Sawasdee Ka! 

The Rajapranugroh 35 School welcomes dental education volunteers. 'R35' is a dormitory style school for approximately 1000 students K through 12. It was built to replace several schools which were destroyed by the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004. The fishing village of Khao Lak in S.W. Thailand was one of the hardest hit areas having suffered thousands of casualties.The children who board at this school come from very poor families. Many lost one or both parents from the devastating tsunami.The students study at the school with free tuition, free uniforms and all fees paid.

The school was built by H.R.M. The King’s Foundation with the participation of International School Bangkok, Mazda Motor Corporation and other corporate entities. The school is now run by the Ministry of Education who is under funded and over extended. The children’s most basic needs are provided for but no wants.

While the students have always had 24 hour nursing care on campus, a dental education program was started in November 2007. A local public health dentist comes to visit the school from time to time, but there is a tremendous need for more dental care. Volunteers for operative holding a Thai permit or individuals interested in providing educational care are welcome. Donations of dental products and supplies are greatly appreciated.  

The Vast Need

Early childhood caries is an epidemic in rural Thailand. The disease is severe in hundreds of the children who attend the R35 School. Row after row of over retained deciduous teeth is  a tremendous problem. Eighty percent of the children who were initially screened- without radiographs- had active dental decay. The wonderful children of this school are eager to learn. Many of the younger children need to be instructed in very basic life skills.New children continue to arrive each year. The school is safely situated on a hill  about one quarter mile inland from Bang Sak Beach.

This is what you will find at our school :

• Modern dental chair with high speed and suction but no xray unit for the local public health dentist

Nurses available for Thai/English translation although some children do understand English 

 No minimum days required-we are the alternative to big mission group volunteer work. Friends and family welcome for non-dental volunteer work. Read to the children, play with puzzles, help in the library or just shoot some hoops with the kids!  The children  love to practice their English. Phuket beaches are only an hour and a half flight from Bangkok. Airport transfer with the school van may be available with advanced booking.