Project ideas from the novices

I visited Charrin and his students at their novice school at the monastry. What was going to be a short visit became, as I could have known, a whole afternoon. Charrin was most exited to let me ask questions to the students about their choosen projects. The students want to start working on as soon as possible. I was impressed to see their enthusiasm and eagernes to learn and most of all their choice of interests. The 25 students are divided in 4 groups and each group has a project leader.

The first project is going to be about Buddhism because the students want to tell people what they have learned so far. Leader Lan wants to go on a fieldtrip with his fellowstudents to visit the monk universtity in Chiang Mai where they hope to learn much more from the monks studying there. I think that's a great idea!

Then there is a project about rubbish. First the leader Non want to learn more about the different kind of litter and what is good or not good for recycling. They have the phrase to safe the world but I suggested to keep it simple at first and to set up a recycle system for the monastry. Then the people living around will slowly learn as well. They are very exited because they are very worried about global warming and the burning of rubbish in Thailand. Most people get rid of their rubbish by burning everything and that is of course very damaging. In the dry season it gets besides the dust very smokey and many people suffer breathing problems.

The third project is about projecting the Thai jungle. The students from this group came up with a brilliant idea to safe tree using their 'power' of being a novice monk. They know that if you tie a monk robe around a tree that no one will cut the tree down out of respect for Buddha. Also they want to plant new trees but are not sure yet where.

The last project is about finding ways to learn English. From all the students from all the different schools learning English is their main wish to do with the XO laptop.
Once all the groups presented their ideas I suggested them to make a plan of approach. For them it's hard to now know how to get started. I can't wait that AJ gets back because all this needs to be guided because the teachers have hardly experience on a practical level. I need help!!

First we need to give the students a crash course surfing the internet because they haven't learned it yet! It's hard for me to guide them online because they need Thai websites to find information for their project and I can't read Thai well enough....