#mechai

Model: “Virtuoso”

Pilot: Gordon Freeman

Abilities: Hardened hull designed for wear and tear, capable of being exposed to hazardous environments and materials. Moves at moderate to quick speed in most terrains.

Model: “Anomaly”

Pilot: Benry

Abilities: Sonic screaming that can break sound barriers, but requires a charge before doing so. Able to create energy balls of condensed electricity that can be fired through the facial plate (this is dubbed; “Sweet voice” on behalf of Benry himself.)

Model: “Atlas”

Pilot: Harold P. Coomer

Abilities: Designed for breaking through large bodies of cities and creatures with heavy fists used for punching and thrashing. Drawback; clunky and slow to move in battle.

Model: “Hades”

Pilot: Bubby

Abilities: Can produce flames through openings in the soles of his feet as well as his palms. Also able to propel his body with bursts of fire. Designed with intention of melting materials to reconstruct them into something viable for battle.

Model: “Sunkist” (named after Pilot Coolatta’s childhood dog)

Pilot: Tommy Coolatta

July 2, 2015

When I first came to the Mechai Pattana School, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I came knowing little about it and nothing about how it strives to help not only its pupils but also the local village communities too. I left Bangkok feeling rather anxious at the prospect of working in a Thai school where only a small percentage of the people there speak English. However when I got here I was immediately welcomed by the community and made to feel a part of the project here.

  The Mechai Pattana School or Mechai Bamboo School, was set up by former Thai senator Mechai Viravaidya and his organization The Population and Community Development Association (PDA) with the purpose of educating young people in rural Thailand. Since hearing about the work Khun Mechai has done he has become a huge inspiration to me. I looked him up before coming to Thailand and was astonished by his achievements. When the government in Thailand refused to address the HIV/Aids issues because they thought it would reduce tourist numbers, Khun Mechai faced the matter head on making Thailand aware of the problem and ultimately saving the country from the disease. It can also be said that through Khun Mechai’s promotion of condoms and family planning he and his team have saved Thailand from over-population, reducing the average number of children per family from 7 to less than 1.5. Due to his promotion of contraception Khun Mechai is know throughout Thailand as “Mr. Condom”. Khun Mechai has also set up a chain of restaurants called “Cabbages & Condoms” where instead of giving out breath mints or fortune cookies with the bill, condoms are! If people in the UK are reading this, the closest one to us is in Oxford.

  Back to the School…

  As I said previously I came here not knowing an awful lot about how the school operates. The first thing you notice upon arrival here is the immense beauty of the place. The name (Mechai Bamboo School) is pretty literal… EVERYTHING is made from bamboo, which is treated and can last up to 80 years. In my time here The center of the school seems to be the geodesic dome which has a diameter of 30 meters, the largest in the world.

The school is considered what we would call In Britain a private school or independent school. However none of the students pay any school fees. Instead each family must complete 400 hours of community service and plant 400 trees. The school educates the students in conventional subjects such mathematics, science, English etc. But it where differs from other Thai schools is in its creativity and desire to make the kids thinks about the future. What I mean by this is that the students are encouraged to take part in horticulture and agriculture activities right on school grounds, and new techniques are devised which will benefit the surrounding rural community. 

   Another aspect of the school that I find extraordinary is the way in which its staff and pupils are selected. The students interview prospective teachers and their opinions are really valued. The Students are also given the opportunity to select the incoming grade 7 students, which helps to promote leadership and gives perspective on how to deal with responsibility.

  As well as educating the students, the school serves as a place to learn for all the surrounding villages. Local farmers are able to visit the school in order to see the different agricultural demonstrations situated around the campus. The overall objective is to help develop the local peoples skills and help the local villages flourish and to eradicate poverty in rural Thailand. As well as agricultural demonstrations, teachers from other rural areas are able to come and brush up on their teaching skills, in order to improve the education of all young people all over Thailand.

  Although I have only been here a week, I find myself feeling more and more passionate about the work that goes on here and would love to make people around the world aware of this project. This is really just a brief overview of how the school operates and for any more information I encourage you to visit the school website and research PDA and Khun Mechai.