Since the ‘first strike’ by Jenny a student from ISB, Bangkok, in February 2016 the building and equipping of Thomas House was finally completed this month and the first children welcomed in on Monday, 27th for the official opening.
A very big thank you to all the schools, the Education Departments in Chiang Mai and Fang, Tha Ton School, MRVR staff and many individuals who have shown such an interest in the project, worked very hard and supported in many different ways over the past nineteen months.
Thomas House and the surrounds looked wonderful with all the decoration and flowers supplied by the Education Department and there was attendance by a range of officials from Ajan Anek representing Special Needs Education for Chiang Mai province and his staff, the Education Department from Fang, local government officers, head teachers representing the 38 Mae Ai Schools and, most importantly the parents and their children who make up the first group to come to Thomas House.
Five monks from Wat Tha Ton kindly officiated and gave their blessings to the new venture and the official part – the speeches, ribbon cutting and signing over of Thomas House to the Education Department and Tha Ton School – was sealed with some very professional Thai dancing from Tha Ton School students. An early lunch, on what was a somewhat cooler, was enjoyed back at the MRVR.
Kru Celia, Kru Mod and Kru Ying, the teaching team, have done an excellent job getting things started in the classroom which is looking so colourful and stimulating for the children with lots of activities on hand to support the variety of needs and abilities. Transport and lunchtime arrangements have also begun pretty smoothly.
Volunteers accommodation is the last section to be kitted out but will be ready for habitation in the new year – an ongoing flow of volunteers will be much in demand to support the specialist teachers.
And finally just needing the Thomas House dog to complete the team!
Once again thank you to everyone for your support!