The Bamboo School and Community Empowerment Winds of change Mechai Viravaidya Foundation Mechai Bamboo School 1

literacy and numerical skills Thai education today concentrates on rote memorization And emphasizes literacy and numerical skills

which Produces and Followers 3

Rather than leaders of tomorrow 4

Grades Budget 12th grade O-Net 50% 30% 10% 20 % of National budget Mathematics Thai English 2003 2005 2007 2009 50% 30% 10% Science 12th grade O-Net Education Budget Unit : 100,000 Million Baht Year 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 20 % of National budget : TDRI, 16/2/12 5

And most of them remain inside the box 6

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 7

We need to change the school To this From this

A Bold New Experiment in Education has already begun… Buriram Bangkok …Buriram Province Among lowest 4% in educational attainment 9

Crafting a New Generation of Thai Citizens The Bamboo School Crafting a New Generation of Thai Citizens 10

Learning Centers A Lifelong Social and Economic Advancement It is not just a school, but A Lifelong Learning Centers and a hub for Social and Economic Advancement for students, their families and the entire community

The Bamboo School is different from other schools

400 hours School fees paid by family with of community service (8 hours per week) and planting 400 trees

Students perform 7 hours of community service per week

Purchasing and audit committees They are also members of the Purchasing and audit committees

Two students are elected from the student council to become members of the school board

Students applying to enter Grade 7 are selected by a committee of 8th, 9th & 10th grade students and teachers

Students participate in teacher selection and evaluation

School constructed of Bamboo Bamboo Structure of Dome 19

World’s largest Bamboo Geodesic Dome Diameter = 30 meters

for 10th Graders One year studying in Pattaya Year 7,8,9, 11,12 students study in Buriram 23

encouraged & stimulated to Our students are encouraged & stimulated to 24

Why not paint trees 25

And fruits 26

Alternative vegetable garden Fan cover 27

vegetable shoes 28

American Standard vegetables 29

We are encouraging them to become even more creative in the future 30

Three Major Roles of the Bamboo School Students Teachers Villagers Education & Skills Training Families Communities Institutions The Mechai Bamboo School Income Generation Schools Temples Hospitals Small Jails Capacity Building With support of the private sector

Project-Based learning Students’ research and presentation to class

Bamboo School acts as IT Hub for surrounding communities Computers made available to children in communities surrounding school

Our students and those from 30 surrounding villages are trained to be Barefoot IT Teachers

Community IT Learning Room Supervised by Barefoot IT Teachers

Student-Teach Project… in villages Community Services… Student-Teach Project… in villages

Community Service Elderly Hospital Temple

Tree Planting

during rice planting & harvest School close so students can help farmers during rice planting & harvest 39 39

Students’ Good Deeds Van ……

Doing Good Deeds

Students’ Good Deeds… Boat

Know Alcohol 43 43

Don’t let it control your life 44 44

Sex Education & AIDS 45 45

Bio-Diesel 46 46

play Sign language help 47 47

Understand others

Understand others

Understanding hunger

All students are involved in tackling inequalities …and in proposing solutions especially for vulnerable groups

Income generating activities for vulnerable groups (Mushroom growing for handicapped) 52

Corruption & Solutions Identifying Corruption & Solutions

Our students are also involved in training of teachers & students At Government Schools 54 54

share their success Bamboo school students capable entrepreneurs learn how to become capable entrepreneurs who are willing to share their success

Business Agriculture Training for Students

Businesses operated by students

Students’ farm and products for sale

Students food processing venture 50% of profits donated for scholarships of poor primary schools children

and make society a better place The school is determined to inspire students to become citizens who: Are honest, happy & caring, innovative and resourceful Possess management & business skills Practice & promote gender equality and democracy and make society a better place

Our school in the 21st Century Lifelong Learning Center Hub for Economic & Social Progress Teacher Training Facility Occupational & Entrepreneurial Training Job Training Opportunities Placement at Tertiary Institutions (Scholarships) Employment Assist Students to Find

We are now expanding our activities to other rural schools with the support of the private sector 62

School-Based Integrated Rural Development (SCHOOL - BIRD)

the School-Based Integrated Rural Development 6 Key components of to improve the quality of life and eradicate poverty the School-Based Integrated Rural Development 1. Community Participation and Empowerment 2. School Lunch Farm and Social Enterprise 3. School & Community Micro Credit Fund 4. Health, Sanitation & Environment 5. Teachers’ Training 6. Supervision and Management

Cleaning of Village, School and Temple 1 Community Participation and Empowerment Cleaning of Village, School and Temple

Community needs assessment 1 Community Participation and Empowerment Community needs assessment

2 School Lunch Farm and Social Enterprise

Strong Community Participation 2 School Lunch Farm and Social Enterprise Strong Community Participation

2 School Lunch Farm and Social Enterprise

Using half an acre of land 2 School Lunch Farm and Social Enterprise Using half an acre of land

3 School & Community Micro Credit Fund

3 School & Community Micro Credit Fund Chilies Vegetables 72

3 School & Community Micro Credit Fund

3 School & Community Micro Credit Fund 74 74

4 Health, Sanitation and Environment

4 Health, Sanitation and Environment

4 Health, Sanitation and Environment

4 Health, Sanitation and Environment Green Toy Library

5 Teachers’ Training

5 Teachers’ Training

6 Supervision & Management

mechai@pda.or.th www.mechaifoundation.org Mechai Viravaidya Foundation Population and Community Development Association 82 82