Operation Blessing hosts an English-language course
POSTED: April 18, 2007
By John Patrick
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In February, an Operation Blessing team traveled to Huay Kong Village to bring supplies and host a camp for the children of this poor mountain community.
"Everyone in Thailand wants to learn English," said OBI's Karen Thompson. "It helps in getting jobs, especially in areas where the tourists go."
"I would like to thank everyone from Operation Blessing for coming to teach us English," said Kasem, a third grader. "I enjoyed it so much and learned a lot from them."
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HUAY KONG VILLAGE, Thailand - High in the mountains of Northern Thailand, the children of Huay Kong Village can be heard speaking English.
Words such as nose, eyebrows, head, ear and hair drew giggles out of the class as they pointed to the corresponding area on their faces.
Fortunately, the class wasn't taught through grueling or exhaustive study. Instead, Operation Blessing staff and volunteers instructed the children through sports, arts and crafts as well as songs and dancing.
In February, an 18-member Operation Blessing team traveled two hours over rough terrain in the mountains above the district of Om Koi to reach the village. Riding in supply-laden pickup trucks, the team brought supplies and a new language to the remote mountain village.
As they pulled into the community, the team was greeted with warm smiles. The event marked the first time OBI ran an English language camp for children in that area.
According to Karen Thompson, a representative with Operation Blessing in Thailand, learning to speak English can assist poor villagers in obtaining better jobs and educational opportunities.
"Everyone in Thailand wants to learn English," she said. "It's cool to know English and it does help in getting jobs, especially in areas where the tourists go."
The four-day camp had 139 attendees and all were given specially-designed shirts bearing the camp's theme, "Move the Mountain." The OBI team also distributed three hundred pairs of shoes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, snacks and daily lunches.
At the close of the camp, each class performed what they learned in front of the other children and were presented with a camp certificate.
"I would like to thank everyone from Operation Blessing for coming to teach us English," said Kasem, a third grader who attended the camp. "I enjoyed it so much and learned a lot from them."
In December 2006, OBI ran an Angel Tree project for the children of Huay Kong, giving out Christmas gifts as well as distributing blankets and mosquito nets to families.
OBI has also held a number of medical projects throughout the Om Koi district, including opening medical centers in 2004 and 2005.
How You Can Help
Operation Blessing is helping to transform the futures of children like these through education assistance, nutritional feeding programs, medical care and more.
Make an online contribution toward OBI's Bless-A-Child programs today and help us continue to reach those in need.
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