Westside Christian High Students Teach English to Rural Thai Children - 07/01/09 >Portland, Ore. — June 29, 2009 — Just days after Westside Christian High School wrapped up another school year, 16 students, one alumnus, and a handful of adults boarded a plane headed for a three-week trip to the rural area of Krasang in northeast Thailand. This marks the third consecutive year Westside has taken students over to Krasang. One key element of the trip is teaching English to approximately 2600 7th to 12th grade students at the local school.

On the first day of teaching, Westside principal Andy Sears was presented to the entire student body at an outdoor assembly. The school prides itself on its "international English program" which, in reality, consists of Westside Christian's annual visit to Krasang to teach.

"This trip not only provides a unique cultural experience, but more importantly, it gives our students the opportunity to learn important leadership skills while making an impact in others' lives," stated Sears. "Each morning the Westside students hike to the school ready to win smiles from the Thais as they present English curriculum and activities that they helped prepare."

Upon completion of the teaching segment, the administrator and the English teaching staff at Krasang School were extremely complimentary. Plans are underway to expand the program next year to include an advanced week-long English program after school for the more gifted students.

Incoming Westside junior Andee Gleason is experiencing both Thailand and teaching for the first time. "After teaching my first few classes, I realized that the easiest way to show these kids love is through a quick smile and actions, not words," stated Gleason. "The Thai children don't really know enough English to be able to hold a conversation yet. Despite the language barrier, this has been an incredible experience."

For some students this is a repeat visit. Incoming junior Matt Stockamp couldn't wait to return to renew the friendships he made last year at Grace Ministries, a residential haven in Krasang for underprivileged kids who are at high risk of being exploited in Thailand's sex industry. Grace Ministries provides the children with a safe and loving home, as well as an education all the way through college. The staff at Grace Ministries believes that the young people in their care will become leaders and change agents in their country, making Thailand a safer place for children.

"I couldn't wait to jump off the train and find the smiling faces of my Thai friends," stated Stockamp. "They have so little in comparison with us, but have found more joy in life than many American kids I know. It is amazingly refreshing."

The Westside students live at Grace Ministries while in Krasang. They wake up at 5:20 a.m. every morning with the Thai kids, share in all the daily chores, and in the process develop tight bonds with the teens who live there.

In addition to teaching English and experiencing life with the Grace Ministries kids, the Westside team traveled to some of the nearby rural villages and visited three area elementary schools with student populations ranging from approximately 90 to 190 each. While there they provided a new outfit for each student and prepared a hot lunch.

"Westside will continue to take students over to Thailand every year," said Sears. "The value in going and visiting is not just in the bond we forge when we visit, but also in the promise that we will be back." Each year the friendships formed with the Thai students grow stronger, and the assistance with the English program expands. Additionally, Westside students now own the responsibility and blessing of raising funds to support and expand these activities. To date they have helped build a new building for 30 more children at Grace Ministries and provided a significant contribution to the ongoing operating costs to support them. They also blessed the high school with a scholarship to feed lunch to 60 of the poorest students for ten weeks during the school year.


Photo captions:
#38 - Westside Christian student Matt Stockamp returns to Thailand to teach English to rural Thai high school students.

#89 - Westside High student Hannah Thurston enjoys teaching Thai high school students English during a three-week trip to Thailand.