Educate at-risk girls, end poverty cycle: Thailand

Dhammajarinee taught Code School Finland’s second module

We are excited to report that Dhammajarinee has just completed Code School Finland’s second module, “Develop and Test,” for 136 students.  The aim of the second module was to learn about product development and game design while creating learning games and interactive apps. Students learned to develop solutions by implementing good programming practices such as design, iteration, debugging and ways to organize code.

 The expected student learning out comes were met, these were:

- Understanding design and development processes

- Developing skills in multimedia creation and digital art

- Implementing game design and gamification, i.e. the process of adding games or game-like elements to something (like a task) as to encourage participation. 

- Design thinking, collaboration, work-life skills, creativity, exploration, and self-improvement  

- Versatile use of basic computational thinking concepts and practices to create complete programs

These skills are urgently needed in Thailand. Thailand is facing a shortage of 713,432 skilled workers in digital services and only 3,500 new graduates are joining the IT industry each year. Additionally, just 8% of the population has the foundational digital skills required for work and only 1% are experts in technology. With 92% of jobs today requiring digital skills, Dhammajarinee graduates are being given the necessary tools and training to have a head start in any field they choose.

Visiting Panyapiwat Institute of Management

On 22 February, grades 10 and 11 students visited Panyapiwat Institute of Management (PIM) in Bangkok, a well-respected university offering the only program of its kind in Thailand—65% course work and 35% internship—ensuring that students are ready for employment upon graduation. DWS students explored the different faculties at PIM, while DWS teachers discussed how to plan lessons according to students’ skills and preferences.

PIM gives priority acceptance and many scholarships to DWS students.

PIM has trained DWS teachers to offer a broad range of PIM college-credit courses. High school students can enroll in these courses at DWS and earn up to six units of college credits that can be applied to a university degree at PIM.

PIM courses at DWS include technology, engineering and robotics, innovative agricultural management, nursing, English for business, and Chinese for business.

You can help Dhammajarinee give wholistic education to more girls

Please mark your calendar and share the news with your friends and contacts about the five-day spring bonus opportunity at globalgiving.org.

From 8-12 April GlobalGiving will provide a 50% bonus for donations up to $50.

Your donation of $50 will give the needed boost to achieve the necessary funds for covering student expenses.

Donate from 8-12 April EST at this link:

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/educate-100-more-at-risk-girls-in-thailand/

We would love to see more donors join our family of supporters and follow the progress of the school.

A reminder with more details will be sent to you on 8 April.

Dhammajarinee's New Graduates

Dhammajarinee Witthaya School will soon celebrate the graduation of 49 seniors, marking the close of the 2023-2024 academic year. Many of the graduates are excitedly planning to attend the university of their choice as they await their acceptance and scholarship approvals. We look forward to sharing news of their success in the next month.

International Day of Women and Girls in Science was an exciting highlight of February. We are proud that every year more and more Dhammajarinee graduates grow in the confidence and knowledge to choose science-related majors at university, such as veterinary medicine, public health, environmental management and safety, innovative agricultural management, chemical engineering, irrigation engineering, food science and technology, nursing, pharmacy, and traditional Thai medicine.

The Bliss of Achievement

In February, Dhammajarinee competed in the 71st Arts and Crafts Competition for secondary schools in Ratchaburi Province. The DWS competitors received an outstanding 26 top awards, including five first place awards and five gold medals! Impressively, Dhammajarinee’s awards covered 22 different areas, from technology and software development, to Chinese language, to various traditional arts and much more.

For the last two years, Dhammajarinee has given significant emphasis to implementing STEM methodologies, online courses, and an active hands-on approach to learning made possible by the newly renovated MakeHerSpace. This increased access to and familiarity with STEM training is taking the students to new heights of possibilities. In the hearts of the students, there is great hope welling up for a very bright future, full with successful achievement of their desires.

“No society will flourish, and no peace agreement will be lasting without empowering girls in peacebuilding and reconstruction,” said Irina Bokova, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). “It is time to put this imperative at the heart of all our efforts…”

Thank you for putting the development and empowerment of the students at Dhammajarinee at the heart of your generous giving.