Bangkok, Thailand-
Progressive Language Arts is handing out festive gifts and food packs to 100 children in the capital this week under its Gifts for Kids scheme.
The language school, based in Soi On Nut 70/1 in Bangkok’s Prawet district, launched the project last Christmas with educational gifts and food parcels for 35 children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“After getting 6,000 baht in sponsorship last year, we have managed to get 45,000 baht this year thanks to the generosity of our sponsors,” said chief executive Sarisa Raktham.
“That will allow us to hand out 100 gifts and 100 food packs this Christmas. Next year we aim to reach 1,000 gifts and plan to expand the project to Pattaya by handing out 500 gifts there.”
The scheme’s main sponsors are the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) and Minor Food Group.
Sarisa launched Progressive Language Arts in February 2020 with her American partner Chris Kayne.
Kayne got the idea for Gifts for Kids from his school days in the United States when he and the other students would receive Christmas presents from the local church.
“Last year our gifts had a scientific angle. A gift such as Lego allows them to play but also becomes an educational tool,” said Kayne, the school’s marketing officer.
“It was heartwarming last year to see the kids’ faces when they received their presents. These children don’t have very much, so it was great to help them.”
Sarisa’s father, who works for a social development company, selects the children to receive gifts.
Progressive Language Arts (www.progressivelanguagearts.com) teaches conversational and business English and Thai to students ranging from preschool to executives. Most are Thai children aged 4-12. The school also has some corporate customers.
“The Thai children are learning English at school but want extra one-on-one tuition,” said Sarisa.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has been good for our business because everything went online. It enabled the school to become profitable more quickly.”
Sarisa’s educational background is in commercial art and marketing. After university, she operated a successful retail business for 15 years and then worked in logistics for two years as a supervisor managing projects.
Photo Caption: Sarisa Raktham gives an English lesson to a Thai child at Progressive Language Arts in Prawet, Bangkok.
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