A registered American public charity and a
government-registered Thai foundation since 2002, the Foundation for the
Education of Rural Children (FERC) has a straightforward mission: “To
offer access to basic education for rural children.” Since its first
inspired project in 1999, presenting a gala benefit to raise funds for new
truck for Viengping Children’s Home in Mae Rim, FERC has built schools and
dormitories in rural northern Thailand with the help of the Samsara
Foundation, provided furnishings, educational materials and scholarships,
and diligently worked with other non-profit corporations to fulfill their
mission.
Children
from the ‘Children’s Garden’. (Photo by Marc Dumur)
Join them for an excellent evening of entertainment,
food, prizes and goodwill: FERC’s first in a series of Give and Live
Benefits to support their charity work for children in Thailand. All ticket
proceeds will be donated to Children’s Garden (Lahu Helping Hand Project).
And you’ll have the opportunity to contribute towards scholarships,
bedding, furniture or other needs and purchase baskets, bags and handicrafts
made by the children.
Who: Anyone and everyone but seating is limited!
What: Give and Live Benefit: a sumptuous sit-down
banquet, secret raffle prizes, pop/jazz/blues concert and a sweet
performance by the Children’s Garden kids!
Where: Fondue House, 18/1 Airport Road, Chiangmai
(053-201-551)
When: Saturday, 30 October 2004 at 7 p.m.
How: Your donation of 1000 baht includes raffle ticket,
and covers banquet, and entertainment. Reserve your space or get your
tickets at Amari Rincome Hotel (053-221-044 ext. 14), Chiangmai Mail
(053-234-102), and Good Morning Chiangmai News (053-278 516).
The garden is growing. “After visiting the Children’s
Garden and experiencing what they’ve already done for 26 Lahu, Akha and
Karen orphans who have lost their families to AIDS and other misfortunes,”
says Marc Dumur, Chairman of FERC, “we are committed to help them meet
their present needs and expand so they may take in more children. Not only
do the kids learn languages and the basics, they work together preparing
meals, doing laundry, growing mushrooms, fruits and vegetables, and raising
fish, pigs, snails and frogs for food. I’d like to enroll in the mushroom
course myself!”
Give and Live is an non-profit corporation devoted to helping less
fortunate folks in SE Asia and giving displaced peoples the tools and
knowledge necessary to obtain and sustain healthy, quality lives as vital,
contributing world citizens. “These benefits will be a festive way to
bring a musical message to the city and take some money to the country,”
says Scott Jones, chairman of Give and Live. “Soon we plan to take an
entertaining, educational, HIV/AIDS focused concert into FERC assisted
schools, into villages and hill tribes…to give them a show they’ll never
forget, packed with health facts, so they’ll live a long time to remember
it. Hopefully we can even save a few lives.”
Prem
student Yui immerses herself in “Nothing” - an exciting new exhibition
at the Chiang Mai University Art Museum.
You
cannot see in a photo just how noisy they are!
Everybody
wanted to be the first to see the penguins and the noisy parrots.
