The Gallipeau Harris Foundation is pleased to announce that the Foundation presented scholarships to 193 children in Bangkok, Korat and Lampang between May 14 and May 20 this year. This is an increase from 110 scholarships in 2004.

The first presentations were made in Bangkok on May 14 to two grade school children Nat and Dear. Both are receiving support from the Foundation for the third year and, we are pleased to report, are doing well in school. In fact Dear is second in her class.

On May 16 Foundation members traveled north to Lampang, near Chiang Mai. Here the Foundation is beginning its first year of support to two schools much in need. Scholarships were awarded to 20 poor students altogether, 10 in each of the schools selected. The response from the students was overwhelming and the Foundation will be looking to support more students in this overlooked area in the future.

May 18, 19 and 20 Foundation members visited our three schools in Korat , three hours north of Bangkok. Scholarships were awarded to 171 students in these three schools. Sixty three of these students were first year recipients of scholarships, with 108 returning for their second or third year. March of 2006 will see our first group of scholarship recipients graduating from High School.

After the scholarship presentations in Korat, Foundation members visited a number of our students’ homes. This was truly eye opening. Most all students live in what can be best described as raised wood shacks. The house was usually one large room with thin wood dividers separating spaces. Most students slept on the floor sharing their “room” with their brothers and sisters. Light was provided by one bulb under which the children did their homework. Despite the surrounds of the home being dirt, the interiors were clean and organized. Cooking and bathing was usually done outside. Water for bathing being caught from rainwater and stored in large clay pots.

All students were required to do household chores when they arrived home from school prior to doing their homework. Many also had jobs that they did in addition to their household work each evening. One of our best students, a senior with a 3.85 GPA (and a tremendous singing voice that we were treated to during the scholarship presentations) spends two hours each evening bending thin metal rods with her mother for which they get paid about $1 for 20 pounds of metal.

All in all the home visits reinforced our desire to continue to support these determined students and give them an opportunity to succeed that they otherwise would not receive.

If you have any questions about these programs or any other Foundation program please contact us at info@gallipeauharris.org

Our new scholarship students in Lampang, N. Thailand
Scholarship students in Lampang
Welcome ceremony from students in Lampang
Student with grandfather, brother and Lou inside family home in Korat
Our student works after school before doing homework and housework
Presentation of grant to Vice Principal at Kamtalesor High School, Korat
Foundation members chat with scholarship students in Korat
Welcome ceremony at Non-Thai school, Korat
Scholarship student does homework on floor in their home
Student home in Korat Province
Student home in Korat
Student bedroom that she shares with brother and sister