Many of you know that “partnership” is an essential element of the work we do. In this spirit of partnership, we work with carefully vetted, local, grass-roots NGOs (non-government organizations) to help them become stronger and more sustainable. Sometimes that partnership means funding.
Sometimes it means training, consulting, or coaching. Sometimes both. Our goal is clear. The more sustainable our NGO partners become, the better our mission gets accomplished. It’s as simple as that.
Today, I want to share another facet of our partnership – partnership with Rotary. Having been an active Rotarian for many years now, I truly enjoy partnering with Rotarians in Cambodia and Thailand. Rotary also has a university level program called Rotaract – the focus of today’s message.
Up in the far north of Thailand, the Rotary Clubs of Chiang Raiand Maechan sponsor a Rotaract club led by an amazing young woman called Siriporn Saetao (Lu). I’ve worked with Lu for five years now and watched her grow into her role of overseeing Rotaract clubs throughout the entire northern portion of Thailand called District 3360. Here, in Lu’s own words, is the story of an exciting day we recently spent together visiting two very remote hill-tribe village primary schools.
I grew up in a Hmong village way up in the mountains. Our family, like many others in our village, was very poor. We had very little. Mom had 10 kids. I was number 8. Early in my schooling I met a wonderful Rotary lady who came to my village and helped me get an education. It wasn’t easy, but now I have finished university. Step by step I’ve been so lucky to get more training and become active with Rotaract.
Now I can work in partnership with Bill Taylor from the SE Asia Foundation. We recently went to two Hmong village primary schools to provide them with some supplies they very much needed.
First we went to the Ban Sop Pao village primary school. The school director there had asked for six more computers. We surprised him with 10. And we also brought some much needed sports equipment. Here’s some pictures from that exciting day.
The students were thrilled to begin using their new computers
After that exciting visit we continued on to the Ban Kralae Village School. They needed more playground equipment to replace their very old, worn out and broken ones. They also hoped for more sports equipment. It was exciting for us to be able to give them exactly what they needed. Here are pictures from that beautiful day.
Later, when we talked to the school director at Ban Kralae, she asked if we could help her get some new computers to replace the old and broken ones she has now. I promised her I would work with Bill on that project and see if we could do that for her students.
I hope you get the message here.
What you read and see above is a huge THANK YOU to YOU,
the generous donors that make our work possible.
Actually, it’s the voices of more than 500 kids at the
Ban Sop Pao and Ban Kralae Village Schools
all hoping some of you will pitch in and help them
get the additional computers they are wishing for.
Thank You
We’re really proud to partner with Lu and her wonderful Rotaract team — working together to provide a better education for these
marginalized hill-tribe kids
growing up in these remote, mountain villages.
If you’re interested knowing about the work that our other NGO partners are doing in service to those most in need, you can click here.
At the SE Asia Foundation we do not simply “help” people
We Help People Help Themselves
That is our focus
That is our commitment
That is where our actions show up
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