Over a hectic 2 days’ of continual vision screening by all the assistants from 3 Rotary clubs and 3 Optometrists performing the final prescribing of glasses, a total of 261 students were examined. 31 Pairs of spectacles are prescribed. Grades 7, 8 and 9 were the target group, but a few teachers selected grade 4 and grade 6 students they assessed for possible vision problems. Baan San Paa Sak school is a large school of over 650 students, so the Children’s Sight Project will need to revisit this school to examine the remaining students in the future. At this moment, we have allotted 2 further days’ of testing in May 2017, when he hope to examine all of grades 3 and 6.
Chiang Mai Internatioanl Rotary Club (CMIRC) in collaboration with the Rotary Club Chiang Mai Thin Thai Ngam, the Rotary Club Chiang Mai North, the Rotary Club Chiang Mai San Sai, and the Rotary Club Changpuak Chiang Mai conducted a 2 day eye and health clinic at the Baan San Paa Sak school on November 7th and 8th. There were some 21 Rotarians involved. Australian Optometry Team consisting of Optomtrists Siri Tang, Kitty Liao and assistants Chip Liedel, Darren Azzopardi, Joe Demarco, Matt, Allan Tan, Sue Ewen and 4 members from "Good View Vision" made this all possible.
With Great Respect:
The Clinic began with a welcome from the School PPL and a tribute to King Bhumibol Adulyadej by PDG Weldao Limlenglert
Overview:
Over a hectic 2 days’ of continual vision screening by all the assistants from 3 Rotary clubs , and 3 Optometrists performing the final prescribing of glasses , a total of 261 students were examined. 31 Pairs of spectacles are prescribed, Grades 7, 8 and 9 were the target group, but a few teachers selected grade 4 and grade 6 students they assessed for possible vision problems.
Follow Up
Baan San Paa Sak school is a large school of over 650 students, so the Children’s Sight Project will be required to revisit this school to examine the remaining students in the future. At this moment, we have allotted 2 further days’ of testing in May 2017, when he hope to examine all of grades 3 and 6.
Mobile Dental Bus
The Rotary Mobile Dental Bus was staffed by the Drs. and Nurses of Suan Doi Hospital. A 5,000 baht donation by District 3360 was given to the Foundation of Suan Dok Hospital.
One World Play Footballs
10 Footballs are donated to the school by Pres. Elect Jerry Nelson (CMIRC) on behalf of “One World Play”. These are indestructible Chevrolet footballs.
Success:
This was the first massive eye clinc we have undertaken. Thanks to all who contributed, it was a great success.
Future Children’s Sight Project Clinics Planned:
7th Dec: Baan Pao in Mae Taeng- our first school to do annual review. grades 3, 6 & 8
20th & 21st Dec: C.M. Juvenile Observation & Protection Centre, Mae Rim
11th, 25th Jan & 8th Feb: Baan Lak Pan in San Sai grades 1-6
22 Feb: Paa Jee Wang Daeng in Mae Taeng- review grades 3, 6 & 8
1st March: Phudin Witthayaa & Wat Na Meng in Mae Taeng
22 March: Baan Piang School in San Pa Tong
26 & 27 April: C.M. Juvenile Observation and Protection Centre ,Mae Rim
23 & 24th May: Baan San Paa Sak grades 3 and 6
7th & 21st June: Was Cho Lae review grades 3, 6 & 8
We all bear the burden of the knowledge of the difference between good and evil. Recently a man more experienced, and more knowledgeable than me said that this subject is too much for many readers; that people will simply turn away rather than looking at the ugly truth. He said that the word SLAVERY will turn readers away; some will even claim to believe that slavery has been long abolished. When the phrase is expanded to read SEX SLAVERY even more will turn away and finally when we get down to the fact that we are actually dealing with CHILD SEX SLAVERY, many people, even good Rotarians, will be so repulsed they will not be able to read more. Please remember this: Apathy and fear and the real enemies when it comes to child safety, health and education.
Thank you for continuing with this article. Actually we will be concentrating on positive actions; solutions are always more palatable than problems. My hope is that Rotarians who read this choose to become more involved and non-Rotarians see another reason to affiliate with our organization. An amazing amount of good can be accomplished through Rotary. There are also many good people doing great work outside of Rotary. When we all do a little (some I know do much more than others and that’s fine) the results are truly amazing. The title "End Slavery Now"! is strong and ambitious. That said, if WE ALL do something now, if WE ALL continue to fight slavery through awareness building and taking action WE CAN certainly make a positive difference.
Actions taken to stop slavery, including child sex slavery come in two categories:
Intervention is the work of the police and various other organizations. They are working to arrest offenders and rescue victims. The work they do is difficult and often dangerous. Intervention is outside the scope of this paper.
Prevention is the work of those who are involved in educating potential victims, their families and their communities. Success at this level means that a child is never abducted and or sold into slavery. Repulsive as it is, we must realize that slavery is a business. People are commodities who generate income for the slave masters. Its supply and demand; demand is on the rise, especially in South East Asia, in particular in Myanmar where money is pouring in at unprecedented rates. The prevention work is aimed at reducing the supply.
Yesterday there was an orientation given to several young people involved with Project Starfish. PP David Black made the point that it is possible to end slavery in the life time of these young people. Together we can change the world, Rotary can help!
ROTARIANS: We have an amazing network of people around the world with a common passion, put an end to slavery! In my limited research I’ve discovered:
The Rotary Action Group Against Slavery (RAGAS). This group was formerly called The Rotary Action Group Against Child Slavery (RAGACS). Their website http://ragas.online/ contains a wealth of information and an opportunity to join the group. The headline on their front page reads:
“Slavery is Illegal Everywhere, yet……..
“46 Million are enslaved, some less than 4 years old. Get Engage NOW”
At Discussion Groups on myrotary.org is a discussion group called “End Human Trafficking Discussion Group”. Interesting posts of recent include an offer to join a candlelight vigil at the 2017 Rotary International Convention, and Project Starfish.
Mae Tao Clinic. Their Child Protection Department is focused on prevention. CMIRC is an avid supporter of this fine organization.
Rescue Mission for Children (RM4C) We visited yesterday and found a small passionate group of dedicated professionals. They currently are caring for 35 children, all of whom are in school. RM4C is currently undergoing an evolution.
South East Asia Foundation has programs through out South East Asia. Their emphasis in on protecting girls.
Sustainable Hope Foundation focuses on forming a positive environment that allows youth to gain trust, stability and independence.
Toys for Thailand supports the education, welfare and greater awareness of hill tribe children living in under served schools in northern Thailand.
If everyone who reads this article were to choose just one of these organizations and provide some support, collectively we will have made significant progress!!
The current plan is for CMIRC to have a projects booth at the 2017 Rotary International Convention. We are told it will be near the RAGAS booth. Our hope is that you will drop by and regale your tales of Child Safety, Health and Education. Your good work will matter. After all it’s one child at a time.
In June, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) teamed up with the Thai National Science Museum to present Kids Making Sense, a workshop on air quality for students that was very well received. While they were here, U.S. EPA representatives met with regional and provincial officials to discuss the Cities Clean Air Partnership, which Chiang Mai has now joined! The U.S. EPA also sponsored a member of the Chiang Mai Regional Environment Office 1 to attend the Better Air Quality Conference in Busan, South Korea, to learn more about opportunities for progress and collaboration on achieving better air quality.
In June, U.S. Consulate Green Team members joined with Meuyen Muang Yen and other community members to plant and care for trees around the Chiang Mai moat as part of the “Plant Where You Are” campaign. The Green Team continues to meet monthly to discuss local projects and opportunities (Do you have an environmental project you think we might be interested in? Feel free to drop us an email!).
New U.S. Consul General, Jenny Harhigh, is also enthusiastic about environmental initiatives. Since arriving to Chiang Mai in August, she has already met with Warm Heart Founder, Dr. Shafer to discuss learn more about the “Breath of Fresh Air” biochar program, and with 137 Pillars General Manager, Anne Arrowsmith, to see how the boutique hotel is using biochar to promote environmentally friendly landscaping practices; CG Harhigh also hosted a presentation and discussion on environmental issues in northern Thailand and potential solutions. Afterward, the U.S. Consulate gardeners trained in environmentally friendly composting and biochar techniques, so that the biomass generated on compound can be recycled, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.
These are just a handful of things the U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai has been doing to promote environmental issues in northern Thailand. We’d love to hear more about what the rest of the community is doing. And if you have a great project that you would like to work on but just need a funding boost, check out this opportunity:
The Partnership for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) is a competitive grant program, funded by USAID and administered by the U.S. National Academies of Science, through which scientists outside the United States, partnered with U.S. government-supported collaborators, can apply for funding for research and capacity building on development-related topics. The program is designed to leverage U.S. government investments in research to support scientific research around the world. More information about PEER is available here: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/peer/index.htm.
PEER is accepting pre-proposals for research projects, including projects addressing Environmental Contaminants (http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/PEER/PGA_174593), which includes air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, social science approaches to human behavior change, impacts of pollution on the economy, etc.
Mae Tao Clinic has asked Chiang Mai International Rotary Club for support in procuring adequate fresh drinking water for all who visit Mae Tao Clinic. We are delighted to help. The Mae Tao Clinic is the hub of the Burmese Community in Mae Sot Thailand. Every day there are between 300 and 500 patients plus their family members at the clinic. The Mae Tao Clinic also conducts training for medics and nurses who serve their communities in Myanmar.
With the donations and pledges we have now reached, exceeded actually our goal for this project. A huge thank you to all who participated. Next month's bulletin will include details. For today we have :
1. Water Filter Systems, 3 each at 4,500 THB = 13,500 THB
2. 150 Liter Water Tanks, 10 each at 4,200 THB = 42,000 THB
3. Maintenance at 5.000 per year for 3 years = 15,000 THB
TOTAL = 70,500 THB
In the majority of government hospitals in Thailand and Myanmar, there is no water available for out-patients and their families. Patients are expected to buy their own water. In the past this has been the Case at Mae Tao Clinic. Many of these people simply do not have enough money to pay for their own water needs. MTC hosts 300 – 400 patients a day plus their family members. These tanks will also support the Burmese medics who are at Mae Tao Clinic receiving medical training.
In addition the tanks will allow free clean water for the Mae Tao Clinic staff Money currently spent on bottled water can then be diverted to other needs. Because of decisions by major donors to send their money inside Burma, MTC is underfunded. Every saving is critical.
Supporting the Mae Tao Clinic is the best way I know to support the migrant / refugee population along the Thai / Myanmar border. While this campaign will not take the format of a Rotary Global Grant, we will apply the same standard of accountability and sustainability. Thank you so much for your support.
