GVI

Phang Nga Achievement Report

15th October 2014

GVI Healthcare project helping improve access to primary education and increase future
employment prospects for children living with disabilities in the Phang Nga region.

Summary

GVIs healthcare program aims to support five of the UN Millennium Development
Goals (MDG) One of our main focuses is to achieve universal primary education.
We have been working closely with The Camillian Social Centre over the last year;
in order to assist them by providing trained volunteers, who are able to effectively
teach the children English, assist with their physiotherapy and inspire them with
creative arts and crafts.
We will continue to support our partners at the Camillian Centre with achieving
their long-term goals through promoting the childrens development, education,
social skills and general wellbeing.

Report

The Camillian Social Centre Takupa is part of the Saint Camillus Foundation of
Thailand.
It is a non-profit organisation offering care and rehabilitation for children living
with disabilities irrespective of their race, religion or gender. The centre provides
day care for around 20 children aged between 4 -19 years old; from a broad
spectrum of disabilities including physical handicaps, downs syndrome and autism.
It is the only centre of its kind within the Phang Nga region.
The Camillian Centre not only helps the children but also provides invaluable
support to the families not least by allowing the parents and families to go to
work.
GVIs partnership with the Camillian Social Centre started in 2013 and is continuing to go
from strength to strength. We now attend the centre three times a week; running English
lessons, assisting with physiotherapy, organising sports activities as well as leading arts and
crafts sessions. We aim to support the childrens development, education, social skills and
general wellbeing.
We run two English lessons simultaneously at the centre; one for the majority of the
children, teaching them basic vocab focused around a weekly topic or theme, through the
use of colourful flashcards and games. Recent themes have included bugs, transport,
countries, pirates and music. Our afternoon arts and crafts sessions usually tie in with each
weeks theme.
The second of the English lessons is taught as a one on one session with Oo. Oo is 18 years
old and physically handicapped. We have created a specialised curriculum for him; in the
aim of getting his conversational English to a level, where he can potentially gain
employment with a hotel in the nearby tourist area of Koh Lak. Oo has recently passed his
unit 3 oral exam and is now able to discuss the world of work and personal information,
including negative forms!

Recently GVI volunteers from our under 18s project and global initiative project have
helped us renovate both the play room and physiotherapy room at the Camillian Centre.
Creating a stimulating, colourful and invigorating environment for the children to continue
to learn and develop.
This time last year we began our partnership with GVI. During this time, approximately 80
volunteers and staff members from GVI Phang Nga Thailand, have supported our children.
The childrens development is our highest priority, and without you, our goals would not
have been as successfully met. Once again, thank you GVI Thailand. We hope to continue our
strong and effective partnership, and look forward to many more fun filled days with
volunteers and staff. Somchai Yongsripanithan [Co-ordinator at Camillian Social Centre]

GVIs healthcare program will continue to work towards its long-term objectives
including supporting English education in the Phang Nga area, in line with the UN
Millennium Development Goal to support universal primary education. If you would
like to read more about this project and sign up to volunteer, please visit our
website, like our facebook page, check out our blog and follow us on twitter for
the latest information straight from the field.