Each year the number of students leaving school is considered high. In 2009, the Ministry of Education announced that the number was as high as 50,000 due to several problems, such as poverty, broken family, family move, etc. Many parties proposed the solution to the problems: Some said that as poverty is
a problem, then scholarship funds should be increased, or youth camp should be organized, or more curriculums on moral and ethics should be added.

However, what seems overlooked is the role of parents. In fact, participation of parents involvement in all children activities lead to the key success, rather than placing high value of them on the Mother Day only.  Most parents also misunderstand their significant role and claim that they have no time for caring children because they are too busy working in order to earn the living.  The poor families, in particular, often said they had no time even to teach their children and lay this important burden to schools and teachers.
There are only a few families, in which parents pay real attention to their children by showing their care and concern about the children’s well being.

COERR Aranyaprathet feel strongly to move this matter forward and, therefore, arranged the EdM Children and Family Day Event, with the support of Enfants du Mekong in Thailand. The targets of this activity are Enfants du Mekong’s sponsored children and their families.  At present there are 131 sponsored children studying in 5 schools: Ban Khlong Wah (30 sponsored children) , Tap Tim Siam 03
(30 sponsored children, Thai Samakki (24 sponsored children , Ban Sa-ngae (34 sponsored children,
and Petcharach rachasuda  (13 sponsored children) situated along the border districts of Tapraya and Aranyaprathet of Sakaew Province.

Signboard of the Enfants du Mekong sponsor’s ‘Children and Family Day’ Event

Parents and Children are registered (Ban Khong Wah School)

Warm-up before starting the EdM ‘Children and Family Day’ Event at Tap Tim Siam 03 School.

The EdM Children and Family Day Activity were held on Saturdays and Sundays. Parents have agreed to participate in these activities which have been aimed at strengthening family relationship.

Ban Thai Samakki School – children and parents brainstorming in presenting family problems

Group representative reports the problems found by the group members

One of the sessions was set for parents and children to sit and brainstorm about core problems occurred in the family and their community and how to solve the problems.

Ban Sa-ngae participants preparing lunch together

Ban Khlong Wah participants are having lunch.

To enable all family members to spend their time together in every activity especially preparing and having happy lunch together. Each family contribute Baht100 on fresh food supply

Ban Sangae families are taking their effort to become the winning team

This Ban Khlong Wah group is playing together with full attention

Ban Sangae families are playing with unity

Ban Khlong Wah teams are competing with speed

Ban Khlong Wah in cheerful moment

Tap Tim Siam 03 with a smile

The core of the event is to have parents and children open their mind and express their wish towards each other, as they should have done but had not. Children and parents write what they would like to tell each other.  After that all vow to the whole audience.

A Mother of Tap Tim Siam 03 reads her promise.

A Ban Thai Samakki child promises to his mom.

Finally, All Hearts Combined in One

Parents and Children Together at Tap Tim Siam 03