About the Cause - Primary School, Nongon, Thailand

Nongon is a small village community of approx 350 homes , located 23 miles North of Chiang Mai, Thailand's 2nd largest city. Most inhabitants are engaged in farming, growing rice , vegetables and fruit. Wages are poor , ranging from 50p to 3 pounds a day, depending on the nature of the work.

Although basic healthcare is free , there is virtually no income support, so living standards are low. Education up to high school is free and compulsory. The primary school in Nongon has 60 or so pupils , girls and boys aged between 4 and 12 years .The school is poorly supported by the government, who pay the teachers salaries only.

Local well-wishers, some with better off relatives, offer financial support for food and other running costs. The local authority provides free daily milk and a rich American philanthropist subsidises the salaries of an IT and a nursery teacher, both of whom are super-numery. Parents buy books by monthly installment of 20-30 pence at a time. Those who can't afford this are helped with whatever funds are left in the school kitty.

A recent drive by concerned villagers and a retired UK citizen (my friend Malcolm) and his wife (Marilyn) have successfully raised funds to buy much needed personal computers, build a new canteen, repave the perimeter road and tile the floors on the ground floor. This work, much of which has been made possible with money donated by British citizens (and the Rotary Club of Oswestry & Borderland) , has significantly improved the conditions for the children , many of whom are keen to receive an education to enable them to better support their parents in later life.

The teachers are loyal and hardworking. In 2006 the school beat 130 other teams from Chiang Mai district in an English speaking and comprehension competition , and earned a silver award in the 2007 event, against much better funded schools.
Three years ago no one spoke English in Nongon school; but with Malcolm as an unpaid volunteer they now have a 'real' English teacher....

Much more remains to be done, the most pressing need being the construction of a new toilet and washing block. The existing block would be difficult to describe here. Let's just say it isn't " dignified ". This is where the 'Passage of Hope' will be helping..... Please, please, please be generous to this worthy cause.

Passage of Hope - Info Meeting

Info Meeting @ Cricket club was well attended last night... in addition to the 15 attendees I received apologies from Greg Parker, Tony Harrison, Bill Tapley, Mungo Amyatt-Leir, Dave Pedley and Chris Hall.

The Passage of Hope is now taking shape. I have completed the crew make-up for each leg and I will be contacting each crew member to confirm. Without exception I believe every request has been accomodated.

Polo shirts are being ordered today and sponsorship continues to arrive...

Please, please, please make every effort to sell your HOPE wristbands (as I won't be refunding any unsold bands.) If you can think of any family members, friends or work contacts who run their own businesses - then please appeal to their charitable nature and tap them for some event sponsorship - £50 to a business is not a great deal of money but will go a long way in Northern Thailand.

I am looking at potential dates for the Safe Return Party, and having talked to a few people following last nights meeting, there is a concensus that family and friends Dinner @ the Cricket Club would be a good idea. The evening will be ticket only and will include - photos & film from the trip, funny stories, table games, live music, fund raising and a charity auction. Please be on the look out for donations for the auction.

Speak soon CREW ...... Tim

It's Official - We're going.....

Well, the boat is serviced and the most likely spare parts to be needed are onboard. The route planning is about 50% complete and the scale of the challenge is now very apparent.

We have a meeting on Thursday 22nd March @ Oswestry Cricket Club (7-30pm) for all those people interested in crewing any part of the 'passage'.

It is most important for all those interested to understand that this is a charity EVENT and not a holiday. Raising sponsorship money is what it is all about. To this end I have decided that a donation from each crew member to our charity of 50p per nautical mile will help cover fuel costs and help maximise the funds raised.

We have 200 charity wrist bands for the 'Passage of Hope' and I am expecting all of them to be sold prior to departure (£5 each) These bands were bought from Oxfam and the proceeds will go to help our event.

Any corporate/private sponsorship will be gratefully received and cheques should be made payable to - Rotary Club of Oswestry Borderland.

Tim