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Published: April 24th 2008
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Marrin and An
After witnessing the damage and meeting dozens of orphans, above, in tsunami-ravaged Thailand in 2006, Grade 4 student Marrin Coulter was inspired to raise enough money to sponsor one orphan’s visit to Nanaimo. Her guest, Namthip Nilawong, left, arrives Saturday (April 26). (cutline for paper) Its just two days away now! Two days until Nam and Kwang will be in Canada for an amazing 20 days!
Check out the little bit o' press we managed!
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/nanaimonewsbulletin/news/18066859.html
Thai orphan’s visit sponsored
By Toby Gorman - Nanaimo News Bulletin - April 24, 2008 · · · ·
After witnessing the damage and meeting dozens of orphans, above, in tsunami-ravaged Thailand in 2006, Grade 4 student Marrin Coulter was inspired to raise enough money to sponsor one orphan’s visit to Nanaimo. Her guest, Namthip Nilawong, left, arrives Saturday (April 26).
Photo contributed/TOBY GORMAN
A Nanaimo girl is using the ripple effect to make positive waves in Thailand.
In November 2006, 10-year-old Marrin Coulter and her mother, Stephanie Konefall, visited “ground zero” of the tsunami-stricken country, the fishing village of Phru Teow, to work in an orphange. More than 50 children live there after losing their families in the 2004 disaster.
There, Coulter saw first-hand the damage caused by the giant waves and met many of the children.
“There were broken fishing boats all over the beach and coconuts everywhere,” said Coulter, a Grade 4 student in Nanaimo. “The coconuts were on the ground because all of the trees died from salt poisoning. The only building left was a hotel.”
Coulter and Konefall immersed themselves in the culture. Coulter joined the orphans at school, and both were moved by a lantern ceremony held to commemorate those who perished in the tsunami.
At night, thousands of glowing lanterns were released into the sky, creating an eerie but moving vigil.
Mother and daughter returned to Nanaimo spellbound by the people they had met and the culture they had learned.
On her own, Coulter decided she needed to do more to help the children.
“She decided she was going to raise enough money to fly one of the children here,” said Konefall. “So bit by bit she did. It took a year.”
Coulter asked all her friends and family for $5 donations and set aside her own birthday money and other contributions to reach her goal. A year later, $1,300 sat in her bank account - enough to fly one child from the orphanage to Nanaimo, along with a chaperone.
A 13-year-old girl named Namthip (Nam) Nilawong, whose entire 11-member family was swept to sea in the tragedy, was chosen for the trip.
“When she is older, by learning English here, hopefully she will have a better future,” said Coulter.
At those words, Konefall glows with both pride and wonder at her own child.
“Nam was chosen because of her dedication to help the other kids in the orphanage,” she said. “She can take back what she learns here and perpetuate the learning process.”
Most of the villages destroyed by the tsunami are slowly rebuilding and reemerging as tourist locations. To work in tourism, however, command of English is required. English is only taught in rural schools in Thailand to those who can pay. The children in the orphanage have little chance of learning English.
Konefall and Coulter returned to Thailand late last year, spending four months working at the Ban Tharn Namchai Orphanage, returning to Nanaimo in January.
Coulter is eagerly awaiting her guest’s arrival Saturday (April 26). She hopes to take Nam to school to participate in a presentation to teach Coulter’s classmates on Thai culture and immerse her in other parts of Canadian culture.
“I can’t wait to show her mashed potatoes,” she said, explaining that the Thai orphans are grateful for every morsel of food they receive.
The once-in-a-lifetime trip will be a chance for Nam to explore a different part of the world and experience part of the world she may never have seen.
Konefall said by showing her daughter other parts of the world, she too will gain a better understanding of the opportunities and people beyond Canadian culture.”
“I want to encourage my daughter’s passion for making chances for these children,” she said. “Her idea of bringing a child to visit has been embraced with so much excitement from the orphanage. We want to offer Nam an opportunity to see beyond her village and take that back to the other children.”
When asked what she wants Nam to take back to the orphanage Coulter paused for a moment before saying one word: “Hope.”
Coulter is asking any local businesses and organizations to help contribute to Nam’s three week visit by donating gift certificates or passes to local activities, tours, restaurants and local transportation. Sponsors and donators will be invited to meet Nam and Coulter at a thank-you Thai dinner and dance in May.
For more information, please contact skonefall@hotmail.com or call 619-7779.
reporter2@nanaimobulletin.com
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Melanie Skinner
non-member comment
congratulations!
Well done, Marrin, for all your hard work. Steph, you must be very proud. I hope Nam has a wonderful time in Canada.