The award, this year shared with the Rotary Club of Nakhom Pathom, was bestowed for a total of three projects that help the children of Burmese migrant workers and sea gypsies.
Youthlinc, the main project undertaken by the Patong chapter for which it received the top award, focused on improving facilities at the Burmese Learning Centre in Kuraburi, in Phang Nga province north of Phuket.
The project included installing a pre-school bathroom, renovating the school kitchen, building a playground and creating hydroponic gardens to encourage vocational training and to grow food for the school’s lunch program.
Youthlinc is an American-based non-profit organisation offering young people opportunities for hands on international charity experiences.
“The Rotary Club of Patong Beach is a small club that prides itself in following the Rotary motto: Service above Self,” said Patong Rotary President Brad Kenny, who had been involved with the three projects for several years.
“We are a Rotary Club out of Patong Beach, making an impact wherever we find the poorest of the poor in Thailand.”
The second Patong Rotary project recognised in determining the award was to bring water to a sea gypsy village on Kho Lao in Ranong.
In March, the poor village had water for the first time, pumped by a generator through a water pipeline and filters installed by Patong Rotary members.
The third project recognised brought a 5-year-old sea gypsy child from Kho Lao to Phuket for sight-saving surgery.
The Rotary Club of Patong Beach won numerous awards at the May District 3330 Assembly in Hat Yai.
Among them, thanks to Arnaud C.M.C. Verstraete, was the Bhichai Rattakul Trophy awarded to the Rotary club with the most donations to the Rotary Foundation.
Also, Mr Kenny was voted ‘Outstanding President 2014-2015’ and long-term Patong Rotary member Larry Amsden was voted ‘Outstanding Assistant District Governor 2014-2015’.
The club won several other awards relating to membership targets and fund raising, including Denis Carpenter scooping the top prize as the editor of the internal bulletin for Rotary clubs with 23-34 members.
Mr Kenny said of the club’s success: “These awards are a tribute to all Patong Rotary members for all we have accomplished during the past year. We are proud to have brought support, joy and comfort to so many people in need through our volunteer efforts.”
Founded in 2001, the Rotary Club of Patong Beach is Phuket’s only English-speaking Rotary Club. The club has been involved in dozens of projects to help disadvantaged people, on and off Phuket, including a significant post-tsunami program.
For more information contact Brad Kenny by email at esppkt@ksc.th.co or call 081-633-4279.