School
of Promise
Below are a just a few of the 700+ photos I have taken at the School of Promise, a small Christian
school now in it's second year. They seek to help the at-risk kids in their local area, a small
town/suburb called Hang Dong, located just south of Chiang Mai, Thailand. I've also shot over 60
video clips and will be editing a YouTube video for the school in the next couple weeks. Enjoy the pix
as you look at these happy kids and the dedicated Thai and American staff teaching them!
school now in it's second year. They seek to help the at-risk kids in their local area, a small
town/suburb called Hang Dong, located just south of Chiang Mai, Thailand. I've also shot over 60
video clips and will be editing a YouTube video for the school in the next couple weeks. Enjoy the pix
as you look at these happy kids and the dedicated Thai and American staff teaching them!
CLICK on images to enlarge
Morning flag raising ceremony.
The classic "wai" (folding of hands,
slight bow of head) to show honor
and respect in Thai society.
slight bow of head) to show honor
and respect in Thai society.
School of Promise has about five Thai teachers and
three American teachers. Classes on M-W-F are mostly
taught in Thai, and classes on T, Th are mostly in
English. Staff and students have a great relationship.
three American teachers. Classes on M-W-F are mostly
taught in Thai, and classes on T, Th are mostly in
English. Staff and students have a great relationship.
Sometimes students break up into small groups and have competitions to
see who can spell words fastest using the paper letters. Note the sign
behind the teacher: "Come learn with me!"
see who can spell words fastest using the paper letters. Note the sign
behind the teacher: "Come learn with me!"
Students are respectful and orderly in class,
but are also relaxed, friendly, and happy
about learning.
but are also relaxed, friendly, and happy
about learning.
This is the founder, Joel Vander Kooi, from
Colorado. He was in the Peace Corps in
Thailand, went back to USA to become an
Attorney, and then felt called by the Lord back to
Thailand to start this school along with his wife
Marvel.
Colorado. He was in the Peace Corps in
Thailand, went back to USA to become an
Attorney, and then felt called by the Lord back to
Thailand to start this school along with his wife
Marvel.
If you visited the school, ,this is how the
students would greet you... with the
traditional "wai" of respect. The teacher
would tell them your name and they would
say in unison, "GOOD MORNING MISTER
BOB! HOW ARE YOU?!"
students would greet you... with the
traditional "wai" of respect. The teacher
would tell them your name and they would
say in unison, "GOOD MORNING MISTER
BOB! HOW ARE YOU?!"
You'd see smiling kids, working happily on
their class assignments. There are 27
students this year, about 1/3 are Christian,
and 2/3 have a Buddhist background.
their class assignments. There are 27
students this year, about 1/3 are Christian,
and 2/3 have a Buddhist background.
Teachers often use laptops to go online
and tap into programs with amazing
videos and graphics for Science class that
really show HOW things work,,, like a
lesson I saw about the planets with
awesome photos!
and tap into programs with amazing
videos and graphics for Science class that
really show HOW things work,,, like a
lesson I saw about the planets with
awesome photos!
| Art is important, too. Students are encouraged much in creativity that often isn't as emphasized in the Thai system. And with the small class sizes, Teachers can give a lot of individual help and attention. |
Students get a great lunch every day.
And for the students who can't afford
to pay for it, it's free.
And for the students who can't afford
to pay for it, it's free.
Lunch is also a great time for teachers to
catch up with how certain students are doing
in their home lives. Several live in foster
homes, with grandparents, or other situations.
catch up with how certain students are doing
in their home lives. Several live in foster
homes, with grandparents, or other situations.
Here the students are in their "sports day"
uniforms. This chap is giving the "hopping"
relay race ALL HE'S GOT I think!
uniforms. This chap is giving the "hopping"
relay race ALL HE'S GOT I think!
Joel runs a PE class and shows the first
and second graders how to stretch
properly.
and second graders how to stretch
properly.
RECESS! Yes, that universally fun time when kids can go outside (or under cover
if it's raining) and run around and have fun. Looks like teacher Amy is teaching
them some frisbee action! Note the "normal" uniform, white shirt and blue bottoms.
if it's raining) and run around and have fun. Looks like teacher Amy is teaching
them some frisbee action! Note the "normal" uniform, white shirt and blue bottoms.
Scouting is COMPULSORY in Thailand! On
this day, kids all wear their uniforms and do
some work on discipline or learn about
outdoor activities and nature.
this day, kids all wear their uniforms and do
some work on discipline or learn about
outdoor activities and nature.
These lads are ready to bicycle home
after a full day at School of Promise. I
really like their proud and serious look in
this photo as they get ready to brave the
Hang Dong TRAFFIC!
after a full day at School of Promise. I
really like their proud and serious look in
this photo as they get ready to brave the
Hang Dong TRAFFIC!
Here, mom picks three kids up on the
ever-common Thai family vehicle: the
Honda 125cc Motorbike! Rain will never
deter them. And it looks like another
happy end-of-day at the school.
ever-common Thai family vehicle: the
Honda 125cc Motorbike! Rain will never
deter them. And it looks like another
happy end-of-day at the school.
| Some kids have to "hang" around quite a while before their parents get off work to come and pick them up. |
Here, some of the Thai teachers and staff "hang out", too. And then on other days
they have staff Bible study and/or planning meetings. (R - Joel gives announcements.)
they have staff Bible study and/or planning meetings. (R - Joel gives announcements.)
And finally... here is the school photo I took for 2011:
| S c h o o l o f P r o m i s e |
School of Promise founders, Joel and Marvel Vander Kooi, started as Peace Corps Volunteers in
2000. While serving as volunteers in Thailand, they worked within the local education system.
Joel and Marvel learned that, although children are offered a primary education, many go without
because of their ethnicity and/or poverty. They do not have the funds to buy uniforms or pay
even minor school fees. These families must sent their sons to Buddhist Temples to be educated,
and their daughters have no opportunity for education.
Upon returning to the U.S., Joel attended law school, and Marvel taught second grade. However,
their hearts were still in Thailand, and Joel accepted a summer internship with a Christian mission
in Thailand in 2004. During that summer in Thailand, their eyes were opened to the horrific side
of poverty. They witnessed the situations of girls from poor families, which often includes forced
prostitution.
After seeing the plight of vulnerable children in Thailand, God gave Joel and Marvel a vision for
Christian schools to break the cycle of poverty and oppression. To achieve this vision, Hope
International Schools, Inc. (HIS) was founded in January 2008.
Now, HIS has begun planting schools in the developing world. The first is the School of Promise in
Thailand, where the vision was born.
2000. While serving as volunteers in Thailand, they worked within the local education system.
Joel and Marvel learned that, although children are offered a primary education, many go without
because of their ethnicity and/or poverty. They do not have the funds to buy uniforms or pay
even minor school fees. These families must sent their sons to Buddhist Temples to be educated,
and their daughters have no opportunity for education.
Upon returning to the U.S., Joel attended law school, and Marvel taught second grade. However,
their hearts were still in Thailand, and Joel accepted a summer internship with a Christian mission
in Thailand in 2004. During that summer in Thailand, their eyes were opened to the horrific side
of poverty. They witnessed the situations of girls from poor families, which often includes forced
prostitution.
After seeing the plight of vulnerable children in Thailand, God gave Joel and Marvel a vision for
Christian schools to break the cycle of poverty and oppression. To achieve this vision, Hope
International Schools, Inc. (HIS) was founded in January 2008.
Now, HIS has begun planting schools in the developing world. The first is the School of Promise in
Thailand, where the vision was born.
All photos COPYRIGHT 2011 by
Robert Bowling, DigitalMission.
Please do not download without
permission.
Robert Bowling, DigitalMission.
Please do not download without
permission.
