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Past Volunteers for the Phuket Has Been Good to Us Foundation
Julie Goshe's Story 
"As a psychology major and Spanish minor, my interests in child development, language, and education led me to Thailand to work as an intern and teacher for the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation during the summer following my third year at Smith College. As an intern, I created materials to recruit future teachers and donors for the foundation, and most rewardingly, I researched and designed learning materials and activities that were immediately implemented in the pilot classroom in the Baan Kalim public elementary school. With the guidance of Kate Cope, I spent my afternoons co-teaching grades one through five, and coordinated after-school lessons that incorporated a “structured play” approach to practicing English.
My time spent teaching and working with the students at Baan Kalim School was incredibly rewarding. I became committed to them as learners and as people, and my favorite part of my day was walking into school to be greeted by my students, who would surround me with hugs and exclaim “hello Teacher Julie!” Every step forward they took with learning new words and improving their English made me as happy as I can imagine it made them. The fifth grade girls would sometimes keep me after school for 15 minutes while they asked me questions and talked with me, practicing their English. The students are full of energy and love, which despite the challenges of teaching a second language, made it extremely rewarding to be their teacher. As a first-time teacher I ended up having almost a whole school full of “favorite” students. Saying goodbye to them at the end of my internship was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do. Back in the U.S., I keep in touch with the foundation and receive updates on the students’ progress, and send the students newsletters about my life in America every few months. 
My internship enabled me to explore my interest in the interconnections among psychology, language, and education, and allowed me to apply the knowledge I brought with me from my study of children and language. Furthermore, I gained valuable hands-on experience in teaching foreign language interactively, and I can’t imagine a better way to have been able to develop my skills as a teacher than under the guidance of Kate Cope, who is through and through an amazing teacher. My time spent teaching in Phuket was one of the most meaningful experiences I have had, and has affirmed my interest tying education, psychology, and language together in my future career goals. Through my work with the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation, I was able to both gain experience that has shaped my academic and career paths and contribute to Thai society in a meaningful way through education."
Amanda Watts, from the U.K. 
“My time here as a volunteer with the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation has been an invaluable experience. I have been able to learn about the educational programme and the children themselves from a number of perspectives. Firstly, in the classroom where I had very welcome support from Teacher Laura, then during the testing period and marking processes where I learnt about the stringent analysis behind the programme, thirdly as an assistant taking photographs of the children for their own personal records and lastly using my previous experience to help on the communications front for the Foundation. Kate and Steve have been on hand throughout this time answering all my questions and offering advice. I have felt very much at home in the village of Kamala, there is always a friendly face to greet you on your way to school and make you feel welcome here! It is clear from the delight in the children’s faces that they find the English lessons great fun and they run to class always excited to learn something new. I will always remember the kids and their enthusiasm, they are honest, bright and happy students and I know they will only go further with this teaching. I wish I could have stayed longer!"
A Volunteer’s Story: Jane Saunderson
"It was a heart warming experience for me to volunteer in this program. I was quickly accepted by the children and getting out of a “Tuk Tuk” on my third day and having the children shout “Teacher Jane, Teacher Jane” was very touching. The children are so warm and wonderful, giving you hugs and holding your hand. Seeing the children so eager to come to classes and wanting to learn is so rewarding. I had the opportunity to work with a young boy, “Sag.” We developed a special relationship. He was eager to learn. He was very caring and loved the extra attention. Leaving him will be very difficult for me. I hope in the future that I will have the opportunity to assist in this program again." 
Norman and Helen Dawkins
Norman and Helen are a retired couple, who live in Phuket. They found out about the Foundation’s work at Kalim School through their local Rotary Club and asked how they could help the children. Norman and Helen are teaching Year 1 children. Norman, who was a university teacher before he left the U.K, puts a lot of energy into his lessons. Helen, also from the U.K, speaks Thai, which is helping her get to know the children more easily. “Placement in Phuket”- Three high school students from Sundsvall, Sweden Sofia Stadin (pictured below, left): "Working for Phuket Has Been Good To Us was a great experience that I will always remember. My friends and I worked as English teachers, but when we were supposed to go home again, we did not want to leave at all. When you have been singing and dancing and hopefully taught the children something, you want to stay and see all the progress that they make. To see the happiness in all these children’s faces every day, really made you feel that you made a difference in their lives. I think that we were very lucky that we got the chance to work and help this organization. " 
Emelie Nassen, (pictured left, centre):“One thing I have really learned from working at Kamala School through the organisation is that it doesn't matter if you are able to volunteer for one hour, one week, one month or one year; your help is always needed and appreciated. For the children to get the best possible conditions to learn, it is extremely important that they get activated and stimulated in their learning process. As a volunteer you can contribute with more new ideas of activities and ways of teaching. Phuket Has Been Good To Us is a wonderful organisation with people who have children as their highest priority.” Frida Nassen, (pictured above, right): “I worked with the Foundation for two weeks in October 2007. To have been given the opportunity to contribute to the meaningful work that Phuket Has Been Good To Us performs has been very special to me. The most wonderful thing about these two weeks was knowing that my work with the children actually made a difference in their lives. Leaving the school was extremely hard, as the children really have made an impact on me. Through this incredible experience I have gained new perspectives on the world.” Diane Nice, a business woman from Perth in Western Australia: 
"As we frequent Phuket a couple of times a year for holidays, I decided I was able (as my own children are now 18 & 21) to be abroad for a longer period of time so that I might do something I've always wanted to do - volunteer work. I got in contact with Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation. I am at a time in my life where I can redirect some of my energy into something that I may be able to make a difference with. My involvement in the foundation was both rewarding and gratifying, and I recommend to anyone who has a passion for helping others less fortunate to undertake this adventure. To volunteer your services to help others is so rewarding; it gives you a new outlook on life. These organisations are working so hard to make a difference to children’s lives; I have nothing but admiration in the fine work they do for the kids. I wish them all the success and will certainly continue to offer some help whilst visiting abroad.
I strongly recommend anyone to take a few moments out of their holiday, no matter how little time spent, to step up and offer some help. Half a day or a couple of hours here and there will help the kids in school and there are so many different tasks behind the scenes of great value, like preparing lessons and materials. The children’s smiles and hugs are priceless.
I would only hope that more people can step outside of their own world and give to others without the expectation of being paid a sum of money. The reward is so much better, and knowing your small contribution of time has made a difference is so uplifting, so, come on, one and all, give it a go. You'll love it!!!”
Lois George, newsletter editor for the Queen Alexandra Foundation, in Victoria in Canada: 
“I recently had the good fortune to spend time with the children of Baan Kalim School. After volunteering for just one morning in “Teacher Mark’s” class, the children greeted me enthusiastically the following day as I walked across the schoolyard. “Teacher Lois” they chanted cheerfully.
Although my time was limited to a couple of weeks, my involvement at the school was such a full, exciting, and rewarding experience. Getting to know the boys and girls of Thailand was truly the most pleasurable part of my vacation time. I only wish I could have stayed much longer! There is great anticipation when they enter the classroom, ready to learn and eager to join in the English lessons. Their enthusiasm is contagious, as they not only inspire one another, but also, as a volunteer, I was truly inspired by the students themselves. There are so many possibilities when children are so keen to learn! You start to realize just how motivated these children are to say the next word, or recognize a sound, or even try to speak a complete sentence in English. The Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation made it so easy to get involved in making a positive difference to the lives of the children at Kalim School. I hope to help again, whenever possible; to see the smiles and warmth of the children in the program.”
Peter Adams: retired teacher from British Columbia, Canada
Peter was a volunteer teacher in Kalim School for five months, in 2006 and 2007. Peter’s Story "Furthest from my mind, as I disembarked from the Vancouver to Bangkok flight three months ago, was teaching English in a Phuket primary school. After 35 years as a secondary educator in Canada, I believed I was about to begin an extended vacation in South-East Asia. Within a week of my arrival in Thailand, however, I read an article in the Bangkok Post describing a special English language program in Baan Kalim School, Phuket. I was greatly impressed by the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation’s efforts to help children in a village that was ravaged by the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004. A week later, after being accepted as a volunteer teacher in the school, I was on my way to Phuket. What a wonderful experience it has been. The children, ranging in age from six to twelve years, are an absolute delight. Eager to learn, the pupils energetically engage in every classroom activity, in the same way they would join in playground games. No wonder, as the program emphasizes a child-centered approach. Using the most up to date materials and teaching strategies, in a small class size setting, the pupils learn practical verbal, reading and listening skills. Kate Cope, the Foundation’s educational director, has put in place a wide array of learning materials. The children eagerly move about the classroom examining maps, posters, books, games and models of everyday objects found in the home and the market. I am constantly being served with impromptu meals of model sandwiches, pizza, ice cream, fruit and vegetables. It felt strange at first to pretend to eat plastic grapes, but after seeing the delight on the children’s faces, I now welcome the opportunity to engage them in conversation about the various kinds of fruit being held in a child’s pretend shopping basket. We even have plastic models of life-size lobster, clams and crab. All of these provide perfect opportunities to ask “what is this?” “do you like that?” and so on. Imagine the delight in hearing a little seven year old reply “this is a ham, cheese and lettuce sandwich.” There is no emphasis here on memorizing lists of words and phrases. We use games, puzzles and role-playing to such a positive extent that many children arrive early to class and linger after the lesson is over. Bingo games, using the names of objects, rather than numbers, are a real favorite. Co-operation among pupils is constantly encouraged. It is most rewarding to observe children helping each other to finish a crossword puzzle, or match-up game. Imagine the beaming smile of a child basking in the applause of the class after correctly pronouncing a series of words in English. I can’t think of a more encouraging vindication of the success of the program. I came to Thailand to see the sights and learn something of the culture. I had no idea that my insights would be provided by the pupils of a primary school in Phuket. I have been led to conclude that children all over the world love to learn and are eager to help each other. Given the appropriate setting both of these can be accomplished in a co-operative and supportive fashion and at an astonishing rate. In my case, the teacher has become the learner." 
Kathy Davies
Kathy is an active member of the Phuket community and a member of the Board of Directors of Phuket Has Been Good To Us. Kathy helps out with the ‘after-school’ English classes at Kalim School. She loves to have fun and makes sure that all the children leave English class with smiles on their faces. 
Natasha Sale- Brisbane, Australia
"I was traveling throughout Thailand for six weeks and decided to participate in volunteering while I was in Phuket. Although school had finished by the time I had arrived I still enjoyed helping Stephen and Kate in the office with teaching materials for the new school year." |