The Sainam Foundation is proud to be involved in another “partnership,” this time with Franklin College Switzerland.  Franklin is an international university based in Lugano, Switzerland (for more information visit www.fc.edu).  This university has a course called “Academic Travel” integrated into its curriculum which takes place twice a year for two weeks.  During this period Franklin students travel to different locations all over the world to learn about various topics through experiential education.

This year, for the first time ever, a group of students (10 boys and 5 girls) led by Mrs. Leslie Guggiari (Dean of  Intercultural Initiatives) will travel to Thailand, not to visit the fancy tourist destination such as Bangkok, Pukhet, or Chiang Mai, but to visit Sainam’s very own Jurassic Park.  They won’t come for a vacation, but to build three houses for poor and needy families.  Franklin College is sponsoring the three projects, and the “Franklin kids” will contribute with their very own sweat.

First of all, we would like to thank Franklin College and Mrs. Leslie Guggiari for having chosen to sponsor the construction of these three homes.  We would also like to welcome this group of young men and women to Ban Sainam. 

They will be sleeping in our people’s homes, eat what our “workers team” will be eating and, for sure, they will not absolutely have the kind of leisure most people, unfortunately, connect with Thailand.  It is the first time for us and for them, so we have no idea how things will turn out, but we really hope that it will be a good experience for everyone involved, and that Ban Sainam may become a permanent feature of Franklin College’s “Academic Travel.”

In any case our SaoKae have not been idle, and have already prepared the “commemorative t-shirt”.  Once again, thanks to everyone.