Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand Dec / Jan 2017: Special Edition | Page 29

Kids & Education For ideas on specific charitable organizations and projects in Thailand, see the articles “Making a Difference” and “One Life at a Time: Volunteering in Bangkok and Beyond” in this issue of Wanderlust. 4 THE ROLE OF EDUCATORS Each person is born with a sense of compassion and empathy that is further shaped through his or her environment and upbringing. This means that educators must also endeavor to promote altruism in children. Schools play an integral role in shaping the minds and attitudes of today’s children and shoulder some of the responsibility in teaching them about compassion. A focus on community and service through a school’s pastoral provision gives pupils the opportunity to grow up with a sense of balance, with their eyes open, and to become advocates for a better world. When we teach children about philanthropy, we educate them about altruism, social justice, tolerance and inclusiveness. Whatever form the philanthropy takes, involvement from an early age invariably supports children as they develop into compassionate, global citizens of the future. 5 INVOLVE THE WHOLE FAMILY Getting involved in philanthropic activities as a family can be a great way to spend some quality time together, while promoting a worthwhile cause. When your children see you helping others, they’ll be inspired by the example you’ve set. And the more people engaged, the more fun it is! “One lesson we can pass to our children is the understanding that anyone making an attempt to improve society is a philanthropist.” WRITE TO US! Do you have a question about education or child development? The expert staff at Brighton College would love to hear from you. Email [email protected] for a chance to see a helpful response to your question in the next issue of Wanderlust. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vanessa Robitaille is a mother of two and Head of the Prep School at Brighton College in Bangkok. Having grown up in Kenya and studied at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, Vanessa has been teaching around the world for over 20 years. WWW.WANDERLUSTMAG.COMWANDERLUST 29