Educate at-risk girls, end poverty cycle: Thailand

Thank you again to all the people who contributed to Dhammajarinee’s September “Little by Little” Bonus Campaign. We were thrilled that our project campaign ranked 5th place among 1000’s of participating campaigns. As regards the number of donors, we placed 4th.

$12,936 total was raised as a combination of $10,246 in donations and $2,696 in bonus funds from GlobalGiving.

We are especially delighted to welcome two new monthly donors to our “Guardian Monthly Donor Circle”, who joined during this campaign.

New Water Filtration System

Two very much needed, high capacity, advanced technology water filtration systems were installed to replace the small, worn-out water processing equipment. This upgrade to the water purification will provide a long-lasting health benefit for the increasing number of students.

(See more photos below)

A Win Win Situation

Many girls come to Dhammajarinee with learning disabilities. Concerned with the problem of many slow learners, Acharn Yai and Chakriya set up an evening tutoring plan. Older students teach to the slowest kindergarten and first grade girls the complex Thai alphabet of 48 consonants and 28 vowels. A program timeline consisting of specific goals and weekly assessments is customized for each young student based on their current level. Every older girl tutoring receives a $3 bonus when any of her students successfully meet their weekly goal. It has been hugely rewarding both in helping the slow learners and in stimulating the creativity and determination of the older girls.

Everyone is Participating

Normally there are enough teachers coming to the school every day to oversee the chores that the girls participate in. With fewer teachers able to come onto the campus due to lockdown, the students are rising to the occasion. They have organized to effectively and efficiently manage the campus cleanup, dining hall and kitchen duties, laundry, and yard work. This is a wonderful example of the many ways Dhammajarinee is transforming long-term lockdown into a learning and maturing experience.

The youngest students are still too little to help with some of the cleaning jobs.

During the cleanup activity times, they are practicing the very settled, refined movements of traditional Thai dance.

Video of dance class:   https://youtu.be/2a-5AqUnzos

The funds that are contributed through GlobalGiving are transferred to the school on a monthly basis. Due to the “Little by Little” campaign, in September the school will receive an added level of support. During many months, the primary source of funding coming from GlobalGiving is the generous support of the school’s regular monthly sponsors. We would love to welcome many more monthly donors to Dhammajarinee’s Guardian Monthly Donor Circle.

With grateful appreciation, stay well.

Due to the first really significant rise of COVID in Thailand, public schools are closed and restricted to online learning. The Provincial Governor made a visit to Dhammjarinee to evaluate the COVID safety protocols of this large, in-residence school. He was happy with what he saw, but has required the school to prevent outside staff and teachers from coming on campus. Off-campus teachers are restricted to teaching remotely to classes of students who gather in socially-distanced, small groups.

As always, your ongoing support is important for the continuation of every aspect of the school’s activities and the additional set-up expenses caused by remote learning.

With the shortage of in-residence teachers and staff, the older students are helping in the kitchen, on the grounds, and caring for the very young girls who are normally looked after by their teachers—making the beds of the younger children, tidying up for them, doing their laundry, and more. 

The older girls love being big sisters to the little ones. Fortunately much of the kitchen work and most of the administration are run by nuns who live at the school.

Students who were expected to return to school by August, have still not been able to travel from distant provinces. The local kindergarteners are not allow to come to school. Even with these challenges, since the June start of the new school year, the 650 girls who are at the school are very grateful to be continuing their studies together with their friends.

Special classes by Panyapiwat University Teachers

Panyapiwat, a highly respected University that has signed a memorandum with Dhammajarinee, has already started giving some of their preparatory courses in for their new degree programs in nursing, engineering, and 3-D engineering animation. The girls who are attending are likely to receive scholarships for these degree programs at Panyapiwat University.

Please Stand By!

The next opportunity to amplify your giving is a “Little by Little” campaign from 13–17 September. All donations up to $50 dollars will receive a 50% match from GlobalGiving. More details coming soon. Please tell your friends.

We all know this has been a trying time for everyone. Many of our friends have commented how challenging it is to keep their children purposefully occupied during lockdown. Dhammajarinee is meeting this challenge with creativity and great organizing power.

We thank you for believing in the school and making the challenges easier!