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Reach for the little stars

Written by: Jamie Hamley - 25 April 2009
Figure 1. Children playing at SounCha schoolDuring our 3 month stay at Moung Choum school we also worked with the significantly less well off Souncha school, which is primarily inhabited by the Palaung hill tribe.  The obvious lack of funding for this school (despite the well attended class sizes of 30-35) and the consequential dull school daily life faced by pupils-a small field with two worn out football posts, an old torn Takor net, and a couple of flat balls offer little excitement.  This coupled with the old classrooms sitting on this field, whose desks are rotten and uncomfortable, the teachers blackboards dirty and as old as the walls they perch on, show the school to promise little personal or academic development. 

After a couple of months teaching here we decided we needed to do something for these children, who seem all too often left out of trips and fun activities that bless the children at neighboring MoungChoum.

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Four months in volunteering in northern Thailand

Written by: Jamie Hamley - 15 April 2009

Figure 1:  Delivering aid to a Shan IDP campIn early January we (a couple of dashing young lads from London) got on a plane to Thailand, heading off to work as English teachers in the impoverished hill tribe regions of northern Thailand.

Upon landing in Chiang Rai we had a few days to relax and acclimatise to our new environment, which we thoroughly did– embracing the delicious taste of a spicy meal and beer for the price of a pound and the not so enjoyable eating of crickets – the beautiful thai culture; friendly, giving, with a great sense of community (which everyone wants you as a 'falang' to be a part of) and a love for alcohol that suggests a hatred of ones liver.  After exploring the local sights and ubiquitous markets our acclimatisation phase was soon over and we headed off to Fang (a town in the far north of Thailand) where we were to be handed over to the Blood Foundation.  This unexpected change of NGO (we were originally meant for the Khon Loy foundation in Chiang Rai) is typical of Thailand, where people treat life with a casual attitude; plans and events are all subject to their fluid concepts. 

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Overview of my time in Thailand

Written by: James Hallamore - 10 April 2009

Figure 1 Looking back at my time in Thailand, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I arrived in Fang in early January 2009, amid the grandeur of north-western Thailand's jungle scenery and the foothills of the Himalayas. The English teaching placement took place in a small town called MoungChoum, 20 minutes from Fang. With the help of Jildou and Ben, we moved into our Thai house in the village so we could be closer to the school. It was definitely one of the best decisions we made as we not only became involved in village life but I think it made teaching at school easier. We were able to develop friendships with the teachers much more than if we had lived in Fang.


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My First Week of Ban Moung Choum School

Written by: James Hallamore - 10 April 2009

Figure Leaving a wintry UK behind in early January 2009, I arrived in Thailand full of anxiety. Having recently graduated from University I wanted to do something that was meaningful and worthwhile. Although lying on a beach in southern Thailand has its appeals, I wanted to do something that would be rewarding. In every sense I got that.

For the English teaching placement we were placed in a small town called MoungChoum, 20 minutes from Fang. It was here that we moved into our own Thai house. The house which was located only a 5 minute bicycle ride from school had all the modern features that you would expect from a Thai house – a squat toilet and a cold shower. To begin with it was an experience, but we soon got use to it. Looking back at our time teaching, staying in MoungChoum was probably one of the best decisions we made. We became totally immersed in village life from being invited around people's homes to being known by all the villagers.


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