“Previously, I had learned embroidery, home economics, and cooking. When I saw our classroom damaged by the flood, I was both shocked and saddened by the loss of the equipment we had used for our practice,” said Boonraksa, or Baiboon, a 13-year-old Grade 7 student, expressing her feelings after seeing the damage to the school caused by the major flood in August 2024.
On August 21 and 31, 2024, Chiang Rai Province faced continuous heavy rainfall, especially in Wiang Kaen District. This caused the Pha Tang Creek, which flows through the village and school, to overflow its banks. The water quickly flooded both the community and the school, bringing with it mud, branches, and debris. This resulted in significant physical and emotional damage.
Mr Maitree Yala, the school director, said, “I asked the elders in the community, and many said this might be the biggest flood in 90 years. Our school is located next to the Pha Tang Creek and was fully impacted. The music room, workshop, kitchen, cafeteria, water filtration facility, and home economics classroom were all damaged.”
Miss Thippawan Wongsuk, a vocational studies teacher, also reflected on the impact, saying, “The home economics room served as both a classroom and a storage space for all vocational training equipment. However, the flood caused significant damage and loss of equipment. I had to adjust my teaching to focus solely on theoretical lessons. The students were unable to practice hands-on skills, which deprived them of the opportunity to learn skills that could help them generate income in the future.”
Following the incident, various sectors assisted, including the responsible agencies, local authorities, and non-governmental organisations. One of them was World Vision Thailand, which participated in the recovery efforts by implementing a project to renovate school buildings and support a water system and water storage tanks. The home economics classroom was repaired, and a clean drinking water system and water tanks were provided to ensure that children could return to a safe and suitable learning environment. This initiative was part of the support provided to four districts in two provinces, funded by the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) under the “HSBC Thailand Flood Relief Donation 2024” project.
“Now that we have a new classroom, I am very happy. Vocational skills are very useful because we can truly use them to support ourselves in the future,” said Baiboon with a smile.
This giving is not just about building a new classroom but also providing opportunities for learning, enhancing vocational skills, and paving the way for a stable future.
There is also support for improving clean drinking water systems and water storage tanks in schools, which are essential for ensuring the good health of students.
The “HSBC Thailand Flood Relief Donation 2024” project has also extended assistance to flood-affected people in Chiang Mai province. The project includes various activities such as repairing school equipment and facilities in Mae Taeng district, providing cleaning supplies and materials in San Sai, Saraphi, and Mueang districts, and delivering aid to more than 780 affected households.
World Vision Thailand sincerely thanks the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) for supporting this project and many others in the past. This support demonstrates a shared commitment and dedication to improving the quality of life for children, families, and remote communities, providing them with opportunities for a better life.
Because every reason for giving counts!
