Thai Dinner Raises Funds, Appetites Choate International Global Assistance Launches Efforts
By Allie Huttler ’11 and Molly Renehan ’11
News Reporter
On Friday, February 8, 2008, the Choate International Global Assistance (CIGA) club hosted the Thai Dinner in Ruutz-Rees Commons. This was CIGA’s main event this year, although they plan to host smaller events, such as dances, later in the year.
Club president Chatchapon Chiaravanond ’09, along with his brother Peemapon Chiaravanond ’11, decided to host the event in order to provide money for the tsunami relief efforts at a school in Thailand called Rajaprajanugroh 35. Tsunami relief is a personal project for Chatchapon because one of his close friends was a victim of the disaster. Rajaprajanugroh 35 opened on April 8, 2005, and currently offers educational opportunities to 967 underprivileged students. The school replaced the Ban Bang Sak School, which was entirely destroyed by the tsunami that struck Thailand on December 24, 2004.
The Chiaravanonds visited Rajaprajanugroh 35 over the summer, and decided to donate the profits of the event to the school as a result of their direct contact with the institution. Mr. Prasit Satapornjaturawit, the director of the school, explained to the Chiaravanonds that he offers education to the poorest students who need it most. In a letter printed in a CIGA brochure available at the dinner, Satapornjaturawit wrote of the school’s mission, “We want the children to be able to live happily in the society with as much education as everyone else. Additionally we want them to learn how to help themselves when they are out of school, by giving them experience in multiple professions.” The Thai government supports the school financially, but the school still requires a larger budget to meet the student’s and the school’s needs.
Chatchapon hopes the funds and awareness raised by CIGA will allow the school to meet its budget requirements and will ensure education for the school’s students. He wrote, “One helping hand would mean a lot to the students…one helping hand will lead to many hands. Please help CIGA in the project to brighten the lives of innocent children.”
The Chiaravanonds’ mother was the main chef for the Thai dinner. She prepared delicious authentic cuisine, a symbol of the relief project. The event boasted a menu of fried shrimp cakes, spicy meat balls, Thai spring rolls, stir-fried beef with garlic and peppers, grilled marinated chicken, stir-fried zucchini with eggs, Thai chicken stew, braised spare ribs, green chicken curry with bamboo shoots, and jasmine rice. An array of deserts was also offered. Some of the most popular dishes included the fried shrimp cakes and the chicken curry.
Approximately one hundred attendees feasted on the exotic new flavors with open minds—the food was a new taste for many people. To others, it was familiar. Helen Guo ’11, a native of Beijing, China, said, “The food is so good! It’s nice to have some authentic Asian food for once when you’re so far away from home.”
Faculty also commented on the meal. Headmaster Edward Shanahan described the meal as “phenomenal.” Dr. Shanahan also remarked that the event had a “good turn-out” and gave his “applause for the family that prepared the food for a good cause.” Overall, the Thai Dinner was a successful event that benefited both Choate community members and tsunami relief efforts.
Students including Alessio Manti ’08, center, enjoy the Thai dinner. PHOTO/Michael Tsai ’10
