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Last week MMR students and staff headed off to Bangkok for a training course run by the Foundation for Child Development. Young leaders and teachers from all over Thailand, Laos and Cambodia attended, and three teachers and five students participated from MMR. The students were chosen not only because of their excellent ability in speaking Thai, but also because they are committed, conscientious students who show potential as leaders.
The 5 day training course looked at all things art and music, especially at how we can use the things around us to create. Students learnt how to make drums out of used gasoline bottles, use glasses and water to create tunes and to draw pictures with sand. As it was the first time most of our students had visited Bangkok, they particularly enjoyed visiting city sites, such as Bangkok’s tallest building, and the International Science Museum.
The teachers say that they can now pass on the message that art and music can be made anywhere, and that it’s not necessary to buy expensive equipment. Both staff and students particularly enjoyed sharing some of their own dances and music from Myanmar. Theybelieve that the best part of this experience is the new friends they have made with people from different cultures who have different ideas and stories to share. The students were very grateful for this experience and are looking forward to another training course that will be run in March next year