Coconut Club classes back in session
PHUKET: Classes are once again in session for after-school programme for orphaned and impoverished children from the Rachaprachnukroh School in Kamala and the Baan Kalim School.
Jody Houton
Friday 25 May 2012, 03:31PM
From Monday – Thursday and on Saturday afternoons, the ‘Coconut Club’, run by the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation, offers plenty of fun games and activities, all conducted in English for the 120 or more children.
Angela McNoe who has been a Foundation Fellow for many years but recently moved to live in Phuket from New Zealand, said that one of the benefits of such a scheme was the relaxed setting.
“The aim of Coconut Club is to enhance the employment opportunities of our students, through knowledge of and confidence in English language. It enables the children to practice their conversational English, in a more relaxed social environment.”
“Activities include children learning to cook and to swim and various arts and craft activities, such as beading, drawing and puppet making.”
The Coconut Club is a charity organisation and therefore staffed almost exclusively by volunteers and so are always looking for extra help.
“Two hours once or twice a week can really enhance the lives of these children. We are also looking for help from people who could help provide transportation to and from activities,” said Angela.
Angela said that they would also appreciate donations of childrens books and arts and craft resources; paints, glitter, good paper and also smooth stones to paint on.
Coconut Club has plenty of things in the pipeline for this term, including a type of “Phuket’s Got Talent” competition, but Angela said that she would also like to lead activities to help promote more environmental awareness in the children.
“We’d like to get the children off school grounds more in order to do more varied activities, like beach clean ups, paddle-boarding and trips to turtle sanctuaries.”
She added that she would also like to arrange more activities for older students.
If you would like to help, please contact the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation at: 076 278 146 or visit: www.phukethasbeengoodtous.org
