On October 30, 2006 at 14.00 hrs. Rev. Bro. Matin Komolmas, President Emeritus of Assumption University, Khun Preeprem Seriwong, Senior Vice-President and Khun Samrit Srithongdee, Vice President of Adyudhya Bank Plc. Ltd., Khun Vivat Awasiripong, President ABACA, Khun Nimit Hiran-Charatpiwat, Deputy Director of the Office of Education of Pang-Nga Province and other senior guests jointly cut the ribbon to open “Assumption Anusorn Building” that will locate the “Learning Center for Children and the Youth Affected by Tsunami” in front of 200 participants. This building is located inside “Chao Thaimai School”, Tambon Thai-Muang, Amphur Thai-Muang, Pang-Nga Province.

“Assumption Anusorn Building” is a two-story building of 192 square metres. The ground floor is an open space for multi purposes. The upper floor is divided into three main sections. IT is section is equipped with 12 IBM computers. Morgan Cultural corner is intended to preserve morgan conventional way of life in forms of soft-files. Multimedia section is for education by means of CDs and DVDs. The middle section is for reception. The designer of the building, A. Pisit Wiriyarat, the dean of the school of architecture of Assumption University says that he has two main ideas in mind when making a plan for the structure—one is make a place in which the incomer feels at home and for many kinds of activities like a home, the other one is to build a structure that fits the natural and cultural surrounding. To maintain cultural identity, the wall of the structure is made of ‘Takola Brick’. The term ‘Takola’ is an acronym of ‘Takuapa’ that refers to the ancient kingdom located in Pang-Ng Province. Takola bricks are quite rare since they are aging brick of around 40-50 years taken from brick oven.

Rev. Bro. Matin Komolmas, President Emeritus of Assumption University has reaffirmed the philosophy of education of Assumption University in his opening speech that education is for the total development of man and is the most effective means to liberate man from ignorance and poverty. A. Bancha Skulde , Deputy Vice President for Student Affairs as the president of Working Committee, reports that the decision to build the ‘ Assumption Anusorn Building: Learning Center for Children and the Youth Affected by Tsunami’ inside ‘Chao Thaimai School’ is to give opportunity for education for children who lacks opportunity. ‘Chao Thaimai School’ is the only school in which ‘ Chao Thaimai’ or ‘Chao Morgan’ can access to education. They cannot attend school with local people due to cultural differences. Through modern education facilities inside the building these children can have more access to education. Moreover, St. Martin Center for Professional Ethics & Service-Learning of Student Affairs, Assumption University will organize various programs under the projects of Service-Learning with school children and community members in the area on regular basis. Some projects that have been implemented during the past two years are—the awareness to preserve mangrove forest, young kid English for tourism, eco-tourism community enterprise, and Patick Cloth Painting. Other related IT projects such as e-commerce of community enterprise will be launched around summer break of academic year 2006. The representative of Adyudhya Bank Public Company Limited, major donor, Khun Preeprem Seriwong, Senior Vice President has encouraged school children, school administrators and community members to work closely with Assumption University to use the center for sustainable self and community development.

The construction of the building is financially supported by the proceeding coming from ‘Jazz for Love Charity Concert for Children Affected by Tsunami’ that was organized on February, 2004 by Assumption University and ABCA with the financial support of Adyudhya Bank Plc. Ltd., Jack Sound System Co. Ltd., Access & Associate Co. Ltd., Modern Form Plc. Ltd., KPN Music Academy, The Mall Group Co. Ltd., NS Media Co. Ltd., Next Step Co. Ltd., Thai TV Channel 3, 98.50 Breeze F.M., Mainstream Co. Ltd., United Broadcasting Corporation Plc. Ltd. (UBC), and others.

Their charity will be fruitful by the dedication and commitment of school administrators and community members. Their representatives, Chao Thaimai children have pronounced their promise loudly at the end of the live drama to remind the audience of the tragedy on December 26, 2004 that ‘…we will use the center for sustainable self and community development as intended by the donors’.

Reported by A. Charn Mayot, Director, St. Martin Center for Professional Ethics & Service-Learning, Student Affairs, Assumption University.