Annual Activities Report - 2014

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A N N UA L A C T I V I T I E S R E P O R T | 1 5
One of the highlights of the year was the visit of Princess Maha
Chakri Sirindhorn in February to one of the villages on the border
with Laos, where we have built a Primary School, Kindergarten,
Dormitory, Teacher Accomodations, and Kitchen and Canteen.
Foundation Director Elena Pistorio and Country Manager Thailand
Giovanni Santavicca greeted the Princess at the school. The event
was televised the same day on all national Thai TV channels.
A very positive outcome of the visit was the commitment of the
local government to build the road connecting Huay Kuk village
to the main road on the bottom of the hill. The road was built
during this year, and it is estimated that villagers’ incomes have
improved by 10% thanks to the new road. The project represented
an investment of 20MThai Baht on the part of the government.
Another decision was to build a Health Post in Huay Kuk Village.
The Foundation will be a partner for this project that will be
completed in 2015.
Elena Pistorio with Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at Huay
Kuk School
Other highlights of the year came from some of our students’
outstanding achievements. Nary, a ten-year old primary school
student won first prize in an international Art Competition and
was handed the award by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
Volunteer Francesca Ferrari created a video documenting Nary’s
success that is available on our website at the following link: http://
Another student who excelled is Arisa, enrolled at VBAC Profes-
sional School. Arisa won a National competition in Accounting,
winning first place both in 2013 and in 2014! Congratulations to
our bright and dedicated students!
Changing Lives - From our Beneficiaries:
Arisa
Arisa originally comes from Myanmar and settled in an Akha
village in Chiang Rai with her brother and his family. She strived
to find the way to get a better education. She finally succeeded
in fulfilling her dream by studying Accounting in Professional
School after completing secondary school. While studying, she
took part in regional and national competitions in accounting
received an award for a gold medal in 2013 and in 2014.
“I believe the key to my success in the future is my education because with
education I can be the master of my own life and goals. The only way to
secure a stable life for myself is to be well educated and gain knowledge.”
Arisa
Nary holding his drawing that won an International Art Competition