January witnessed two extraordinary feats of strength as volunteers and people of goodwill donned their trainers or swim togs to raise funds and awareness for charitable causes in Thailand, including those run by the Good Shepherd Sisters.
First off the mark was the Million Baht Swim which saw New Zealander Grant ‘Axe’ Rawlinson dive into the water to swim 130km around the island of Phuket to raise money to support the education of vulnerable migrant children. The funds will contribute to renovating the Good Shepherd Phuket Town school and kindergarten, which have become overcrowded and in urgent need of renovation.
Founded in 2010, the school has provided access to quality education and has become a beacon of hope for a growing number of children from the poorest areas around the fishing port in Phuket. However, last year, with a record 400 pupils enrolling for the school, the challenge of the shortage of classrooms to accommodate everyone had to be addressed.
The renovation work, which is expected to take 3 months to complete, will enable the sisters and staff to provide ample space for the children and create a conducive learning environment where the students can learn, grow, and realize their full potential.
Although the swim has come to an end, fundraising continues as donations pass the halfway point to their final goal!
The second charity event was the Community Watchdog Run organized by the Good Shepherd Sisters Nong Khai Foundation. Under the title Stop Violence with Love, the event raised funds to provide ongoing scholarships for women and children who have been subjected to violence.
These school scholarships play a vital role in the education and well-being of children while the career scholarships empower women to pursue new opportunities and financial stability.
Both events have been hugely successful in making a positive impact on education, training, and women’s empowerment. They have not only raised crucial funds but have also brought communities closer together in support of noble causes.
