| Legends & Supporters | Celtic Charity |
Details
Full name: Thai Tims – The Good Child Foundation
Founder: Paul Lennon
Location: Thailand
Started: [….]
Summary
The level of goodwill and charity from our support is something that is special about Celtic. The roots of our club has always been something that is drummed into every Celtic supporter from the beginning, and we emphasise the points in order to ensure we never forget the underlying ethos of the club.
One of the best reflections of this is the wonderful Paul Lennon. Supporting the “Good Child Foundation” in Thailand, a charity that supports young children with Down’s Syndrome in Thailand, he has used his love of Celtic to help the children. His story is best told in his own words (see the short article below), and it can’t help but to melt even the stoniest of hearts.
Following the uploading of Youtube videos of the children singing Celtic songs (e.g. “Over & Over” in April 2010), the whole ball just rolled on. It became a Celtic internet forum sensation! Supporters from across the Celtic world finally had something to smile about and uplift them after what was a torrid season (season 2009-10) and we all have Paul, his family and the children to thank for this. It truly was special.
On the back of this, Paul with his lovely wife and friend/co-volunteer Sean Grew have helped to further publicise their charity for support. “The Lost Bhoys” dedicated a full podcast over to them with a full interview to further publicise their charity (which we would highly recommend to all). Then the club itself contacted Paul to offer to make their charity part of the Celtic FC set-up, something for which the club management deserves full credit for.
The charity requires regular assistance and help, and we can only ask if you can spend some time to look at their site and donate to them.
They also require support in the form of teaching assistants, so if you are interested then don’t hesitate to contact Paul and his colleagues at the details below.
A truly wonderful story and we can only be proud that Paul, his wife and colleagues along with the wonderful children at the “Good Child Foundation” are part of the whole Celtic family.
Good Child Educational Foundation
Our Vision
All over the world the same criteria applies when raising happy, confident children: – Love – Inclusion – Education – Independence. The Good Child Foundation offers placements to children of all abilities including pupils with Downs Syndrome at its school in Thailand.
Our Vision is to educate all of our students for a life that embraces opportunity and inclusion in society. In today’s world it is recognised that children whatever their ability will gain from access to education, provided it is tailored to meet their individual capabilities, needs and requirements. For children with learning difficulties associated with Downs Syndrome education is essential to their development, confidence and long-term independence.
The Good Child Foundation in Thailand has challenged traditional thoughts on inclusive education and is the only school offering placements to children of all ages and abilities including pupils with Downs Syndrome at its school in the Chanthaburi province of Thailand.
For children who have previously been excluded from a school environment and an education, the benefits are immeasurable. The school supports children through peer support and social inclusion eliminating the barriers and stigma attached to disability. Read more about how you could support this valuable work.
If anyone else wants to:
http://www.goodchildfoundation.com/
Good Child Educational Foundation
info@goodchildfoundation.com
6639-371673
Links & Contact
Articles
Books
Podcasts
KDS thread
2012
In 2012, The Thai Tims (with the assistance of donations) visited Glasgow for a tour to Celtic Park. Along the way the Thai Tims charmed us all, and gave a few concerts. The club were perfect hosts, but it was the Celtic support that was humbled by their visit and we hope that this is a regular on the calendar in years to come.
On 3 May 2012, the Thai Tims gave a short but wonderful little concert for the Celtic fans before a the SPL game v St Johnstone. It was very warmly greeted.
see: KDS forum link
In his own words….
As written by Paul Lennon (Apr 2010) from CelticUnderground
I’ve always been a Celtic fan, being brought up in England of Irish parents, I looked to Celtic for my identity. My first experience of paradise was a 3-2 old firm win back in October 1982 seen from the Jungle. I was in love, and there was no going back.
Bringing the clock forward to 2003.Our son Berni was born in Thailand with Down syndrome. A shock at the time but we soon recovered and prepared to play the cards that life had dealt us.We live in a rural area of Chanthabri province, about an hours drive from Cambodia. Down syndrome children don’t go to school with other kids here. No school [understandably] is prepared to take on the extra work of looking after a Downs child.
When Berni was three years old we began applying at schools with no luck. I offered to teach English for no salary and we were delighted when The Good Child Foundation charity school accepted us. I approached my volunteer work with absolute dedication and after three years I’d managed to improve the children’s English skills to a level only seen in fee paying private schools.
Our Founder is also the Chief of Police of Chanthaburi Province. Last year he asked me to try and raise some much needed funds for our school.I spent some time thinking this over and agreed to help, but with two conditions.
1.
I was to be allowed to find and give school places to any young Down syndrome children. Down syndrome children here are either sent away to homes for special needs children or never go to school. Obviously the children never reach the potential they undoubtedly have.
2.
I’d have to be allowed to teach the children to sings songs which would relate to my Irish/Celtic background. I felt I was part of the Celtic family and I’d have to go to you for help.
We started about six months ago. The first songs I taught the children were two of my favourites,’The Town I Loved So Well’ and ‘The Fields of Athenry’. Teaching these songs to rural Thai school children takes a tremendous effort from all involved. About three months is required to teach one song. We translate the song into the Thai language [after twenty years my Thai is fluent] so all the children understand the lyrics. I explain the history surrounding the song. Vocabulary games are played with the lyrics and the lyrics themselves are used to teach the children to read. Singing instills confidence in the children for conversation in English. Overall, the songs provide great educational value.
My Downs bhoy is doing well, recently we saved a young Downs girl from a life in an institution by offering her a place at school. She too, is doing just fine.The children singing the songs will have an extra English teacher [who is Irish] soon, a fellow Celt recruited from “The Huddleboard” forum. The students life chances will be greatly improved by good language skills. The songs will continue, and the next one is ‘Let the people sing’.
Our students play football in our hoops, sing our songs, and know our history. Please support them, any small amount goes a long way out here.
Hail Hail
Paul Lennon
