Posted by Clarence Shettlesworth on Aug 02, 2020

Recent lockdowns have more or less brought youth programs to a halt with schools and universities postponing classes, resuming them in July, but without extra-circular activities. CMIRC members are working hard to begin to plan our upcoming youth programs in a number of areas.

Given our focus on children, a Child Protection and Welfare Committee (CPWC) has been established with Rtn Chili Humphrey (pictured above left) as Chair.

The role of the committee is still under discussion but the vital mission is to improve the quality of life and address safety issues where children are at risk.

Initial objectives include to:

  1. Respond to the existence of children at risk through the development of service projects and interface with appropriate organizations, for example the Mae Tao Clinic Child Protection Center and Child Development Center as they serve children and are the source of 50 percent of the GED students at BEAM Education Foundation.
  2. Extend existing and planned CMIRC projects where appropriate to approved organizations such as the Children's Water Safety and Drowning Prevention project.
  3. Establish an effective CMIRC contact database of relevant individuals, organizations and projects.
  4. Establish an online CPW library.

Rtn Chili has also taken on the role of Project Liason for the Rotaract Club of Payap University.

The Club has been involved in supporting a number of CMIRC projects. In June 2019, they hosted the visit of twenty-three students from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Rotaract Club (right). Activities involved helping to paint several patient rooms and the kitchen of the B.K. Kee patient house and visits to Care for Dogs and the Warm Heart Foundation.

The Chiang Mai International School (CMIS) Interact Club was very active last year and is looking forward to setting up again with new Advisor Past President John Schorr. Below, some Interact members are helping with our project to deliver warm clothes and schools supplies to poor rural schools in Chiang Mai Province.

The Unity Concord International School (UCIS) has had a very active Interact Club and President Clarence Shettlesworth will be acting as Advisor in the interim. In one project, Interactors headed to Mae Suai, Chiang Rai province, on their first ever community service trip to bring donations and to visit the children at their partner charity, Baan Pak Dek Phraporn Orphanage. In addition to the donations of food, clothes, toys, etc., the school also raised approximately 32,000 baht as a donation.

Rotary International believes in developing the next generation of leaders. Our programs help younger leaders build leadership skills, expand education, and learn the value of service. CMIRC looks forward to participating in these programs.