Spring has sprung!  Today is May 1st.  Flowers are blooming.  The sun is showing up more than the clouds, and we’ve  changed our blog layout.  Hope you enjoy it.

This year has been filled with all kinds of adventures already and I wanted to let you in what has happened and what’s around the corner!

Discovery Tour 2012

The New Year began with Discovery Tour 2012…an opportunity for people of all ages to travel to Thailand and visit the zones in which we focus our time and energy.   We were particularly excited that my parents came along this year…their first time in Thailand.  This year’s tour was our second annual and we’re planning our third one schedule for January 2013.

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Surprising Changes in Burma

Burma continues to surprise the world.  A number of preliminary overtures by the government towards democracy have caused a number of nations to take a second look at engaging Burma in dialogue and in adjusting sanctions.  Burma’s President U Thein Sein, the new leader of Burma has most recently been named one of the top 100 influential people of 2012 by Time Magazine.  Aung San Suu Kyi, iconic democratic leader and General Secretary for the National League for Democracy (NLD) has won a parliamentary seat in a recent by-election.  In fact, 43 of 44 seats contested in recent by-elections were won by the NLD.  The level of influence the NLD can exert in Burma’s new parliamentary system (the first in 23 years) is yet to be determined.

Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2012

NLD Wins By-Election

Song for Imagine Thailand 

I hope you’ve had a chance to listen to Brent Tyler’s song “Imagine Life”.  Brent wrote the song as part of the Kelowna Global Citizens’ Week musical competition.  For one week in February, Kelowna Global Citizen’s Week focuses schools, businesses, and community organizations on local and humanitarian issues.  A number of song writers were partnered with organizations who work in relief, rehabilitation, and development.  Each song writer wrote a song about the focus of the organization with whom they were partnered.   This arrangement gave both the song writer and their organization increased exposure.  All songs were uploaded to Youtube and the musician that received the most hits won free studio time.  Brent won second place and we plan on using his song for Imagine Thailand videos in the near future!  Here’s the link to the song:

Brent Tyler…Imagine Life

I’m a book!  

Two weeks ago I became a book!  Well, actually I became part of a “human library”.  Still not clear?  At one of our local middle schools, the librarian organized an event inviting small groups of students to interact with people from our community in 15-minute segments of time.  The community participants talked about their jobs and life experiences.  The event was set up in the school library and the 10 presenters were placed in different areas of the library while students “signed out books”, and “read” them. Approximately 130 students signed up.  I really enjoyed telling students about Imagine Thailand and how students could make a difference in the world at their age.  According to the organizer…

“Human Library events were first developed in Europe to allow readers to meet with people from diverse backgrounds in an effort to break down stereotypes and prejudices. These events have been successful in bringing community members together, fostering diversity, and changing attitudes. In a 21st Century Learning environment, Human Library events also reinforce the role of a library as a Learning Commons, an important place to bring diverse people together, to provide meaningful social action among students and community members. Students will be given the opportunity to hear diverse stories, and converse with a wide variety of community members.”

So there you have it.  I’m a book.

Imagine Thailand Fundraising Banquet

If you happen to be in West Kelowna on Sunday, May 27th, join us for our Imagine Thailand Fundraising Banquet.  Our Thai market opens at 4:00pm, followed by an authentic Thai dinner at 5:00pm (the chef is from our favourite Thai restaurant!).  Besides enjoying a bit of Thai culture, the purpose of our evening is to let our guests know the latest news about Imagine Thailand and to raise money for humanitarian projects in Thailand.  Ticket prices are $10.00/person or $25.00/family.  We’d love to have you come.  Tickets are on sale at Emmanuel Church and also through email at derek@imaginethailand.org.

 What were the students and teachers like? 

The students were very eager to meet us.  They were a bit shy but once we smiled at them, they warmed up to us very quickly.   Once classes started, they were very focused on learning.  They didn’t need smart boards or video to grab their attention.  They had big, big smiles and behind those smiles, they had few teeth (dental issues).  They sang songs to us… like the “abc” song.  We noticed that many of them were really good artists.  Everyone wore clean uniforms.  The teachers were friendly.

What was the school itself like? 

The school was simple and had only the most basic supplies and equipment.  There were few teaching resources available.  The preschool area was quite small for the number of kids in the preschool program.  We noticed that there were no pencil sharpeners.  Students were sharpening their pencils with razor blades.  We bought sharpeners for the school.

What did you do while visiting Pyo Khin School?

We met each of the teachers and the headmaster (principal) and then visited the classes.  Each teacher gave us some of their classroom time to teach.    In each class, we played games with lots of actions and taught English through playing those games.  In one class we observed the students writing the letter “a” over and over again in their notebooks.

 What impacted you the most? 

We were amazed at the happiness we saw at the school.  The living standards are so low and yet happiness was seen everywhere.

Have you changed somehow because of your visit?

Yes.  We were reminded to be happy with a life of simplicity. Life is not about “keeping up with the Jones’.”  We don’t need to keep striving to own what other people already own.  Our philosophy in life has become “We don’t need a lot to be happy.  We just need each other.  We could live anywhere in the world as long we we’re together…wherever your family is there is your home.”

Our idea of social justice changed as well.  Focused efforts make a difference.  When we focus on one area over a long period of time rather than focusing on many areas around the world, deep change can happen.  This is George Pringle’s second year of involvement with Pyo Khin and now the students are writing letters to each other.  Relationship is important.  The personal aspect feels like this project is more effective.  We don’t need a lot of hype to make this happen.  Giving comes from the heart.

And of course, giving is always a learning process.  During our first school popcorn sale in September, I noticed something interesting taking place.  The students who were selling the popcorn were holding their own purchased popcorn while selling to the student body because they didn’t want miss out on the popcorn sale itself.  After it was all over, I explained to them that it didn’t matter whether we got something or not.  We are the leaders.  A good lesson about sacrifice and delayed gratification was taught.

Any final thoughts?

I wish I could have stayed longer.  I’d love to go back and I want George Pringle Elementary to keep this partnership going.

My own final thoughts.

We’re grateful to Christine and George Pringle Elementary School for their partnership with us.  If you or your school would like to establish a similar partnership, please let us know!

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A few years ago, Irislee and I had an epiphany about how we celebrate Christmas.

Living in North America, it’s hard to resist the pull of materialism, the obligation of gift-giving and the hectic peace-less lifestyle.  When we first heard about Operation Christmas Child, we wanted to give, but didn’t know how we would afford one more thing during the Christmas season.  After a few discussions, we realized we wanted to make Christmas better reflect what we believe about the birth and message of Jesus.  He gave up heaven to come to earth and live among us.  Surely we could make some sacrifices too!  We could use the money we would normally spend on each other and give it away instead.  Over the years, we’ve sent boxes to Operation Christmas child through Samaritan’s Purse, Project Seeds to Guatemala and Boxes of Love to Zambia.  Some years, we’ve even chosen Christmas giving gifts from Samaritan’s Purse, Gospel for Asia and World Vision for our extended family members.  No one has ever complained, but instead thanked us for giving to those in need on their behalf.

Have you ever heard of Advent Conspiracy?

It’s a great idea that has changed the Christmas season for thousands of people!  Check it out here.

One fantastic idea for this Christmas specifically is the Christmas Giving Catalogue idea developed by Omega Global.  Omega Global is a one-year discipleship program (directed by Zach Wylie) from Summit Pacific College, and students in this program are coming to Thailand this spring to volunteer in various parts of the country.  As part of their pre-trip planning, they want to raise money for some of the projects Imagine Thailand is currently running and so they’ve put together a fantastic Gift Catalogue.  I’ve attached the link below:

Christmas Giving Catalogue

Follow the instructions on page 4 and make an impact in Mae Sot, Bangkok, and Takua Pa!

On a personal note, thank-you for your interest and support in all things Imagine Thailand.  This has been another significant year in Thailand and Burma.  The Thai elections, the continually changing politics of Burma, and the devastating floods would top the chart in events followed by the international media.

 It has been a significant year for Imagine Thailand as well.

• The many missions teams that visited 1 or more of our 4 regions of involvement (Bangkok, Takua Pa, the Deep South, and Mae Sot) and our interns have been important in creating momentum for our team on the ground.
• We hosted our first Discovery Tour – a humanitarian tour of Thailand for those concerned about social justice and interested in how Imagine Thailand responds to social justice issues throughout the country. Deeply impacted by the experience, some of the tour participants raised thousands of dollars for water systems in Mae Sot upon returning home.
• We began training our first full-time community development directors who will move to the Deep South in 2012.
• Kelvin Chan who interned with us in the fall of 2011 is revamping and expanding our educational process for our tutoring center in Takua Pa…more on this in the spring.
• We established The Pie Shoppe in Bangkok (providing good English meat pies!) to help raise funds for Imagine Thailand.
• We continue to develop the The School of Leadership in Mae Sot, preparing it for a launch in 2012.

These examples illustrate that our directors Peter and Cavelle Dove and our Imagine Thailand team are constantly creating new ways to deepen Imagine Thailand’s commitment to the people of Thailand and Burma.

For our family here in West Kelowna, we have enjoyed another full year of training teams, creating support for projects, and spreading the word on what is happening in Thailand and Burma.  We’ve established relationships with a number of schools, churches, and colleges who have graciously allowed us to take away “regular programming” time in order to hear our stories about the thoughts and dreams of people we’ve met in Southeast Asia.

We’re already looking forward to a full slate of plans for 2012 that we will keep you informed about through our blog.  By way of reminder, it’s not too late to sign up for Discovery Tour 2012 (January 17-29th).

From us…the Koch Kamotion…

Derek, Irislee, Ellie, Isaac, Hannah, and Olivia…

we wish you and yours a Merry Christmas, filled with the peace, joy and love of Jesus, and a Happy New Year!

Because I sent out the original post in the middle of August, I thought I’d re-send it now because everyone is back from holidays and summer activities!  We’d love you to join us for…

Discovery Tour 2012.

For those that came last year, Discovery Tour 2011 was an amazing experience that gave everyone an excellent up-close-and-personal view of everything Imagine Thailand.

One participant wrote that “Discovery Tour is a very fun, educational tour… You get to learn about Imagine Thailand and see some of the country too, in a safe and organized way.  The whole tour was so organized.”

From a dad with young children… “We thought it was superb for our kids…. Our kids loved every day; we were grateful for how the team cheered our kids on!”

Someone who had already been a supporter of Imagine Thailand  and came to see first-hand how her support was being used wrote, “It was great to actually see a ministry you support and hear about.  It was worth that in itself.  Excellent idea to have an organized time to do so.  Plus, I also think it’s a great way to experience the country, through people who live there and know what’s good and what to do and see.  For those non-world travellers it’s a nice way to be introduced to the country.”

On January 17-29, 2012, Peter and Cavelle Dove, the founders and directors of Imagine Thailand, Derek and Irislee Koch, the North American representatives of Imagine Thailand, and the Imagine Thailand Thai staff will take you on a journey you won’t forget.  Where will you go?  The tour will include Takua Pa in the south of Thailand where we are involved in a number of educational ventures with children who survived the tsunami of 2004.  You’ll visit Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand and Imagine Thailand’s headquarters.  A delicious coffee awaits you at Imagine’s Passport Cafe.   A trip to Mae Sot and a number of Burmese schools along the Thai-Burma border will give you a clear understanding of the crisis in which Burma finds itself.

Along with good food, clean and comfortable accommodations, a few tourist stops, and the rich interaction with Thai and Burmese culture, Discovery Tour 2012 promises to be a trip of a lifetime.

For more information or to register for this amazing experience, click here:  Discovery Tour 2012 or visit our link on our Imagine Thailand website.

Hope to see you there in January 2012!

We spent a lot of time preparing our children for September.  We went clothes shopping.  Online shopping greatly reduced the painful experience of walking through shopping malls!  We also bought school supplies.  Finally, we met with each child individually and talked about their feelings, our expectations, and then we prayed with each one.  Then this morning, Ellie, Isaac, Hannah, and Olivia zoomed off to three different schools.

While I’m writing this blog, I’m putting together an online Christmas catalogue to help raise support for Burmese schools in Mae Sot.

Once again, I’m caught between two worlds.

Here in the Okanagan our teachers are on strike.  They’re still teaching but they have eliminated a lot of the other tasks in which they normally participate (supervision, writing report cards, after-school activities, for example).    I’m not making a judgment on their decision to do so.   I’m simply noting that expectations of teachers in Mae Sot and those of teachers in the Okanagan are a world apart.

Here’s one product you’ll see in the Christmas catalogue:

What’s going on in this picture?  These teachers are in the middle of a Hygiene 101 course offered by Imagine Thailand.  You’ll notice that there are no sinks.  Water is carried in these basins from the well, city pipeline, or water filtration system and placed on these basin stands.  This whole set-up, including a large supply of soap, costs $100.00.  Through donations, we can create a school setting where students can wash their hands regularly and hygienically.  A bit of soap and clean hands and the incidences of disease will decrease.

Here’s a picture of a group of teachers you wouldn’t want to shake hands with…at least not until they’ve completed their training…proper hand-washing techniques!

As for teaching supplies, classes are bare so here’s what we’re trying to secure for each preschool teacher in Mae Sot:

This whole resource kit includes…

 15 scissors ~ teaching children to cut shapes

Tool set ~ imaginative play

Animals ~ imaginative play, counting, teaching family, teaching small/medium/large, short/tall, colours

Doctor set ~ imaginative play, colours

Cooking/tea set ~ imaginative play, colours, things in the kitchen

Ocean world underwater set ~ imaginative play, colours, float/sink

Small ducks – math concepts, colour, imaginative play

Funnels – imaginative play

2 large bowls for sand/water play

Storage bags

Blackboards

The cost for this amazing kit?  $100.00.

Thanks to your support in the past and the support you continue to give, the expectations of teachers in Mae Sot and the fulfillment of those expectations will rise step by step.

*******************

PS.  If you can’t wait for the Christmas catalogue and want to give right away, you have two options:

a) Write a cheque to Emmanuel Church – mail it to Emmanuel Church, 2600 Hebert Rd. West Kelowna, BC V4T 2J6 and write HANDS THAILAND or TEACHER RESOURCES  THAILAND on the cheque memo line depending on which project you want to support.

b)  Give online – follow the link  http://imaginethailand.org/donate/.    Follow the DONATE link through to “Donate by Area of Ministry” and fill in the amount.  On the comment line write “HANDS THAILAND or TEACHER RESOURCES THAILAND depending on which project you want to support.  

Because I sent out the original post in the middle of August, I thought I’d re-send it now because everyone is back from holidays and summer activities!  We’d love you to join us for…

Discovery Tour 2012.

For those that came last year, Discovery Tour 2011 was an amazing experience that gave everyone an excellent up-close-and-personal view of everything Imagine Thailand.

One participant wrote that “Discovery Tour is a very fun, educational tour… You get to learn about Imagine Thailand and see some of the country too, in a safe and organized way.  The whole tour was so organized.”

From a dad with young children… “We thought it was superb for our kids…. Our kids loved every day; we were grateful for how the team cheered our kids on!”

Someone who had already been a supporter of Imagine Thailand  and came to see first-hand how her support was being used wrote, “It was great to actually see a ministry you support and hear about.  It was worth that in itself.  Excellent idea to have an organized time to do so.  Plus, I also think it’s a great way to experience the country, through people who live there and know what’s good and what to do and see.  For those non-world travellers it’s a nice way to be introduced to the country.”

On January 17-29, 2012, Peter and Cavelle Dove, the founders and directors of Imagine Thailand, Derek and Irislee Koch, the North American representatives of Imagine Thailand, and the Imagine Thailand Thai staff will take you on a journey you won’t forget.  Where will you go?  The tour will include Takua Pa in the south of Thailand where we are involved in a number of educational ventures with children who survived the tsunami of 2004.  You’ll visit Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand and Imagine Thailand’s headquarters.  A delicious coffee awaits you at Imagine’s Passport Cafe.   A trip to Mae Sot and a number of Burmese schools along the Thai-Burma border will give you a clear understanding of the crisis in which Burma finds itself.

Along with good food, clean and comfortable accommodations, a few tourist stops, and the rich interaction with Thai and Burmese culture, Discovery Tour 2012 promises to be a trip of a lifetime.

For more information or to register for this amazing experience, click here:  Discovery Tour 2012 or visit our link on our Imagine Thailand website.

Hope to see you there in January 2012!

Being unable to concentrate on much else, I thought I would tie our latest post into the theme of sports.  By the time this post is completed, Game 7 may have come and gone, but right now, along with 1000′s of Canuck fans, I’m anxiously counting down the hours until Game 7 begins.   When it comes to sports,  no nation on earth escapes the “thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.”  At times stories emerge about how different nations react to less than expected athletic performances.

Many of you may be aware that after North Korea’s dismal performance in the World Cup exactly a year ago this month, reports began to surface that the North Korean soccer team was publicly berated by the Sports Minister while students, journalists, and 400 government officials watched the spectacle.  Apparently, after “betraying” his country and Supreme Leader, the coach was forced to become a builder and was expelled from the Workers’ Part of Korea!     If there is a humorous side to this story, it’s about how the  government handled the screening of North Korea’s World Cup games.  Being sensitive to potential humiliation, the government chose not to show North Korea’s opening World Cup game live and delayed the screening of the game.  However, after North Korea lost a close match (2-1) to world soccer power Brazil,  the government felt confident in its team and boldly aired the next game against Portugal.  Unfortunately, North Korea lost that one soundly  7 – 0.  Admittedly, the defeat would have been an embarrassing situation for a government obviously not familiar with the ups and downs of soccer and one that is always looking for an excuse to share a bit of propaganda with its own people. The government lost its temper.

North Korean National Team

Canada doesn’t escape the charge that we take our sports too seriously sometimes.  In 2004, Paul McCallum missed a field goal against the BC Lions and the Saskatchewan Roughriders eventually lost the game.  McCallum’s home was pelted with eggs, people dumped menure on his neighbour’s property (wrong address?), and McCallum and his family received death threats. Unlike North Korean government officials, the Roughriders club officials and the mayor of Regina, in support of McCallum, denounced the vandalism as “hooliganism.”  Still, McCallum didn’t remain with the Roughriders for long and moved on to…the BC Lions!

Even in Burma, where the majority of news focuses on the fight for democracy, sports are taken very seriously.  My family and I happened to be in Laos for the Southeast Asia Games in the fall of 2009 and watched football in the national stadium.  What an amazing experience to cheer Laos to a victory over Indonesia with 1000′s of passionate Laotian fans.  By the end of the Games, Burmese athletes won 12 medals and finished in 8th place out of 11 competing nations.  Actually, the exact wording from Burmese commentators was “only” 12 medals.    In a country where all news information is censored, it is remarkable that such apparent freedom to criticize the country’s athletic program was permitted.  Interestingly, it appears that even in this cruel military dictatorship, a proper and perhaps critical evaluation of a nations’ athletic programs is somehow considered acceptable as opposed to criticizing the governments’ treatment of its citizens.  One journalist mentioned that athletic training programs in Burmese schools had been cut and there was a decline of interest in sports.  It was also noted that among reasons for the Burmese athletes’ dismal performance,  the regime’s interference with the football team’s player selection process was part of the problem. Now that sounds more like the Burma I know.   On a side note, Wikileaks recently revealed that the former Burmese dictator Snr-Gen Than Shwe considered buying the Manchester United Football club for $1 billion (US).  Can you imagine that alliance?

Burmese National Team

Back to Canada…I wonder what will happen to Luongo if we lose Game 7?  I know, I know.  Stop picking on our goalie. It’s not his fault alone if we lose.   Yes, I realize that.  But when the chips are down, we’re always looking for a scapegoat.  Just be glad for his sake that he lives here in Canada.  After all, when you look at what happens to athletes in other countries, a little manure never hurt anyone.

It’s the first Friday in May. Our tulips are blooming and Derek’s back from Thailand.  He and Ellie spent spring break there with the Emmanuel Youth (see previous blog).

At Imagine Thailand, a few significant ideas are percolating and we’ve got some great success stories to tell you!  Here’s our top 10…….(though not necessarily in order of importance because every one is equal in importance…oh, isn’t that sweet?)

10: Mae Sot Leadership Training Center

Imagine Thailand is at the beginning stages of creating a school of leadership for Thai, Burmese, and International students in Mae Sot.  We’ll keep you informed about the next steps…

9: 24-Hour Famine for Mae Sot!

The student-led Rotary club at Mt. Boucherie raised $2,000.00 for a water system for New Blood School in Mae Sot.  Students gave up food for 24 hours and were sponsored for their participation!  Student participation is key to the elimination of world poverty!

8: Easter Generosity!

At our Community Good Friday service, the churches in West Kelowna collected an offering for water systems in Mae Sot – almost $2,000 was raised.

7:  Thai Food for Lunch!

A middle school teacher in West Kelowna is raising funds for teacher resources in Mae Sot.  While most schools have curriculum, they don’t have teaching manipulatives, posters, or learning toys.  We’re putting together a Thai menu and he and his team will sell the food at the cafeteria to Grade 7-9 students.

6:  English as a Second Language

What people in the West may not be aware of is the deep desire of Thai educators to provide opportunities for their elementary and high school students to learn English.  What stunned me is the fact that the Thai government wants approximately 35,000 English speakers to come to Thailand to teach English.  So…if this is up your alley, there’s a huge opportunity for you!

5: Extended Stay

Dave, Lorelie, Courtney, Meghan, and Cami Hanson are staying in Thailand for a second year!  After thinking, evaluating, and praying, the Hanson family has made a decision to serve for a second year on the Thailand/Burma border.  They’ll return to Canada this summer to get organized for year two and then head back to Mae Sot in September.

4: Schools Beyond Borders

SBB is a non-government organization that brings western schools together in partnership with schools in developing nations.  They are partnering with Imagine Thailand to help raise funds for water systems in Mae Sot. Thank-you SBB!

3:  Social Justice

A teacher at an elementary school in West Kelowna has organized her social justice group, and her school as a whole, to raise money for a water system at Pyo Khin school in Mae Sot.  It was so exciting to see children excited about giving money to a coin drive that would drive the thirst for clean water away!

2: Discovery Tour 2012

Following a successful Discovery Tour in January 2011, plans are being made next year’s Discovery Tour!  If you’re interested in seeing all the work Imagine Thailand does throughout the country of Thailand, we’ll soon be informing you about specific dates in January 2012 for the next adventure!

1:  International Volunteers!

We’re so excited to welcome teams to Thailand every year.  We’ve had youth teams, family teams, university teams, and church teams.  What we also love is when individuals spend an extended period of time in Thailand as volunteers/interns with Imagine Thailand.  We recently said goodbye to Kate after spending 4 months in Mae Sot.  We’re welcoming Kelvin and Evelyn as they head to the post-Tsunami south to teach English.

That’s all for now.

Have an aMAYzing month!

I’m sitting out on the patio of our guesthouse in Mae Sot, Thailand.

We’ve just come back from eating roti…a delicious pancake filled with bananas and chocolate.  It’s 10:00pm and we’ve just sent the 26 teens on our team to bed!  This is the largest team Imagine Thailand has hosted in Mae Sot!  It’s twice the work and twice the fun.  We take over restaurants, roads, schools, and churches.  And we do it with a smile!

The opportunity to go on this trip was advertised in September 2010.  By January 2011, teens made their official commitments to our spring break Thailand missions trip.  We flew out of Vancouver on March 16th and we’ll be back in Vancouver on April 1st.  It’s a 17-day trip designed to show teens another side of the world and give them an opportunity to serve alongside those who are making a difference in the Thai/Burma border community of Mae Sot and also in the city of Bangkok.

We’ve just finished our second day of Life Camps – Bible camps created for Burmese migrant elementary school children.  Our teens lead the lessons, crafts, songs, and games.  They help get the children ready for their passport photos and costume photos.  It’s a significant time for our teens.  More than one has already shed a tear about the uphill battle these children will fight in order to succeed in life.  We recognize that our contribution to their success is small but significant.  Knowing that God loves them and that we stand with them lets them know they are not alone.

By watching the children interact with each other, our teens are learning that the materialism of North America isn’t what creates happiness.  As hard as life is for the migrant children, their enthusiasm for life is unmistakable.  Maybe this visit will re-adjust some of the priorities of our own teens when they return home.  Our youth pastor, Andy Gabruch hopes so.

How old are our teens?  We’ve got kids as young as 12 years old and as old as 19.  They’re all a vital part of the trip.  Isn’t Thailand too far?  Not really…it’s only on the other side of the world.  And that part of the world can be reached with a couple of flights.  Internet access to keep in touch with family and friends?  No problem.  Even in Mae Sot.  Our world is getting smaller every day.

So, what are YOU doing this year?

What are you doing next year?  Have you got a group that would like to travel?  A youth group?  A group of friends?  Perhaps a number of families travelling together?  We’d love to host you.  You can help make life better for marginalized people, while learning a bit about yourself too.  Let Imagine Thailand make the arrangements for you.  We’ve got people on the ground in North America and a team in Thailand that will guide you through each experience.

Oh and by the way…after the camp today, we climbed a water fall.  You don’t get to that every day.  Add the roti I just finished eating and I’ll go to bed tired and happy.

An amazing adventure is just a phone call or email away.

What a great experience!

Imagine Thailand just finished participating in an event that saw over 700 Grade 6 elementary students in Kelowna, BC walk through a model of the developing world.  Every year, our city hosts a Global Citizens Week.  It’s amazing to live in a city that is so globally aware and is home to so many non-profit organizations working with marginalized people.

What did Global Schoolhouse look like?

Hope for the Nations organized this amazing event in partnership with our local school district.  A number of organizations joined together to transform 4 Canadian elementary school classrooms into simulated classrooms in the Developing World.  Each classroom presented a “barrier to primary education”.

Free the Children, supported by Club Penguin, created a classroom that demonstrated and discussed child labour.  World Vision dealt with the barrier of sickness/ health issues, Little Women for Little Women in Afghanistan created an environment that brought the issue of gender discrimination in education front and center.  Imagine Thailand partnered with Niteo Africa to create a classroom environment with very few resources.

Students came in busloads over a period of 4 days.  They rotated through the 4 classrooms experiences.  When they had finished visiting each classroom, they went to the school gym for a presentation that helped them sort through what they had seen and to talk about possible next steps.

The event was well-organized and fun.

As I reflect on what happened at Global Schoolhouse, I think the event was beneficial for two main reasons:

#1:  It brought together a number of organizations interested in helping those in poverty.  1000′s of organizations all over the world reach out in many different ways.  Team work becomes important so that services aren’t duplicated.  Working together helps organizations see how other organizations function which helps use learn from each other. Instead of potential competition…co-operation becomes the motto by which everyone lives.   Global Schoolhouse was an environment for relationships to begin and to deepen.    We were also grateful for the partnership with School District 23.  The district office, the principals, and teachers who organized the event were amazing!  I can’t say enough about a school district that includes global issues in the scope of a child’s education.

It was a fantastic week of partnership, friendship, and celebration.

#2:  Global Schoolhouse planted a seed in the mind and heart of every student who went through the experience.  Grade 6 students are already forming opinions and ideas about the world.  For many, the classroom experiences would have been shocking and eye-opening.  We may have been able to help shift their life focus a little bit. Perhaps they will think differently about money and be more grateful for what they own. Perhaps they will begin to raise funds to help alleviate pain and suffering around the world.  Perhaps a few years down the road, when they begin to think carefully about their future careers, they will think about how best they can serve others rather than just living the North American dream.

Perhaps students will have more compassion for those around them.

In our classroom, bamboo and burlap replaced drywall and linoleum.  Dull and broken pencils replaced pencil cases full of pencils, pens, and crayons.  Children sat on the floor instead of desks.  The lesson we taught the children reflected on the culture of crisis.  The closing words in a story which focused on a desperate search for food (a story actually used in Ugandan classrooms) reminded students of the reality of so many children.

“…..they walked for many miles. They were tired and hungry.  But this district was also dry.  The hot sun beat hard on them.  It made them weak and thirsty.  But when the evening came, the air became cooler.  So they lay down to rest and fell asleep.  But the father never woke up again.  He was dead.”

NOT your typical Canadian feel good story!  We dressed in ethnic costumes, taught with a strict voice and a long stick, and insisted on all students greeting us with “proper respect”!  Along with a bit of classroom discipline and school uniforms, the setting was perfect!

Here’s a few pictures to give you an idea of what the kids experienced!

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