'Direct
your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will
not leave it.'
Proverbs 22:6
The lack of somewhere to go on a
Saturday is a regular complaint among many Thai youngsters and seen
as a reason for them to get caught up in anti social or deviant
behavior.
Youth activities that occur on a
regular scheduled basis, in a group setting, and formalized goals
help children to develop and improve their social, communication, and
emotional skills and help them gain confidence and build self-esteem.
Through building a relationship of trust and providing positive
reinforcement in a fun and exciting environment we are able to teach
them about discipline and respect - for themselves and others. Many
children don't have a well-structured family life and are not
encouraged or supported to try out new options.
The ACF Youth Project focuses on
Primary school students varying between the ages of 8 and 12.
It serves as a platform for life skills training, leadership and
sport development. This is done via two initiatives...
The 'Kids Club' is held on
Saturdays, during the first school term, at a specific local school
and is currently attended by 60 to 80 students weekly. Current
options include computer literacy, music, arts and crafts, English
teaching and food preparation. All this takes place in a structured
environment but there is an emphasis on fun, with one of the
highlights being the end of the year camp.
Students are encouraged to think
about and discuss
issues they face in their daily lives at home and
at school and are further encouraged to give their opinions and learn
from each other in a practical and fun way.
The Kids Club also serves as a
vehicle to identify the need for counseling and financial assistance
within the community. Volunteers can make a big diffrence by making themselves available to teach or share their skills.
Physical
activities, sport and associated programs play a pivotal role in
social transformation. It’s essential to the holistic development
of young children's physical well-being , social/emotional health and
academic performance. Physical activities provides opportunities for
social interaction and promotes fundamental values such as respect,
whilst also giving children the opportunity to learn about their own
abilities as well as what it takes to be part of a team.
The
sport of rugby has spearheaded the youth sport development program
since 2009. The program is run in partnership with Patrick Kotter from the local
rugby club and has had a high level of participation by children
introduced to the sport via ACF. The program has produced a new
generation of rugby players and coaches in Phuket. Recently the Phuket Loma Rugby Club was registered with the Thai Rugby Union and Thai Sport Authorities. Multiple new
opportunities have been provided to participating students,
such as
being invited to participate in tournaments both locally and abroad - most recently Manchester, England in 2011 as well as Singapore. Invitations to live and
train in South Africa under the auspices of a South African Rugby club
later in the year has also been discussed with some of the boys.
Swimming
has come to fore as another new and exciting vehicle for the kids to
participate in the YSD program. By conducting water safety training
and swimming lessons via the Saturday Kids club, with the appreciated
guidance and assistance of the Phuket Life Saving Club, we have seen
a tremendous improvement in the children's swimming abilities. A
broader and more official swimming and water safety skills program is
currently being discussed.
Dragon Boat
racing is the newest option to activities provided to disadvantaged
children through ACF with the help of local sponsors and coaches.
