COCO DE MER TSUNAMI APPEAL

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS.

There are many children whose parents have lost their livelihoods through the tsunami and are struggling to pay even the modest amount for schooling. The Fund has started by helping a few families and Barry & Christiane have let it be known that they are willing to help many more. They feel that this is a particularly valuable way of spending the money.

Tanisorn Juprasert (aged 13)

He is attending the Chalernprakiat School in Phuket and we met with his teachers and parents at the school.

His father’s fishing boat was totally destroyed in the tsunami and The Fund has built him a new one.

Scholarship awarded by Florence Koplow & Richard Feldman (USA).

Nawapon Jaingam (aged 11)

He attends the Wichitsongkran School and lives with his parents and grandmother. His father is a construction worker earning 300 Baht a day and his mother sells food from a stall. The family are very poor.

Nawapon studies English, Math’s, Science, Thai Social Studies, Art & P.E. He likes running and is good at it.

Scholarship awaiting award

The Phuket International Women’s Club has been providing scholarships for 15 years for bright students selected by the Welfare Officer of the Phuket Vocational College because the families were too poor to pay their children’s further educational costs. The PVC has 3,000 students and has won an award as the best vocational college in Thailand.

In the aftermath of the tsunami the number of needy students increased and the PIWC did not have enough funds to support all 26 candidates selected at the start of this school year in June 2005. The “Coco de Mer” Fund undertook to give 9 children scholarships to enable all the applications to be granted. Since then 11 more scholarships have been awarded at the PVC.

A scholarship at the College is 10,000 Baht a year (£160) (US$310) (€200) and the students usually stay three years before most go onto university. The costs at university vary considerably depending on location and length of the course, but we are told it is usually between 25,000-30,000 Baht per year.

Anyone wishing to award a scholarship and become a Patron please contact Barry Cager on

E-Mail: barrycager1@yahoo.co.uk

THE FOLLOWING ARE PHUKET VOCATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS 2005.

Amornrat Mujinda. (Now aged 18)

Father has new family and so has the mother and both have moved away. Father not seen for 5 years and no money sent. Amornrat lived on her own when she was only 13.

She is starting at Rajabhat University in Phuket in June 2008 to study Marketing. She performs Classical Thai Dance with a troupe in the evenings.

Scholarship awarded by Tony & Pamela Townshend. (England).

Hathaichanok Ngoonmanee (Now aged 18)

Her father is dead and her mother works in an hotel earning 6,000 Baht a month. Hathai has 3 brothers & sisters. She likes Mathematics and is studying accountancy.

She is now starting a two year Diploma course at the PVC. This will mean that she only has a further two years at University to qualify.

She is on the left with her inseparable fellow student Naruemon Sea Jiew on the right.

Scholarship awarded by Peter & Liz Paul-Huhne (England).

Naruemon Sae Jiew (now aged 18)

She lives with her mother who owns a small orchard and sells her produce in the local market. Her parents are separated. There are four children in the family so money is short.

She has been sponsored since 2005 and is taking a two year Diploma at the PVC in Accountancy. She is on the right with the long hair in the above photo.

Scholarship awarded by Richard & Margaret Rawlings (England).

Jidra Songkun (Now aged 19)

Her parents are separated and she lives with her grandmother on her father’s side. She gets occasional financial help from parents.

Jidra is starting at Ramkhamhaeng University in Bangkok in June 2008 to study Humanity Science which includes English and Management on a four year course. She has had some extra private English lessons

Scholarship by Florence Koplow (USA)

Nussara Lem (Now aged 22)

Her father died recently and her mother aged 46 sells clothes in the market. Nusara has 8 brothers and sisters. She was unable to go to College earlier because there was no money until her elder brother finished his education.

Nussara was one of the two students who went to Language School in Dublin in 2006 and is now starting at Ramkhamhaeng University in Bangkok. studying Tourism. Naturally her English is quite good.

Scholarship awarded by David & Dani Phelps (England)

Sirirat Suthi Nual (Now aged 18)

She is from Surathani. Her father left when she was 11 and her mother lives with a girlfriend who helps support Sirirat. She has done a pre-cadet program and likes running. She may join the Military or Police when she graduates. Her photo with Tippawan below shows her on the left hand side making a V sign.

She has been sponsored since 2005 and is taking a two year Diploma course in Accountancy at the PVC.

Scholarship by Florence Koplow (USA).

Tippawan Yonsang. (Now aged 19)

Her father left when she was 6 years old and her mother comes from Ranong which is 450 kms up the coast and makes some money from cooking in mobile markets. They live near Cheangtalay which means that Tippawan needs to catch the bus at 0530 every morning to get to College in time. She has 3 younger brothers and sisters. She is on the right side of Sirirat in the photo.

She is taking a two year Diploma in Accountancy and is having an English Language course at the ECC. She works in a boutique at the Sheraton Hotel in her spare time.

Scholarship awarded by Jean Cager (England).

Wannisa Buasamad. (Now aged 18)

Comes from the province of Kuraburi in Phang Nga where her father is a fisherman and mother helps. She has 5 brothers and sisters and Wannisa also helps her father fishing when she is at home.

She is starting at Rajabhat University in June 2008 to study Humanities and is having extra English classes at the ECC Language School.

Scholarship awarded by Somrudee Amatayakul (Thailand).

Jaroenporn Jaroenmart (Now aged 18)

His father has left home and has another family so he lives with his mother who is a bakery cook in the Kata Beach Hotel. He has been sponsored since 2005.

Jaroenporn studies Home Economics, Food & Nutrition and is staying for another two years to take a Diploma. Seen here with Kannika.

Scholarship awarded by Tony & Pamela Townshend (England)

This shows eight of the nine original students awarded scholarships in 2005. They are standing in the grounds of the PVC with two of their teachers, Welfare Officer and Christiane & Barry.

The Assembly Hall holds the 1000 new intake of first year students when the Scholarship Award was made in June 2005. The Patrons awarding a Scholarship will receive an annual report from the college and a letter of E-Mail from their student.

All nine students with us and Cindy Ratcliffe, President of the Phuket International Women’s Club at the presentation award ceremony. Cindy’s 14 years work helping students was rewarded by an MBE in 2006.


Sailing day for Phuket Vocational College.
	On a beautiful January day in 2006 s/y Franz Too and s/y Coco de Mer took 11 students and four teachers on a sail down the west coast of Phuket from Patong pier to Nai Harn Bay in the south of the island. Christiane, Ajan Saichit and Ajan Jack are the teachers in the crowd of students.
A jolly time was had by all. We were able to kit them all out in "Coco" T shirts as was fitting for the crew. This is Nussara, Amornrat, Jidra, Tippawan, Hathaichanok & Naruemon posing in the cockpit on the outward voyage.
	We chose a restaurant at Nai Yang Beach which had been badly damaged by the tsunami and rebuilt very quickly with the help of the yatties all of whom survived serious damage to their yachts at anchor in this popular sheltered bay so we felt it was a fitting place for us to go for lunch.
After lunch it was time for a swimming lesson as only Jaroenporn and Hathaichanok could swim. We had kitted out with swimming vests as we already knew from experience that very few Thai children learn to swim. Piers & Jack were the instructors and by the end Thanaree was able to swim in her vest all the way back to Coco de Mer at anchor 200 metres from the beach.
	On the return trip the "Coco" students sailed back on "Franz Too" and visa versa so everyone had a trip on both yachts. Here is Ajan Panee with Thanaree, Sirirat & Wannisa on the aft deck. Is was a two hour sail back to Patong Pier where the mini bus awaited to ferry the teachers and students back to College.
Back at College they all posed for the camera and a general consensus was that the day was a great success and we should try a repeat performance next season. We will have to find another willing yacht as we have added five more scholarship students and as word got around a few more teachers want to come.


Thanaree Juprasert & Nussara Lem in Dublin.
	These two students from the Phuket Vocational College with sponsors through the Coco de Mer Fund were selected to study at the Linguaviva Centre in Dublin from 13th March - 5th May 2006. As they had never seen temperatures below 25C some basic winter clothes had to be provided and their parents attended a dress parade of winter coats with the Director & staff at the PVC.
Before they left they were interviewed on Local Radio & National TV and the College gave a huge send off at Phuket Airport with parents, teachers and students coming to see them off. Gulf Air provided them with free return flights and as they had never flown or been abroad before Barry escorted them to Dublin.
	The temperature was 5C when we arrived. Sean met us at the airport and drove the girls straight to their host families to recover. As Thanaree had a 45 minute journey on the Dart train and Nussara had a similar bus journey we decided to do a few dummy runs and also visit the Linguaviva Centre to meet the Director so they would feel more at ease on their first day.
On their first weekend the girls found an excellent Asian Supermarket in the City Centre so Nussara's hosts Shane & Vanessa O'Laughlin invited us all to a Thai meal to celebrate the girl's arrival and to thank the host families for their generosity.
	Luckily Sean Barnes, who sponsors a boy in Phuket, was able to chauffer us around for the first few days so the girls got to see quite a bit of Dublin, although sitting on the top of an open roofed tourist bus was a bit too chilly and they retired below pretty quick. This photo was taken on Sean's balcony in Dalkey. The girls returned to Thailand on 8th May having passed their exams at the Centre and they gave a presentation to everyone at the Phuket Vocational College about their experiences in Ireland "to encourage the others".
Special thanks for making this venture possible are due to:
Khun Somchit Suthangkul Cindy Ratcliffe MBE Helene Fallon Wood John Evans Khun Saichit Praditseri Piers Breck - Patterson George and Eve Fasenfeld Sean & Brioni Barnes Jim & Karen Wood Shane & Vanessa O'Laughlin	Director - Phuket Vocational College President - Phuket International Women's Club Irish Consul in Phuket General Manager - Gulf Air English teacher & DVT Coordinator - PVC English teacher - PVC Provided Linguaviva Centre English course Barry's hosts and chauffeur/guide Thanaree's host family in Ireland Nussara's host family in Ireland.

STUDENTS ALREADY AT UNIVERSITY. Thanaree Juprasert. (Now aged 20). Thanaree is starting her third year at Dhurakij Pundit University in Bangkok. She is studying Tourism & Hotel Management with her lectures given entirely in English. She is the daughter of a squid fisherman whose boat was destroyed in the tsunami and was replaced by the Fund. Thanaree is wearing the beads. She was one of the two students who went to study in Dublin in 2006 and her English is now very good. She is a very bright student who finished High School at the PVC when 17 years old Scholarship awarded by Oyster Marine Ltd. (England), and David & Susan Dunn (France) Sujitra Kheawchaoom (aged 21). She has completed her first year at Ratchamongkol Technic University in Bangkok studying Accountancy and she should qualify next year. Her mother lives in Phang Nga Province. She is also having extra English lessons at an ECC Language School in Bangkok. Sujitra is one of the brightest students. Sujitra is wearing earrings on the left. Scholarship awarded by The Margaret Cropper Trust (England)

NEW SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED IN 2006
	Sutiporn Nonthree (Now aged 17) She studies Accounting and is starting her final year at the PVC. Her father died when she was young and her mother left her and a younger brother with grandmother. She had some support from the Lions Club a few years ago and she has to work to support herself and her family. She is wearing the white head band. Scholarship awarded by Rainer & Aini Karlstad (Norway).
Tippawan Bua-In (Now aged 18). She is starting a two year Diploma in Tourism & Hotel Management at the PVC. She is from Chang Rai but her family has been living in Phuket for some time. She is an only child and presently she works at the Phuket City Hotel part time. She hopes to work in hotels in future. She is sitting on the left with Nutchanat. Scholarship awarded by Ian & Valerie Stone (England).
	The scholarships were awarded in Barry’s absence by Khun Arunee Suriwongse sitting on the right with K. Darunee Tsetkor the College Welfare Officer on the left, who decides each year which students need financial help. In the centre are the Assistant Head Teacher and The Director the College.

NEW SCHOLARSHIPS @ PVC JUNE 2007
Kannika Suwannakarn. (Aged 17). She lives in Phuket with her parents in Ao Chalong which is quite close to College. Her father lost his job when the factory closed where he worked so now both parents work in a laundry. She has a brother aged 6. She is studying Accounting and has 2 more years at the Phuket Vocational College and her grade is good at 3.84. Scholarship awarded by Fiona Maguire (Scotland).
Suthaporn Amornwech. (Aged 17) She lives with her mother & grandmother who operate a market stall as her parents are separated. She has two brothers aged 13 & 15. In her free time she works at the Royal Phuket City Hotel which is the top hotel in Phuket Town. She is taking a Diploma in Tourism at the PVC. Her grade is very good at 3.67. She is making the V sign. Scholarship awarded by Ray Harvey & Gillian Goodey (England). Daruwan Tararuttanakul (Aged 18) on the right of the photo with Suthaporn She lives with her mother as her parents are separated. Her father drives a motorbike taxi and her mother works as a maid in a private house. They live in Phuket near the College. She is starting at Rajabhat University, Phuket in June 2008 studying Tourism and her grade is 2.87. She has a very nice personality. She is also attending an ECC English Language course. Scholarship: Awaiting Patron
Nutchanat Chaipoldech (aged 17) She is from Trang, a town in Southern Thailand. She is starting at Rajabhat University in Phuket in June 2008 studying Tourism. She speaks a little English and works part time at Big C Customer Service Counter. This is a large Hypermarket. She is attending an ECC English Language course. Her grade is very good at 3.79. Scholarship awarded by Stuart & Avril Musgrave (Ireland).
	Panida Chooklin (aged 18) She is living with her father as her parents are separated and her sister lives with her mother. Her father works in a fish factory in Phuket. She is starting at Rajabhat University i studying Hotel Management. Her grade is 3.38. Scholarship by Martinspeed Ltd. (England).
Samnang Ny. (Cambodia). Samnang lives in Seam Reap and has just started at the Build Bright University where she is studying Business Management. In her spare time she works as a waitress in a tourist hotel. Angkor Wat is nearby. On my recent visit I was impressed by the charity work done by “Journeys Within our Community” so decided to help one of their students. Samnang speaks a little English and sends E-Mails to her Patron and me. Scholarship awarded by Barbara Ehlers (England).