Friday August 14, saw a number of local kids from the Wat Sawang Arom Temple & School in Rawai settle themselves in for what was to be a three-day Buddhist learning camp, designed to teach the kids the key values in life, based on core Buddhist philosophies.
The Phuket News went down on the first day to find out more from the Mushy Peas – the Rawai-based Phuket FC supporters club made up of mostly expats.
The day began with a presentation of 320 white T-shirts for each of the children, ready for them to wear throughout the entire weekend. The Mayor of Rawai, as well as the village headman were both present.
Richie Dell of the Mushy Peas explained that this month they raised B24,000 in order to purchase and donate the 320 T-shirts to the children. He said, “The Buddhist learning camp retreat is aimed at helping the children learn lifelong values.
“This weekend is all about the kids learning about Buddhist values. If we can play a little part in making the kids more rounded and learn about their own culture, then we’re happy.”
The Mushy Peas is made up of 20-30 expats who all donate around B1,000 each a month, which is put towards long-term and short-term projects and causes to help out the community. They choose to help out the community in Rawai, mainly because that’s where they all live.
“It’s nice to know that we’ve made an impact and help the kids learn values that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
“A lot of the kids’ parents don’t even have the money to give them food money for school. So to be able to help them in any way possible makes us happy,” said Richie.
“We’ve been looking at a new project to work on since the completion of the multi-purpose sports hall a few months ago, which was a large project totalling B500,000. So for the last couple of months we’ve been paying that off.
“So, we asked the school if they had any causes and this month’s cause was the Buddhist retreat for the kids,” he added.
Kru Pranee and Kru Prapa, the school’s headteachers, said, “The monks are helping to teach the kids the important stuff, while the activities set up, such as mediation, will help teach the kids key life lessons in a peaceful and relaxing manner. We believe it’s important the kids learn how to be a good Buddhist, and a better person in general.
“There are lots of bad things going on in Thailand today, so it’s good to teach the kids what’s right and wrong early.
“They will learn about the community as well as personal-self worth values. The monks are giving them the tools to be a good Buddhist,” Richie said before Khun Prapee added with a smile, “and how to be a good student for the teacher.”
The general feel of the day was really positive and it was clear how important it was for the school to help shape these kids into well-rounded strong, kind individuals. They’re fundamental belief was how to help these children deal with daily problems and issues, how to relax, and deal with life.
“If the kids have a strong mind, they will have a strong body. We want to take care of the children,” Khun Pranee concluded.
The Mushy Peas have made it a point to help several Rawai-based causes and have already donated thousands of baht worth of sports equipment to the local sea gypsy village, helped organise football clinics for disadvantaged Myanmar children, and donated football boots and school uniforms to several children.
For more information or if anyone would like to volunteer and speak English to the kids in late September after the school exams, please visit https://www.facebook. com/pages/FC-Phuket-Rawai-Supporters-Club/203652029664003