Blog Posts - Hope for At-Risk Girls

Bath House Campaign

5/7/2016

The enrollment of the school rose from 545 in 2015 to 690 in 2017. The new dorm is now occupied and more showers and bathroom facilities is the current need:
This is a $34,000 project
To accommodate the girls living in the New Dorm and prepare for the continuous growing numbers of students, a campaign to build a large shower facility with additional toilets is now underway to meet this demand.
With the tight daily schedule, the girls are in need a separate facility that will allow six girls per bathroom morning, evening and throughout the day.

A Trip to the North

4/30/2016

Acharn Yai and her assistant recently traveled to remote areas of Northern Thailand in order to offer quality education to girls from Thailand’s poorest areas, those most lacking in opportunity.

In these poor areas of Thailand, parents who cannot afford school uniforms or food and transportation to small government schools may take their girls out of school rather than lose face. Every year more girls come to the school and we expect a significant increase this year.

To meet the expected increase, the school has been fully focused on expanding the dining and kitchen facilities. The extended cement floors, brick walls are nearing completion and being made ready for the necessary tables, chairs and kitchen equipment.

Award Winning Chanting

10/23/2015

Friends of Dhammajarinee have asked to see the entire national award winning Buddhist chanting contest performance by the students, which took place in May of 2015. The yearly contest of this national chanting ceremony takes place for the promotion of Buddhism annually at the Visakha Bucha Festival.
Here is the link to the video of the entire event. The camera is on the girls, so it is not possible to see the beautiful shrine in front of them.

Thank You Video: New School Buildings & Student Awards

8/30/2015

We want to share this thank you video with all the supporters of Dhammajarinee Witthaya School (DWS). Although the new dorm building was not completed until after the start of the school year, still it has enabled the school to accept 70 new students.

The students are doing well and continue to win awards in sacred Buddhist chanting and many other subjects as well.

Next year DWS hopes to increase student numbers by 300.Naturally this will mean expansion in all areas--housemothers, kitchen, showers, teachers, and a large
hall so that all can meditate together.

In this video Acharn Yai and the students of DWS express their gratitude and good wishes to all the donors who have contributed so much to their continuing success.

Success! The New Dorm is Fully Funded!

7/2/2015

TURN ON IMAGES to see images of the interior of the new dorm building at DWS

We're absolutely thrilled to tell you that the new dorm building is now fully funded! Thank you, thank you to all the generous donors who made this happen. Because of you, our contractor can now finish up the last few details and the overcrowding the students of Dhammajarinee have been enduring will be relieved. Also, very soon we hope to have pictures of the completed building for you.
In the meantime, here's a couple glimpses of the interior of the all-but-finished structure.

TURN ON IMAGES to see images of the interior of the new dorm building at DWS

Funding Update

6/25/2015

TURN ON IMAGES to see the new dorm building at DWS

As we told you earlier, we've very nearly raised all the funds needed for the last payment to the contractor.
Donors have stepped forward, offering large matching donations as well as modest individual donations. Only $5,500 more is now needed. Because of the matching donations, any amount you give now will have double the impact.
We need to make this payment by the end of June, so please give now!

Final Days for Donating to New Dorm!

6/16/2015

The new dorm is nearly finished and we are down to the final days of raising funds to finish this important building! Generous donors have pledged matching funds so now we only need to raise a final $12,500 by June 30th.
The completion of this building means relief from overcrowded living conditions during the current school year and the ability to accept more students for the coming school year.

Won't you donate a little to help? Because of the matching donations, the effect of any amount you give will be multiplied, so please give now and share the message to help us meet our June 30 deadline!

Students Win First and Second Place Buddhist Chanting Awards!

11/28/2014

Please join us in congratulating the students of Dhammajarinee Witthaya School! Recently they won both first and second places in a National Contest in Buddhist Chanting.

TURN ON IMAGES to see students with monk.

TURN ON IMAGES to see students posing with first and second place Buddhist chanting awards.

During the last six months students of Dhammajarinee Witthaya School have won many first place awards, however these awards were especially noteworthy because this is the first year the students of Dhammajarinee Witthaya School have competed on the national level in Buddhist chanting.

The contest involved 80 schools and the monk who trained the students told them not to expect much as it takes about ten years of competitions to place well.

The students were thrilled by their success and received the awards from HRH Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

New DWS Video!

10/26/2014

If you haven't seen it yet, take a look at this new video about the history and current work being done at Dhammajarinee Witthaya School. DWS has really come a long way, while still remaining true to its humble roots. This video summarizes the progress and the vision for the future--check it out!

Lunchtime Gratitude

6/9/2014

One of the most touching things about Dhammaharinee Whitthaya School is the way gratitude is part of the culture for these students.
During the last school year a generous donor sponsored a special luncheon for the girls and in response the school made a special video.
The video shows a special prayer that the students recite before each meal--enjoy!