The official Grand Opening Ceremony of HHN Learning Center (LC)
On Tuesday 14th December 2021, Human Help Network Foundation Thailand held the official Grand Opening Ceremony of HHN Learning Center (LC) by Mr. Niti Wiwatwamich, Deputy Governor of Chonburi province and Mr. Hubert Grevenkamp, main benefactor of HHN Learning Center (LC).
The Grand Opening of HHN Learning Center ceremony was receiving many Human Help Network Foundation Thailand benefactors, guests and friends like Mr. Ewald Dietrich, president of Human Help Network e.V, Mr. Sorasit Sunthornkes, HHNFT Chairman, Pol Major General Atthasit Kitchahan, Commander of Chonburi Provincial Police, Pol. Col. Kullachart Kullachai Pattaya Police Chief, Mr. Rattanachai Suthidechanai, Pattaya City counselor, Mr. Rattakit Hengtrakul, Chonuburi House of Representatives candidate, Mrs. Sopin Thappajuj, MD of Diana Garden Group and HHNFT Member, Mr. Eakasit Ngampichet, former PBTA president, Khun Praichit Jetapai , Rev. Michael Weera Phangrak, Director of Pattaya Orphanage, Mrs. Manussanunt Suppitaksakul, Minister of Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Chonburi, Government and Non-Government Organizations working in child protection; Department of children and youth Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Chonburi, The Vocational Training Center in Honour of 36th Birthday Anniversary of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Foundation, Chonburi, Father Ray Foundation, Thrive World Foundation, Beginnings Foundation, A21 Foundation, Children Woman Families and Anti Human Trafficking Protection Center of Provincial Police Region 2 and Fountain of Life Children’s Center – Good Shepherd Foundation.
More additional, many of benefactors attended like Mr. Jan & Renee Goosen from de Vaan Goosen Netherlands, Mr.Hans G. Mueller, the founder of HGM Education Fund, representatives of Lufthansa Thailand- Germany, Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard, Rotary E-Club Dolphin Pattaya International, Rotary Club of Jomtien – Pattaya, Pattaya International Ladies Club, Pattaya Sports Club, YWCA of Bangkok-Chonburi center and all benefactors.
HHN Learning Center opening speech by HHNFT’s director Radchada Chomjinda
“Back in 2015, it was the very first time I was introduced to the hidden problem concerning underprivileged children in Pattaya area, the migrant children in the campsites. They are probably, the most vulnerable group of children due to the fact that they have no access to any of the basic rights stated by UN, not to mention education or medical care.
The scenes of migrant children laying on the pavement, picking up garbage, begging on the street and even offered to foreigner in exchange for money were unbearable to me and urged me to seek any possible way to help them.
Soon after, I had the chance to know “Sanook Daycare” and its operation for this group of children. This inspired me to established ASEAN Education Center in 2016 with the great support from Rotary Club of Eastern Seaboard, Rotary Club Dolphin Pattaya and Mr. Martin Brand. The first 3 years of AEC was a great success.
Along the way, De Vaan Goosen has secured the AEC operation budget in 2018 and ensure that all underprivileged migrant children will be able to have their stomach full and their potentials developed until 2022.
In the middle of 2019, a polite gentleman came to the office with German newspaper in his hand, asking for my presence. Mr. Hubert Grevenkamp was passionate about the AEC project and ask me about the idea I had in mind to make his first 1 million Baht contribution worthwhile for the children. Back then, I was trying to raise fund to make a proper learning space for migrant as they were highly exposed to the pollution in the rented shack they called “school”.
After that, HHN Germany kindly contacted Mr. Grevenkamp and miraculously, Mr. Grevenkamp have decided to solely sponsored the construction of the new “HHN Learning Center” BUT only on 1 condition, the whole project must be completed by the end of 2020.
We were truly blessed that during an entire year of construction, we received generous support from benefactors such as De Vaan Goosen, Khun Pam & Khun Ashely and Mr. Edy Schefmacher to rent the land and build temporary learning shack to ensure that children could still continue their study.
The project director, Mr. Siromes Akrapongpanich managed to squeezed the building design process from 8 months to 8 weeks and officially started the construction of the center in January 15th, 2020. The center was finished on December 25th, 2020, the best Christmas present any migrant children could ever asked for.
The building has maximum capacity of 200 children with fully equipped facilities such as music studio, computer room, first aid unit, etc. In the future, the center will also provide non-formal education and weekend classes for underprivileged Thais.
None of this can be possible without generous support from all benefactors from the very beginning, the late Mr. Martin Brand, Rotary International, De Vaan Goosen, Mr. Hubert Grevenkamp and many more of whom I failed to mention.
And we believe that this Learning Center will provide one step closer solution to the Equality problem in our society.”
Human Help Network Foundation Thailand would like to express our gratitude to all network, authorities and benefactors for making this possible.
