Youth Center Proposal

Phuket, Thailand

Background:

The Asia Center Foundation (ACF) has been registered in Phuket as a Non-Government organisation in November 2001. The ACF has been working with children in Phuket through organised projects since November 2002. Khun Eam Thavornvongwongse form the Kata Group of Hotels is the Board Chairman and Roelien Muller (SA) is the Director.

ACF Vision:

The ACF want to contribute towards the education of the poor and underprivileged of Phuket and surrounding areas by facilitating and creating education opportunities.

Current projects:

• The Asia Center Foundation is managing a Day-care Center for poor and underprivileged pre-school children in Patong for the past two years.
• The ACF has started a project for troubled youth in Satanpinit Youth Detention Center recently
• A Kids Club project for older youth in Patong is presented from one of the local schools on Saturdays (includes English teaching, craft making, dance and drama as well as sport activities
• Scholarship program to Tsunami affected children in Phuket and Khao Lak areas

Future:

• Investigation into a slum area in Phuket Town to establish a second Day care Project in the future.
• Youth Center
• Adventure and Recreation Therapy Center

Through the work done by the ACF in the past years with pre-school children as well as older children specifically in Patong area, we have come to the conclusion that a multipurpose Youth Center would be beneficial to the youth of Phuket.

Following is information regarding developing the idea of a Youth Center in an acceptable area of Phuket in order to reach as many youth as possible with opportunities that will have a positive impact on their lives.

1. Description of Project:

A Youth Center need to be build from where a variety of programs can be presented to children from different age levels through out the year. The Youth Center building should provide for the following:

Pre-school:

• At least three rooms/areas for a Day care/ Pre-school Facility for children from poor families
• Outdoor play and activity area for pre-school kids

Primary school and teenagers

• At least three big rooms where older children can be taught new skills (computer, music, photography, English, leadership, and craft making)
• Sports and recreation area for older children

Communal areas:

- Cafeteria or kitchen area where meals can be prepared

- A Big meeting room/hall where all children can meet and where indoor sport can take place; concerts are hold etc

- Boarding /accommodation for pre-school students from Day Care Center that can not stay with the families

- Boarding/ accommodation for homeless teenagers or kids from dangerous family situations(separate dorms for boys and girls)

- Bathroom facilities

- Teaching rooms for English, crafts, music, computer classes

Office area

1.2 Programs and services presented from a Youth Center:

1. Day Care Service: children younger than 3
2. Pre-school Center: children 3-6
3. Kids Club meetings for older children: Teenagers
4. Information regarding HIV, children’s rights, abuse etc
5. Hot line service for Children
6. Holiday programs for all ages
7. Leadership Development program for teenagers
8. Sport, Music, computer, craft and English Teaching
9. Scholarship Program
10. Recreational activities and social programs
11. Accommodation facility for children from troubled families

2. Location of Youth Center:

The ACF is considering developing this Center in the Kathu area because of its central situation. Kathu area is also on the bus route and will be accessible to children. Patong will be too expensive to develop unless the Government can make land available. Since this is a rather big project enough land should be available in order to have the necessary space for the different buildings that will be part of this project. Enough land should also be available to develop an outside recreational area as well.

More investigation should go into finding land and more discussions with the Government should take place to involve them by providing land for such a development.

3. Costs:

As the ACF is still researching and investigating no figures regarding expenses to such a project can be provided as yet.

4. Manpower:

The goal is to teach Thai staff to work in permanent positions at the Center and to set up a volunteer program for additional staff to help with English teaching etc.

5. Additional: Leadership Development Program:

Currently the ACF is also investigating the possibility to start an extensive Leadership Development Program for teenagers. The first phase could be presented from a facility like the Youth Center and a future undertaking would be the developing of an Adventure Recreation Therapy Center where Leadership training could take place in a natural environment combined with exposure to adventure courses and camping in nature.

Especially after the tsunami children need to have therapy and counselling and this could all be presented from the Adventure Center. Accommodation, cafeteria, bathroom facilities, training room and an adventure trail should form part of a project like this.

All school Directors in Phuket are looking for opportunities for their students to learn good values as children are involved in drugs, too much TV and video games and have a lot of family problems. A project like this should be developed in conjunction with the Education Department.

Contact has been made with the Australian Camping association as well who are interested to help train staff for a project like this. Location for this project should be off the island of Phuket as land in Phuket is too expensive and children from Khao Lak, Phang Nga and Phuket should be able to benefit from such a project. Suitable land will be less expensive in an area Like Khok Kloi or Phang Nga.

No suitable area has been found yet as the project is still being planned.

4. Financial assistance:

Since this is a big project more than one sponsor organisation could be involved. Each organisation can take responsibility for funding of a building or part of the development costs.

5. Summary:

The ACF fully understands that this is a huge undertaking and a long term commitment but definitely sees it as necessary to make a difference to children’s lives. These projects would contribute to the education and general well being of the youth of Phuket.

More information will be made available as soon as our research has been finalised.

For more information please contact Roelien Muller, Director of the Asia Center Foundation at roelien@asiacenter.ac or (6676)01-895 7016.