In 2008, Samsara embarked on a new program called ‘Tomorrow’s Leaders’. Hill Tribe children from the mountains, with top school results were offered an opportunity to continue their studies after middle school with six years of Vocational or High School; and for those who qualified, College or University. The main goal of the Tomorrow’s Leaders program is for students to obtain jobs requiring higher education, the ability to occupy leading positions in their respective communities and to develop into leaders at all levels of society.
Within the three districts Samsara focuses on, all leading positions are currently occupied by people from other regions. This is true for a wide variety of jobs: nurses, teachers, civil servants, police officers, shop owners and traders. Hill Tribe children lack the necessary education for these positions and the financial capacity needed to attend Vocational or High school, much less higher education.
Another important goal of the Tomorrow’s Leaders program is to prevent these youngsters from ending up in the slums of big cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai and to offer them instead the opportunity to successfully compete for jobs at the highest level; to become role models for other Hill Tribe children; and to gain recognition as leaders in their communities.
Tomorrow’s Leaders
Tomorrow’s Leaders is a unique scholarship program, developed by Samsara, for children with the best school results. In 2008, the Tomorrow’s Leaders program had ten students in High school and by 2009, another ten in Vocational school. With satisfactory school results Samsara guarantees each of the participating students at least six years of educational support. Current Sponsors of the Tomorrow’s Leaders program are the Lloyd George Asia Foundation in Hong Kong and a private donor from the Netherlands.
We continue to administer this ambitious program but to realize fully the vision and commitment of the Tomorrow’s Leaders program, Samsara needs to do a lot more fund raising.
Completed Building Projects during 2008:
Thanks to the 36,000 Euro matching funds donation of the Dutch Foundation “Wild Geese”, Samsara has been able to complete a number of school facilities during the dry season of 2007-2008.
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Samsara’s building program supports the “Tomorrows Leaders” program, because the newly available dormitories give children from the mountains the opportunity to attend high school without incurring too many extra costs. Donations for these dormitories came from the Dutch “De Beer Foundation” and other individual donors; “Wild Geese” matching funds increased these donations an additional 60%. In the Mae Sariang valley, Samsara renovated a dormitory at the Boripath School; and high up in the mountains at the Huay Puung Mai school, Samsara funded a dormitory for 180 children. On 17 May 2008, the Thai government started a high school at the Huay Puung Mai School. This school is the first mountain school to offer these educational levels so that in the future Hill Tribe children from the surrounding area will not need to travel to the Mae Sariang valley. The construction of the Huay Puung Mai dormitory started in March 2008; it is scheduled to be completed by July 2008. Finally at Mae Ngaw School, a new canteen and kitchen has been constructed.
The Dutch “Turing Foundation” donates 22,000 Euro for isolated schools.
Cho Sii Deu Nua is the most isolated mountain school in Thailand. It is only accessible by a four wheel drive vehicle ride of many hours; followed by three hours by boat down a river; and finally a six hour walk. Next time instead of walking the six hours, an elephant ride of four may be a preferable alternative. Samsara built a dormitory here for children that live even further away. This dormitory was built of wood instead of concrete because it is very difficult to get the iron and cement required all of the way to this remote location. At Huay Muang, another isolated school, Samsara built a canteen with a kitchen; a toilet building; and a waste water system to prevent the spilling of dirty water on the floors and on the premises. The same donation provided schoolbooks for 15 other schools.
Various private donations to Samsara Netherlands and Samsara Thailand mean a lot to the Hill Tribe children Samsara serves.
Elke particuliere donaties die de stichting Samsara ontvangt wordt goed en direct besteed en heeft onmiddellijk effect. Zo hebben we veel schooltjes aan matrassen, beddengoed en kantinemeubels kunnen helpen. Voor de Huay Haag Mai Thai is een afwateringssysteem aangelegd, zodat de school niet meer onder water loopt. Ook zijn studenten geholpen met studiebeurzen. Veertig studenten hebben uit deze particuliere donaties een beurs ontvangen. Dit zijn studenten, die niet binnen de criteria voor het programma “ Tomorrows Leaders” vallen, maar die een beurs om uiteenlopende redenen toch nodig hebben. Deze beurzen zijn gegarandeerd voor drie jaar.
Friends of Samsara from the USA donate $45,000 US dollars for school facilities.
During the past two years Samsara Thailand has received substantial contributions from the USA. Significant donations came from the Ralph Scriba Family foundation ($25,000 US dollars) and the Carl and Henrietta Herrmann Family Foundation ($15,000 US dollars). We also received smaller donations, which we equally value. Samsara has been able to accomplish a lot with these contributions: A new dormitory for the Chaw Poo Luang School; new canteens for the Duu Laa Peu and Luum Naam Wittaya schools; a new teacher’s dormitory for the Huay Puung Mai School. The existing dormitory at the Sang Wan Wittaya School was considerably expanded; and the Mae Chaang School received a study room.
We are grateful for the support of the teachers and parents who as volunteers did almost all of the construction work. Professionals were hired only for some specialized jobs. All of these many volunteers were present at the various opening ceremonies.
Samsara’s USA donors have generously agreed for 10% of their donations to be used for the “Tomorrow’s Leaders” program as well as general scholarships funding.
Rotary Club Calgary Centennial Canada in cooperation with the matching fund Wild Rose Foundation, Alberta, Canada donated $40,000 Canadian Dollars.
Two of Samsara’s volunteers from Chiang Mai moved back to their home city of Calgary in Canada; they remain enthusiastic supporters and ambassadors for the work of Samsara; and convinced their local Rotary Clubs to financially support Samsara’s work in northern Thailand. These donations provided the Huay Haag Mai Thai School with a boys’ dormitory; a canteen with a kitchen; and a toilet building; The Mai Lae School with a canteen; and the Um Lo Saka School with a kitchen. Furniture and kitchen equipment for all of these facilities was included. In addition to the three schools already mentioned, another five schools received desperately needed furniture; and eight schools installed water-cleaning systems. A training session was organised to install and correctly maintain the water installations
Lloyd George Asia Foundation from Hong Kong donated $10,500 HK Dollars for the Huay Po School.
The Huay Po School is rapidly expanding. In 2007 Samsara built a big dormitory enabling more children to attend the school. However, it only had a small canteen where children were obliged to take their meals in shifts; and the kitchen was inadequate and poorly equipped. With the Lloyd George donation Samsara had a new canteen and kitchen built; and also managed to build a new toilet building with the remaining money.
The Jan and Oscar Foundation from Switzerland donated 270,000 Baht for a fully equipped dormitory.
Samsara previously made many improvements at the Um Loo Saka School. Three years ago there were only bamboo huts. The school now has a canteen; a dormitory for teachers; a toilet building; a clean water installation; and two classrooms at its disposal. This donation from the Jan and Oscar Foundation was used for the construction of a dormitory for children and for school desks. Three years ago the school had 35 pupils; in 2008 the number increased to 120. This is another example of the direct and positive effect of the donations Samsara receives.
US Foundation “Global Playground” donated $13,385 US Dollar for a school study centre
Global Playground is an American Foundation established by a group of young professionals with the aim of creating educational opportunities where they do not already exist. Samsara accomplished the construction of a library/study center including furniture and books at the Huay Puung Mai School within two months, in close cooperation with the teachers and the pupils’ parents. A delegation from Global Playground visited Thailand and participated in the opening ceremony on 5 January 2009.
Lloyd George Asia Foundation (Hong Kong) donated $19,450 US Dollars for a canteen, toilet buildings and furniture.
The Lloyd George Asia Foundation donated money to Samsara for the second time as the Foundation was hugely satisfied with the concrete results from its first donation in 2007. Samsara used the donation for: 40 bunk beds, mattresses, sheets, blankets and wardrobes at the Mae Chaang school; a newly built canteen at the Mae Ka Nai school complete with kitchen equipment and furniture; new toilet buildings at the Mae Ngaw and Mae Ka Nai schools; and schoolbooks for the Huay Haag Mai Tai school.
In these harsh mountainous environments ready-made furniture from regular suppliers is unable to withstand the difficult transport and intensive use at the mountain schools. Samsara therefore designs sturdy furniture which is made in a special workshop in Chiang Mai. Ratana Keunkaew supervises the production and transport of this furniture.
The Ralph Scriba Family Foundation (USA) donated $100,000 US Dollars for numerous new buildings and furniture at mountain schools.
This private foundation, based in Los Angeles, has previously donated to Samsara, is satisfied with the results of the investment and impressed by the low overhead costs of 3%. The foundation also appreciates the way local stake-holders are involved in the work of Samsara. All projects from this donation were completed in the first half of 2009 because Samsara can only build during the dry season as roads leading to the schools are impossible to use in the rainy season. All these projects are mentioned under the heading ‘Latest Projects’.
In 2008 Samsara delivered bunk beds, mattresses, blankets, sheets and cupboards for 40 children to the Mae Chaang school. The school also received tables, benches and kitchen equipment for the existing canteen and schoolbooks for the Junior High School. It was agreed by the Donor that 10% of the donation could be spent on Samsara's Scholarship Program.
American Friends of Samsara donated $10,000 US Dollars for 120 school benches.
In January 2008 friends of the Chairman of Samsara, Thailand, visited some projects and a month later collectively donated 10,000 US Dollars. With these funds Samsara ordered 120 school benches, specially designed by Samsara, for the Mae Chaang School and the teachers’ dormitory was equipped with beds and bedding.
The Carl and Henriette Herrmann Family foundation (USA) donated $18,000 Dollars for a canteen and dormitory.
Samsara received, for the second time, a donation from this private foundation. This donation provided the Mae Too Tai School with a study room; the renovation of a canteen; and the construction of a teachers’ dormitory at the Mae Lae School. Because these projects were finished in the first half of 2009 they can be found under the heading ‘Latest Projects’. The donor has agreed that 10% of the donation can be spent on Samsara's Scholarship Program.
Foundation De Beer (Netherlands) donated 9,400 Euros for a dormitory and a shower facility.
Foundation De Beer (Netherlands) has donated to Samsara for the third time. Samsara is constructing a large dormitory for boys including bunk beds and a shower-facility at the Sang Wan Wittaya School from this donation, which was received at the end of December 2008. The buildings will be completed in the first half of 2009 and therefore is mentioned under the heading ‘Latest Projects’.
Private Donors from the Netherlands and the UK donated 5,185 Euros for a canteen.
Samsara received these donations at the end of December 2008 and will facilitate the construction of a canteen with furniture and kitchen equipment at the Um Luang school. A description of the project is found under the heading ‘Latest Projects’.
Samsara’s Australian partners train Thai English Language teachers to improve their teaching of a foreign language.
During the last school term, Samsara sponsored three professional language educators from Australia teaching in 3 schools in Mae Sariang valley. Thai teachers were given the opportunity to observe and participate in phonetic and action-based learning methodology of teaching conversational English. At a closing event at the end of their stay, a successful English language workshop was organized for teachers, directors and personnel from the Department of Education. The Australian educators raised the funds for their stay and all the teaching material themselves. On top of that, they raised money for 21 scholarships; and donated the teaching materials used during their stay.
Students from the Netherlands and Germany donated ‘time’ to do voluntary work.
Two students from the Netherlands and Germany, who recently finished their studies, assisted in teaching English Language and organizing sports activities as part of their holiday trip in Northern Thailand. This was a unique opportunity for Hill Tribe school children to come into contact and interact with foreigners. The students stayed for a period from two to four weeks with room and board provided. Samsara asked each student for a donation of five Euros a day to be used for students’ scholarships at the schools involved.
If other students wish to volunteer, Samsara is willing to find a school for them, but students will be responsible for their own travel costs, visa and insurance. Life at the Mae Sariang schools is simple, but both of these volunteers said it was a life-enriching experience.
The Samsara Foundation wishes to express its gratitude and heartfelt thanks to all Donors for their wonderful and generous contributions towards the educational development of the children from the mountains of northern Thailand.We do this also in the name of all the schools that benefited from the donations received.
In 2008 Samsara realised projects with a total sum/value of 7,459,530 Thai Baht (162,163 Euros or 219,397 US$)