‘Power of Thai’ bringing smiles back to flood-affected school

(from left) Mr. Ichiro, Praew AF, Prapoch Sapawasu (Thai Bev), Kee AF, Pongaumporn Supapun(True), Thapana (ThaiBev),Thaveelarb Rittapirom(Bangkok Bank), Jack AF, Aof AF - ©The Power of Thai

©The Power of Thai

©The Power of Thai

A volunteer team of the ‘Power of Thai’ campaign recently went to help renovating Namtao Primary School in Ayutthaya after the worst floods in decades hit Thailand last year.

The disastrous flood spread across much of the country and had a particularly severe impact on the education sector, with 3,000 education institutions and 250 community learning centres closed and damaged. Physical damage estimates for the sector exceed 300 million USD. Books and stationeries were soiled, and furniture damaged; learning rooms were in disarray, covered in mud and waste.

Namtao Primary School was attacked by a 3-metre-high flood and was closed for almost three months from 6 September to 21 November 2011.

The ‘Power of Thai’ campaign is formed by 35 major private companies in Thailand and UNESCO has joined the campaign. Its objective is to raise funds for the rehabilitation of the Education sector of the country with an aim to rehabilitate 84 heavily flooded schools in early 2012.

Since 15 November last year, the working groups have been divided to survey schools affected by floods in various provinces, bringing back the information to initiate the steps of rehabilitation and to process aid to these schools to re-open and get back to normal schooling. 

On the recent visit to Namtao Primary School, the group of volunteers included electricians, plumbers, carpenters and gardeners and staff from Thai Beverage, Bangkok Bank, True and UNESCO Bangkok. Singers from True Academy Fantasia who joined the trip also performed a mini concert for students and teachers at the school. Education supplies such as textbooks, computers, student uniforms and sport equipment were donated.  

The Power of Thai’s fund-raising activities include “Power of Thai” wrist bands in Thai National Flag colours at 100 Baht and “Power of Thai” t-shirts at 199 Baht for sales to provide the initial operational funds for the campaign. Each organization will also conduct activities or produce goods for sales under the symbol of “Power of Thai” and all or parts of the incomes will go to the Fund. 

UNESCO Bangkok assists by providing technical support under this initiative to strengthen the Education sector’s preparedness for and response to disasters. The objective is to provide people with the knowledge and skills to better prepare for and respond to disasters, thereby saving lives and protecting development gains in the Education sector

For more information, access www.powerofthai.com or www.facebook.com/powerofthai

By Rojana Manowalailao, UNESCO Bangkok