, Big Boy was a little uneasy being the custodian for large sums of money. To alleviate this a dedicated bank account has been set up to receive donations i.e.:
Bank: Kasikorn
Branch: Hua Hin Market Village Branch
A/c: 485-2-49533-8
Name: Suphannee Oliver
Of course, our timing is awful. Donors please beware that most Kasikorn services will close at 22:00hrs on 17 Jul’15 and not re-open until 22:00hrs on 19 Jul’15.
The school has supplied us with some ‘not too good’ photos to highlight the dilemma.
Photo 1 shows many kids are now wearing the flip flop shoes we bought last year for classroom use, as their main shoes. OK, they will protect the soles of the feet, but if you look at the video of the ride to the school last year, you will see the terrain many of these kids have to walk daily to and from school.
This walk will soon become a mud bath.
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January’s visit saw 9 car loads of people, food and gifts travel to the school near the Burmese Border. This included many forum members who were allowed to walk around the school and meet the children. We don’t think there was a dry eye in the house as the children sang The Kapom Song (Thank You).
As with January’s visit, forum members and their families will be very welcome to come along again. Food will be provided by the travelling Thai contingent, and as usual, there will be loads of ice cream. The children are absolutely fantastic, and you’ll want to take a couple home with you
. Members will be permitted to interact quite freely, and help with preparation/serving of food, giving gifts, serving ice cream etc. They will be permitted to take as many photos as they wish. Last time we were able to squeeze everybody into the cars, and we would hope to do something similar this time.Visit days are a huge treat for the kids, and everybody involved enjoys it.
Big Boy has agreed to administer the appeal/organize the visit/do the running around again this year.
If you would like to donate to the appeal:
From within Thailand:
Please transfer funds into the above bank account, and advise Big Boy by PM.
From the UK:
PM Big Boy, and he will make arrangements for you to transfer Sterling into his UK bank account. On the day he receives it, he will apply the current exchange rate, and credit the appeal account.
Rest of the World:
PM Big Boy, and he will make arrangements for you to transfer as cheaply as possible.
This is a great cause, which we all believe in. Thank you very much for your consideration. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on [Edit] 2 Sept 15 3 Sept 15.
. We hope you and your wife can make it to the school this year - I don't think you'll be disappointed.
