Community service trip to Thailand

A  group of 53 students and staff from Year 12 and 13 of St. Christopher's School visited the Maekok River Village, Thailand.

This was as part of their annual community service trip during Eid.

The students worked closely with the Maekok team to help lay foundations for a new school which targets students with additional learning needs. This year also saw a record number of donations, including 40kg of football boots and at least double that in sports kit for the local students. As well as building, the St Chris students led language classes and a British Sports Day.

St Christopher’s students collected hundreds of donations to take with them on the trip, including over 40kg of football boots, these will be shared across local schools. St Chris also raised money to continue the sponsorship of three students and an additional new student this year. Sponsorship lasts for three years and takes into account school fees, transport and support for the families to ensure that the children can stay in education. Further donations are made by the school through the year, more sports kits will be sent over in the near future.

Huge thanks must go to the Arsenal Soccer School who donated many bibs, boots and kits. A big thank you also to Gulf Air who supported us with flights and transportation of the donated items.

Felicity Percival, St Christopher’s Teacher commented: “Students were involved from the beginning in learning how to mix concrete, engage as a team, build rafts, push their confidence to the limit and many of them overcame fears they never knew they had. It was a wonderful experience to see them grow as young adults. The students were exemplary throughout the trip, whether in always being on time (if not early) for meetings, the respect for each other, willingness to work with local students and the determination they had on the building site. Once again some students went the extra mile and raised enough money to sponsor a child for three years of their education outright. This year also saw the school continue with its sponsorship of over ten local children, some of whom are now in university”.