In December 2007, ROCKS held their 4th Annual ‘Kid’s Weekend, when 40 orphaned children from the Mercy Centre in Bangkok came to Koh Samui for ‘the weekend of their lives’. The venue this year was Big John’s Resort in Lipa Noi, where the children had access to a safe beach, swimming pool and beautiful gardens. On Friday evening, the children traveled to Tropical Murphys, where they enjoyed a hosted supper, followed by a lively Irish group, who soon had the children singing along to ‘Jingle Bells’.
Saturday morning saw the children enjoying the swimming pool, where members of Dive Academy gave them an opportunity to try out an aqualung for the first time in their lives. They were persuaded out the pool to enjoy lunch, followed by a trip to Namuang Safari Park, where they were entertained with a crocodile, monkey and elephant show. In the evening, Big John’s provided a buffet, and then the children enchanted Rotarians, their partners and ‘Friends of Rotary’ with a beautiful display of dancing. A group of older girls showed off their skills in classic Thai dancing, while younger ones put on a modern, ‘upbeat’ performance. The evening was completed by Santa, arriving with a sack, full of presents for every child present.
Sunday morning found the children enjoying themselves in Big John’s garden. A BBQ lunch, cooked by the ‘BBQ king’, Nigel Mills, rounded off the Weekend’s events. Rotarians escorted the children back to the ferry and sadly waved them ‘goodbye’, secure in the knowledge that we would see them again in 2008.