One year on and the Hilltribe cricket sponsorship program has flourished. The incredible fundraising efforts at this year’s Chiang Mai cricket Sixes by Jenny, Sid and the Duck ladies along with all our sponsors worldwide, means the Hilltribe program enters its second year with more security and confidence. Now the first year has elapsed any sponsors who have not renewed their support have the opportunity to pledge once again. Contact the volunteers or send directly to the account details that follow the newsletter. The program is run on a very tight, thrifty budget, so even small contributions are always gratefully received. The volunteers do not take expenses, salaries or admin costs, so every single baht goes to where it matters most.
We now have our very own hostel, we found a very tidy 4 storey house in Chiang Mai, totally under our control and guidance. The change has being coming for some time but we needed to find the right place. Unfortunately Chow Kow did not support cricket and as the season progressed, we realised an independent hostel was the only way forward. Chow Kow charged an excessive 4000 baht a month for school transport, and during the 2nd term the director said he wasn’t happy when we took the kids out for recreational days or league matches, the other boys would be jealous. The football team won a tournament and he took them out for a meal....? We also had to supplement the food for the boys as the diet was inadequate. Finally, they wanted to hike up the cost per child when the new term started, but we thought your sponsorship money needed to be better spent. Despite our great news the down side is we have lost some talented young hill tribe kids from the hostel Sawasdee cricket team, but we hoping to tempt 3 or 4 of the best players to our new hostel at a later date.
The new house..(Top left) A room with view of Doi Suthep, (Left), New boys Chur & Vee,, the boys at the entrance and one of the many bedrooms.
Looking back, it’s been a very successful year for us and the kids, a few ups and downs but the difference the sponsorship program has made is measurable in their happiness, the kids are brimming with confidence and look forward to their futures with optimism and excitement. For them to have received a good education is the priority. To have witnessed the transformation in their characters has been very satisfying and long overdue, surely every child should be nurtured so they feel secure, happy and hopeful. All the success with the cricket has been an added bonus, but a great one at that. .
So what exactly has the sponsorship achieved?
All 12 boys have continued or completed their education without exception, some of the older boys are now going on to further education. Aalong and Bogapchai decided to move after finishing their education, they have found jobs and places to stay, and will hopefully continue to play cricket. They have been replaced with Vee and Chur, former team players from Watdonchan. Vee has aspirations of becoming a coach and Chur has the potential to play for Thailand. After a year out of cricket they have a lot of catching up to do. Six of the boy’s went to the Bangkok youth games in January with the U-19 Chiang Mai team, four of them played in every game but all six were outstanding, the boy’s came back with winner’s medals. The same boys went with team to the Makhamwan games in March, unfortunately they had to be satisfied with runners up medals, when the team had a shock defeat in the final. Nikom and Mike had already been selected for the Thailand U-14 squad to play in the SEA games in April and Chanchai made the last 16 in the trials. Our keeper Boonchooai was so impressive at the Makhamwan games he was told to be ready for a call from the Thailand U16’s coach. After that great news we were told that Jun would be added to the senior Thailand team, who will travel to Jakarta at the end of the year for the Southeast Asian Games. The other boys who played at the Makhamwan games were Choo and Pong, who both have the talent to take the next step to the National sides. In the mean time Choo and Jun have both been taken on full-time by the CMSCA coaching teams, Choo as assistant to Chris in Lamphun, while Jun will be on the ground staff of Gymkhana cricket ground and will work as a part time coach with Puy and Martin. Five of the boys played at the Sixes, Jun with Thai Thevada who won the bowl, Pong and Bonchooai reached a final with Shanghai Hotdogs, and See and Choo reached the semis with the Cavaliers.
Without the sponsorship program where would these boys be?
Possibly back in their villages, where many of their families cannot support them or have no family as in Jun’s case. An unfinished education is the norm, then into low paid manual work if they’re lucky. Drug addiction is rife amongst the Hill tribe youths and often the only hope is to enter the Monkhood. You have given our Hilltribe boys an opportunity to live a normal happy life, to continue with their education, to play sport, to start a coaching career, to travel abroad and develop themselves. The spirit in the game of cricket is unique, it can give people a set of values which makes them exceptional. We believe from the changes we’ve seen in the kids already, that they will excel in the future, giving something back to the game and society in general. The sponsorship program has given them happiness but most of all hope that they can succeed in life. We would love to bring more kids into the program and hope to expand next year now that it is proving successful. Please spread the word to family and friends, pass on the website address and urge others to join in this venture which is making a real difference to an underprivileged class in Thailand all too conveniently forgotten. Don’t forget every penny, cent or baht pledged goes directly to help these kids. The program volunteers and the children are overwhelmed with your help. Thank you to everyone for all your support.
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