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Enriching
service experience
from Bangkok
to Nong Khai, Thailand.
It was the most spiritual
experiences of my
entire life.
Daystar Kindergarten, Nong Khai,
Thailand
Shanna Dance
School mailing address
Daystar kindergarten
18 Dondaeng soi 2
Panangchonpratan Road
Meechai, Muang Nongkhai 43000
Email address- Roshannongkhai@yahoo.com
Background: Nong Khai is a small
town in North Eastern Thailand,
along the Mekong River bordering
Laos. It is 615 km from Bangkok.
It is on the Thai - Laos border,
24 km from Vientiane, the capital
of Laos, where the Friendship
Bridge crosses the Mekong.
The town is middle to lower
class, it has most things any
other big Thai towns would
have, including electricity,
hot water (in some areas) and
gas stoves to cook on. The
main means of transportation
in Nong Khai is either motorcycle
or tuk tuk.
Daystar Kindergarten, located
in Nong Khai, was established
in 1997. It was one of the first
Kindergartens opened in Nong
Khai, Thailand. It is the first
Kindergarten in this area to
use the child cantered education
system. The children learn at
their own level through fun activities.
The children range from the ages
of 2-6. The younger children
are cared for in the Nursery
building and the older children
attend regular classes in the
main building.
Class sizes are kept farly small
to allow for each student to
get proper attention. There is
still much need for more students,
because of the shrinking class
sizes. The school’s main
problem at the moment is competition.
The school is small and simple.
The playground is falling apart
and parents are starting to enroll
their children in new schools
for about the same price that
it costs to go to Daystar. What
the parents of these children
don’t realize is how wonderful
the teaching method in Daystar
is, and how it will give their
children a better start in their
education process. This Kindergarten
is different from other Thai
Kindergartens in the way that
it is not strict and demanding.
It teaches the children Basic
English skills and the atmosphere
is easy going.
I will tell you a little bit
about my experiences in the Kindergarten.
I found out about this service
opportunity on the Baha’i
year of service listings on the
Internet. I was looking through
all different teaching opportunities
in different countries and thought
that the one in Thailand looked
like it was something I’d
really love to do.
When I first came to Nong Khai
I was very worried that I would
be too lonely staying by myself.
At times I was lonely and just
wanted some company, but Roshan
(The owner of the school) and
the school staff did everything
they could to make me feel welcome
and at home. After working at
the school awhile I began to
feel very at home. When I woke
up every morning, and went to
work at Daystar, I just forgot
about everything that was bothering
me. I fell in more love with
the children and the atmosphere
every single day.
My work at the school was fairly
easy and fun. Every day I would
teach 3 different classes. Most
of the time I would make up a
fun art project or musical activity
that made it fun to learn English.
I was amazed at how fast the
children learned to speak English.
But I found it was much easier
to teach English if I knew how
to speak some Thai. So every
day I would practice my Thai
through various activities. I
learned how to speak enough Thai
to get around and to instruct
the children with basic words.
Since the owner of the school,
Roshan, has trouble coming up
with the money to hire more staff
English speaking volunteers are
much needed and appreciated.
Roshan finds it very hard to
run the school because there
is very little money to keep
the school up to date. He runs
the school on his own with a
few staff to help him out. Yet,
he still continues to strive
to keep the school open, even
though he is making very little
money. He is actually working
many extra jobs outside of school
time just to make enough money
just to keep it open. This man
has so much love for the children
and has dreams and high hopes
for the success of each individual
child throughout life. He has
formed a very father-like relationship
with all the children at the
school, and the thought of having
to close it would be like losing
50 of his own children.
I feel very fulfilled from the
work I did at Daystar Kindergarten.
This was a time in my life that
I will never forget. I have never
in my life felt to happy and
spiritual as I did at my time
in Nong Khai. I will continue
to do whatever I can for Daystar
even at home in Victoria, B.C.
I am planning a fundraiser within
the next month to raise funds
for the school to build a new
playground and cafeteria. I would
have to say the hardest part
about my service was leaving
Thailand. I literally fell in
love with Daystar Kindergarten,
and I will never forget those
children.
Goals of the school:
* Build a new playground
* Build a cafeteria
* Receive sponsors for
the children that can’t
afford to pay
* Increase staff
* Have new and modern teaching
manual
* Increase the overall
number of students
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