TGS spent a weekend up in the mountains of rural northern Thailand, assisting a hill tribe village in creating a space for their young children attending school. We were tasked with 3 projects on the school property during our 2.5 day stay.

Project #1: Fish Pond/Cement Slab

Students worked together to dig a large enough hole to create a fish pond that will help to promote sustainability within the community, as they usually go to the river daily to fish. A pond will allow them to maintain the fish longer and help teach the children responsibility. The dirt was repurposed to make the ground level with the outside of the building where we laid cement.

Project #2: Bamboo Fence

Another group lugged over large bundles of bamboo and spread out along a barbed wire fence. The bamboo has been cut into thin lengths and pieces were woven in and out of the barbed wire to create a fence that was more pleasing to the eye – not to mention a little safer. As TGS took to making the fence, local children came out and started helping by handing bamboo to us, some weaving pieces themselves.

Project #3: Boys and Girls Bathroom

The new toilets for the school already had the wood beams erected. Students got to work mixing cement and laying bricks to create walls around the space and close it in. There were numerous local people helping keep the brickwork level and in line, while giving tips about how to mix cement and the right amount to lay out to keep the bricks together. Groups switched from task to task every hour or so, and there were plenty of breaks for shade, snacks, and water.

Photography by Joann McPike and Lindsay Clark

One of the many positives that arise from spending time in a new country is the relationship that our students and faculty develop at the host school. While in Cuenca, we had the chance to bond with the Colegio Aleman Stiehle Cuenca community. We were delighted to recently receive the following email from Agi Orosz, a CASC staff member, reinforcing the belief that the benefits of pairing with a host school are reciprocal.

Wagner smiles at each question and answers with a heartbeat’s hesitation. Many of the questions are met with a nondefinite answer, but for every question he struggles to answer, he brings up and deepens other points such as the expanding technology world and the outdated methods of even the most prestigous curricula.

These 12 individuals, representing 6 countries, speak about what the blend of travel and education means to them.

The day evolved from practicing “Sawasdee” to constructing paper lanterns and painting elephants on paper umbrellas. By the day’s conclusion, the students accumulated great knowledge and appreciation of their new host country and felt prepared for the next three months ahead.