Thailand Project Update February 2008
Lino Battan has spent several weeks in Thailand to oversee the plans
for the construction of an elementary school financed by the Pistorio
Foundation in the village of Ban Mhai Pattaná, in the Doi Cian
district, Commune of Mae Suaei, in the Chiangrai province. The construction
of the school is part of the Chiang Rai Village Project to allow many
more hill tribe children to attend school while continuing to live with
their families. The hill tribe families are keen to have their children
attend school but must incur tremendous sacrifices. Because of lack of
nearby schools, they sometimes send their children to remote places to
distant relatives or friends. Sometimes they do not see their children
again for months or years, and in the most unfortunate cases the children
disappear. Providing children with education and keeping them close to
their families is a strong and effective form of prevention of child trafficking
which is still sadly a very dramatic reality in Thailand.
Again, as for the Chiang Rai Village Project, we are working with our
local partner, the Camillian Social Center. Our referent is Father Gianni
Dalla Rizza who has made contact with constructors and the local village
authorities. Lino Battan has contributed in the negotiation process and
has closely monitored and advised constructors on plans for the school
building and has attended meetings with the Village Authorities. School
Construction has begun in December 2007. Lino has sent periodic updates
with photos to report on the progress made of the project.
The Village Authorities have agreed to contribute the land for the school
construction and have cleared (deforested) the land area taking care of
not tearing down very old trees .
They have also prepared and levelled the land as the entire village is
built on a steep incline of a mountain.
The village has also built a path to connect the village to the school
and has agreed to cement it so that it can be used also in the heavy rainy
season. The construction company has courageously agreed to take on the
task of building the school despite the difficult conditions of roads
in the mountainous region of Chiang Rai and the distance required to reach
the village. There is also a humanitarian component in their motivation
to take up such a challenging project. The government will provide one
teacher for every forty students and the Foundation will support more
teachers so that there will be one teacher for each grade level. Lastly,
the Village has committed to sponsoring the daily lunch meal at school
for the children.
 Father
Gianni Della Rizza regularly inspects the site construction and will ensure
timely delivery of project. He will also provide regular photos and reports
of progress to the Foundation. Due to the beginning of the rainy period
in May, the inauguration of the school is slated for November 2008 at
the end of the rainy season. The children will have already begun their
academic year by May 2008.
The school, composed of 6 classrooms, a kitchen, sanitation facilities
(separated for boys and girls), and two rooms for two teachers, will be
able to hold over 200 children and will serve the village of Ban Mhai
(80 children from this village can attend the school) with a population
of 4000 and another nearby village. The nearby village is 3 km away but
because during the rainy season is it not possible to use the roads, the
Pistorio Foundation will build a small dormitory for children from the
neighbouring villages that will be run by the Foundation with the cooperation
of family members of the children concerned. The Pistorio Foundation will
ensure the running of the dormitory and the village has agreed to provide
meals for the children. The school is to be ready by May 2008 for the
start of the academic year.
Francesca Ferrari and Paolo Bertolani : Medical Doctor Pediatrician Visit Pistorio Foundation School in Chiang Rai Village
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