With Thailand and the rest of the world facing untold hardships in the wake of the Covid-19, good news can be hard to find. However, Shrewsbury International School Bangkok, Riverside is changing that trend with a combination of charitable donations to organisations in need, with staff and students pulling together to bring some joy back to the community.
Shrewsbury’s Charity Committee, led by Ms Carol Simcox and Mr Paul Williams has facilitated the purchase of 300 items of medical-grade personal protective equipment (PPE) to be distributed to nine hospitals in Bangkok including Siriraj and Chulalongkorn in Bangkok. In addition, 100 face masks have delivered to the ‘Mirror Foundation’, at a total cost of over 150,000 THB.
While financial stimulus is essential, perhaps even more incredible are members of the Shrewsbury community, including the wonderful staff, teachers and students who have given donations, their time, and resources to improve the well-being of those on the front line – our doctors and nurses.
Using materials, again funded by their Charity Committee, staff and parents, Shrewsbury is even creating PPE using the Design Technology (DT) department. A true hero, Khun Pui (Pichet Jivapong), the resident DT technician, has designed and manufactured – using a 3D printer, face shields for those treating patients most in need at BMA General Hospital, while preventing infection. He started with ten last week and has completed another 30 since then. Aiming to create 100, his ingenuity, expertise and kind heart could save lives during this pandemic and this is something he and the Shrewsbury community can feel very proud of, indeed.
The generous undertaking Shrewsbury has committed to hospitals and medical staff is just one of the ways the schools is helping out those in need. On a side note, a further 20,000 THB given to emergency personnel in rural areas which are, unfortunately, also battling wildfires in Thailand’s beautiful national parks.
As Covid-19 and the fires in the north continue to play havoc with the daily lives of everyday Thais our minds can also shift to those who are less fortunate. Their struggles, in many cases, are ten-fold and Shrewsbury are working hard to alleviate stress and uncertainty they face on a day-to-day basis. According to Ms Simcox, a further 50,000 THB has been allocated to our regular charitable partner, ‘Thailand SOS’ to keep their organisation operational in a period when they cannot collect surplus food and clothing due to national closures.
Above all else, Shrewsbury wants to thank the medical professionals, hospital staff and local communities, for handling this difficult situation with grace and a steely determination to see it through to the end.
