Thanks to Michelle Suwannasri & the lovely team at the Ibis Hotel for hosting our network meeting!
Michelle has generously offered special rates for WBN ladies-so don't forget to call her!
We had a fabulous private function room & great snacks!
Roz Thomson and Emma Dyas of Samui Centre of Learning came along to speak about their new NPO, Samui Learning Centre for Special Educational Needs and the forthcoming fund raising events they are organising in benefit of the new school.
WBN are honoured to link & support the ladies however we are able to, with their incredible project
This is the information that Roz & Emma discussed with us:
In September this year our mainstream school, Samui Centre of Learning will be moving to new purpose built premises. Our current location will then be re-opened as a centre for children on Samui with special educational needs. Our aim for the centre is provide a place that can help learners with special needs achieve the greatest possible personal self-sufficiency and success in school and the community. There is currently very little help or support for these children and their families on Samui and with this in mind we are now in the process of setting up a non-profit organization, so that any family regardless of financial background or social standing can have access to the education and care that every child deserves.
Our charity, which will be called the Samui Learning Centre for Special Educational Needs, will be opened with the support of both the National Association for people with Autism and The Khun Poom Foundation. We have secured free training for specialist teachers and are in talks with health care professionals to put together a team who will take into consideration every aspect of the children’s well being. In addition to the support of the two above mentioned foundations we also have the support of the local government in particular Khun Pong, Samui’s Deputy Major and they have pledged 150,000THB for the school in this year’s budget with the promise of more funding next year.
On the 16th of March this year the first phase of the school was opened; a social group within the current school location where the parents and children can meet each day, use the school resources and facilities and join in with the mainstream school for some activities such as reading with friends and assemblies. As founders of our international school and founders of our charitable school, there is a common link that prevails, providing the best possible education for every child. With our extensive background in working with children from all walks of life and varying needs, we are equipped with the knowledge to identify these needs and help in every way possible. As our international school has now been running for over 5 years, we feel that we have the trust of the local community and provide a stable example of our commitment to education.
When the centre for special needs is fully operational, the main aim between our two schools is to provide a program for inclusion and later a full scholarship to attend our mainstream school. The success of a program like this requires a visionary leadership of school administrators, an effective collaboration of everyone involved with students with special needs, a well-planned program and a consistent implementation of the program across time. Given appropriate intervention in early life, specialized education and structured support, a child can be helped to maximize their skills and achieve their full potential in a mainstream setting.
The support we have received so far has been amazing, however we strongly believe that if the centre is to be a success it must be sustainable for the long term, not something here today and gone tomorrow. We are now working on raising the funds that can help the centre achieve its goal of becoming a well resourced, permanent educational facility on Koh Samui.
Samui Centre of Learning is co-owned by Roz Thomson, Emma Dyas and Dr Julie Skinner.
Contact: Mobile 0810910714 Office 077419104
Email teacher@samuilearning.com
Website http://www.samuischool.com/
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