THE DOIKUM SCHOOL ( November 2003 )
( Courtesy of The Patmail Website - TO THAI PAGES MENU )
The school as a whole has seen gradual improvement over the last few years. But the main changes at the Doikum School have been the addition of a children's Play area, and a new Learning Centre building. These have been provided mainly through major donations from certain visitors to the school. The Learning Centre houses the new computer room, a sound/language laboratory room and a science room.
The new learning centre building .................... The computer room ...................
The sound laboratory .................................. The science room
Also, earlier this year, the school successfully approached the SAGA Charitable Trust to help with two projects: The Purchase of computers ..... and a Food project
SAGA money has enabled the school to purchase several computers for the new computer room, to enable students to widen their horizons. The school hopes to be online soon. There is a pilot website being developed. ..... http://school.bed.go.th/doikum
Other SAGA Charitable Trust money has allowed improvements to the self suffiency food scheme which helps provide lunchtime food for the children, many of whom come from some miles away. Food is grown/reared both for consumption, and for sale to raise money to keep the scheme rolling.
Looking at an agricultural area used by the school ......................Growing mushrooms........................
Chicken and egg production ................................................... Fish tanks ...........
As ever the children continue to learn English. Starting at an early age they learn songs which are performed for visitors to the school.
( Pictures taken Nov 2003 during a visit from SAGA to see how the projects were progressing )
A selection of pictures taken in 2002 at one of the Doikum School Sports Days ...... and of SAGA visitors to the school.
Before the sports day starts ... food is taken by the monks
The children and staff parade from the local village, with a band
The flag is raised, the Thai anthem played and the sports begin. Football, tug of war, races ... music and mime ... musical chairs ... Local children are also fed.
A Somtam Queen competition is held between the local villages ... ( Somtam is a Thai snack meal ).The evening is rounded off with a petanque competition.
SAGA excursions usually visit the school for an hour or so, on two days during the week. After looking around the school, they watch the children perform songs and dances ... and often join in !
The salathai is a cool place for them to
relax after having their picnic lunch.