VWB Projects with Track of the Tiger T.R.D.

Educational Support for Rural Schools

 

Introduction

As is common in many countries there is a significant imbalance between the resources and services available to those in the cities, and those in the rural areas. In education, in rural areas, this translates to:

• A shortage of teachers, and skills particularly in teaching English.
• A shortage of teaching resources.
• A difference in the standard of the education provided by different schools.
• The challenge of working with a common national testing and certification scheme.

There is always a danger of stepping in to help rural schools, and either undertaking that task with enthusiastic, well-intentioned but untrained amateurs, or providing intermittent assistance, or both, whilst taking up the little time allocated to teaching English. For that reason, we choose to maximise the benefits and limit the disruption of our assistance by carefully the projects we assist on.

ES1 - The Intelligent Playground Project

Just as valuable as the traditional 3Rs in equipping students for a productive future in their communities are the ‘core skills’ of communication, critical thinking and teamwork. Many who consider the future, place great value on them.

We seek your support to fund and install ‘Intelligent Playgrounds’ that allow students to develop these skills, in the many schools that are waiting for one.

Part of VWBs broader mission ‘to level the playing field for small tourism-related businesses’ is to improve the nutrition, education, and ultimately the opportunities in local visitor-based economies for rural school students.

In Thailand, there is a significant imbalance between the resources and services available to those in the cities, and those in the rural areas. Shortage of resources has led to an inconsistency in the quality of education in rural schools for as long as I can remember.

To overcome some of the challenges in our education system and to help both students and teachers the Volunteers Without Borders Foundation has developed what we call Intelligent Playgrounds.

The Playgrounds are constructed from cured bamboo with come with fixed, and moveable poles, ropes, and accessories, that can be reconfigured by the students themselves. Each unit comes with a handbook introducing over twenty games. These games encourage students to challenge themselves physically and mentally while simultaneously developing important team-building and critical thinking skills. These playgrounds are innovative learning tools for children of all ages - perfect for schools, nurseries, and NGOs to employ alongside their educational initiatives.

A copy of the latest Intelligent Playground Handbook is available to donors on request.

Studies from UNICEF show us that between the age of six and eight “play-based learning approaches can transform the educational experiences of children in the early primary grades and strengthen learning motivation and outcomes.” (Learning through play, 2018)

Costs: Each intelligent playground costs Baht 33,005.- and is provided and installed by Track of the Tiger our local commercial partner and provider of experiential education programmes to visiting schools.

Donation Options: Where groups do not have the funding for a complete unit, contributions of any amount to one, to be installed by VWB staff and the local school once the Baht 33,005.- target figure has been reached - are most welcome. Donate

Assignment Duration: Minimum half-day (4 hrs.) for 10 participants. (Bamboo would be cured and cut, prior to your installation.)

Programme Management: Track of the Tiger T.R.D. & VWB - Contact Us for more for further discussion.

Recognition: See VWB Donor Logs for examples of how your support will be recognised

Credibility & Transparency: volunteers-without-borders.org/section.php?page=47

Note*. If you know a community or organisation that could benefit from our Intelligent Playground sets and would consider funding an installation for them contact us here.

Follow at on Facebook: facebook.com/VWB.org
And/or subscribe to our Blog.

ES2 - The Saturday School Project

Part of VWBs broader mission ‘to level the playing field for small tourism related businesses’ is to improve the English language skills of the underprivileged children in rural areas, and especially those who seek the greater opportunity that being able to communicate in English will give them and their families.

Your help in the form of one-off or a small monthly donation will provide a young motivated rural Thai student the opportunity to learn English, and use it to earn a living - perhaps in tourism -  that helps them and their family escape poverty.

The potential multiplier effect of your support is enormous.

Donations are used to fund:

• The costs of hiring a Native ESL teacher (contribution to their accommodation, meals, visas, work permit etc.)
• The teaching materials needed (including refurbished 2nd hand tablet computers) for shared homework assignments.
• Transportation costs for teaching staff (teachers & volunteer assistants) – a 60km round trip to and from the city every Saturday.

In Thailand, there is a significant imbalance between the teaching resources and services available to schools in the cities, and those in the rural areas. This understandably leads to a lower level of education and opportunity for those in the rural areas.

As a part-time volunteer, teaching in rural schools is problematic. Your well-intentioned and enthusiastic efforts can come at a great cost to the limited time set aside for the set curriculum. For that reason we have introduced an alternative option – outside of school hours - for those students who are really motivated to learn.

Every Saturday, VWB offers rural children the chance to learn English free of charge, taught by our qualified ESL volunteer teachers at the Sanpatong Experiential Educational Centre (SEEC). They are supported by teaching assistants, some of the Thai/English translators, from city schools, as part of their own community service commitment.

The programme includes an outdoor education component, to get the students away from the blackboard, and teach critical thinking, communication, problem-solving and leadership - all in an English language environment. Graduates from the programme should be able to make a positive contribution to their local visitor-based communities.

Costs: You could help make a difference to the future of these rural students today by donating to help fund:

• Hiring a Native ESL teacher (contribution to accommodation, meals, visas, work permit etc.)
• The teaching materials needed (including refurbished 2nd hand tablet computers for shared homework assignments.
• Transportation costs for teaching staff – 60km round trip to and from the city every Saturday.

Donation Options: A Saturday school programme including all related expenses costs Baht 5’000 per week.- and serves 10-12 students. Suggested donations: Baht 5000.-, Baht 2500.-, Baht 1250.- or  less (any amount helps.) Donations may be made in the form of a one off contribution, or as monthly payments. Donate

Assignment Duration: Half Day  (4-6 hrs.) for up to 10 volunteers, throught the year outside of school holidays.

Programme Management: Track of the Tiger T.R.D. & VWB - Contact here.

Credibility & Transparency: volunteers-without-borders.org/section.php?page=47

Recognition: See VWB Donor Logs for examples of how your support will be recognised

Follow at on Facebook: facebook.com/VWB.org
And/or subscribe to our Blog.

volunteer, volunteering, voluntourism, development, responsible tourism, sustainable tourism, responsible travel, educational support, sustainable agriculture, permaculture, agroforestry, farming, volunteer projects, infrastructure, schools, nature trails, corporate team-building, events, travel, holiday, explore, thailand, CSR, school, school trips, field trips, education, experiential education, nature, things to do, in thailand, teach english, asia, south east asia, volunteers wthout borders