Thailand
Sports and learning centre
Constructing a sports and learning centre for youth in rural Thailand
Housing & Infrastructure
The Need
In rural Thailand, young people struggle with many of the same challenges youth from around the world experience—school, family, cell phones and friend groups. And yet, they also have the added challenge of living in poverty. Many youths living in rural Thailand also struggle with food insecurity, finishing their education, finding gainful employment and overcoming unstable home situations.
Our church partners at the Ban Mae Hoe Church in Thailand report that 80 per cent of registered beneficiaries use their school mobile devices at home without parental supervision. Lacking motivation or guidance, 90 per cent of these students received an F grade. Many of these students live with single working parents or are looked after by grandparents while their parents work.
With no one to help with schoolwork, these students often fall behind and are at high risk of dropping out of school entirely—in 2021 alone, 30 beneficiaries dropped out of school. Sadly, some students have expressed little desire to continue their education as they lack resources and basic literacy and life skills such as critical thinking and problem solving.
When young people drop out of school, they are more likely to fall into risky behaviours like drug use, smoking and becoming involved with motorcycle gangs and racing. These young men and women are at risk of heading down dangerous paths, working low-paying jobs and being unable to break generational cycles of poverty.
Our Response
To help young people in rural Thailand access a safe, supportive learning environment, Compassion worked alongside our church partner, Ban Mae Hoe Church, to build a two-and-a-half story sports and learning centre.
To begin, the church held a kickoff meeting with the project committee and Compassion staff to plan the implementation, select a qualified contractor and pray over the entire endeavour. Our church partner decided to change the location of the learning centre from the top of the hill to the lowland, where the land was already level and adjusted.
Construction began with the volleyball court followed by the takraw court (a cross between volleyball and soccer, played with a rattan ball). Crew then constructed the classroom facility, which has two rooms and a bathroom. Church leaders, church members and Compassion staff helped with construction and some even contributed money to the project.
During the initial stages of the construction, the team faced several challenges including changing the centre location, working during the rainy season, construction delays and the rising cost of materials. Rainy weather presented safety concerns, so labourers only worked during dry days. The rain damaged paint on the volleyball and takraw courts before it could dry, so some areas required repainting.
Due to the high cost of building materials, especially iron, the construction team suggested reducing the amount of materials needed. However, the church and its members decided to conduct a fundraising initiative instead to help cover the extra costs.
Even though the team faced several obstacles during the construction process, the sports centre has been fully constructed and the grand opening ceremony took place on May 23, 2023. Because of the unexpected costs, the church is still fundraising to add a few additions to the building. They plan to raise funds for mosquito nets that will be added to the doors and windows, fix the drainage system and add a roof to the top floor of the building to prevent rain and excess moisture from seeping in.
Activities
Centre facilities: Bathrooms, classrooms, gyms and courts were constructed to provide a safe, comfortable space for children and youth to play and learn and even stay overnight.
Volunteers: Centre staff and youth volunteers helped to clean up after construction was complete. Student volunteers also helped to repaint the volleyball court after the first coat of paint was damaged by the rain.
Courts: A takraw court (a sport similar to a cross between volleyball and soccer, played with a rattan ball) and a volleyball court were constructed at the centre. The church has already begun making use of the courts.
Multi-floor facility: The sports and learning centre has two-and-a-half floors. The second floor contains a terrace. The top floor currently has an open roof, but the church plans to add a roof in the coming months.
Your Gift Provides...
Your gift provided 280 children and youth in Thailand with access to a sports and learning facility:
• Acquiring and preparing the site
• Purchase and transportation of construction materials
• Construction and labour
o 2 open gym spaces
o Takraw court
o Volleyball court
o 2 classrooms
• Sports equipment
• Follow-up evaluation
ReportA message from those your gift helped
Before this intervention, my family was in trouble. My father was an alcoholic and often had arguments with my mother. I saw that my mother was so stressed and struggled with mental illness. I felt like my father did not care about my mother or me at all. I often skipped classes and hung out with friends until I failed my exams.
The centre staff invited me to church and allowed me to play any sports I liked. They kept in touch with me closely and cared about me. My life was filled with the love and warmth I never received from someone else. No one judged me here but allowed me to improve myself. I tell myself to get back to school and work hard studying from now on.
I may not know what the future will look like, but I can get up again today and overcome my weaknesses. I think it is a good start to my life. I hope my father will quit drinking and that my mother will become happy again.
I learned that the church is my second home. It is a home of happiness and freedom, whether thinking or doing. I love my church and everyone here.
Thank you so much for your support that helps an at-risk child like me and others. Thank you for allowing me to begin a new life and fix my mistakes. Thank you for loving me and accepting me.
ReportThank you for your generosity
Thanks to your generous support, 280 registered children and youths who attend the centre at the Ban Mae Hoe Church now have access to a functional sports and learning centre. This centre is also available to community members who would like to play sports and access a safe learning environment.
Your support has helped create a place for at-risk youth to find purpose in their lives as they navigate the transition from childhood to adulthood. These teens and young people now have a safe space where they can play music, study, play sports and learn vital life skills from caring mentors and leaders in their community. The church has opened the volleyball and takraw courts for children and youth to play and practice their skills. Students are already attending sports programs and making use of classroom space. Our local church partners have reported that every day, more young people come to the sports and learning centre after they finish their school day. Even students who don’t play sports still come to spend time with their friends and make use of the centre’s other resources.
The community members and local schools have also been invited to use the facilities to host sports competitions. Classrooms are now open for program activities and children and youth have a supportive environment in which to learn. Caregivers have expressed their gratitude that their children have a safe place to learn and grow alongside mentors and adults who care for them.
Thanks to your generous investment, young people are now enjoying safety, belonging and fun instead of isolation at home or danger on the streets. Because of you, these at-risk students now have access to the support and resources they need to break free from generational cycles of poverty, know their worth and reach their God-given potential. Thank you!
ReportA message from a centre director
There is now adequate and appropriate space and facilities for participants to gather together and play sports or recreation activities in the evening of each day. The participants have learned to spend time their time wisely and stay away from drugs. It has also helped reduce the time they spend on mobile games.
The intervention effectively helps the church minister to children and youth through sports and games. The facilities are also open for non-registered participants and community members, which helps create a good relationship with our community. The caregivers and adults are comfortable when their children come to church as it is safe.
The children and youths have a safe and appropriate space for sports and gatherings. They are more likely to invite their friends to church because they are interested in sports. This intervention is an effective tool for the church to thrive for youth outcomes in the future.
Our church is thankful for the financial support you provided for us and our participants in this intervention. We will use this facility the best we can to glorify God through our sports ministry. May the Lord pour His blessings upon your lives.
God bless you.