A little 'something,' makes a BIG impact to kids in poverty in Thailand

Some of the 80 Rugby 'boots' Jess brought after her 'Cleat Drive' from Canada

 Making a BIG difference starts with a little idea, and BIG heart to see it done. "I just wanted to do something." That's what teen-ager, Jess Neilson, said Wednesday, after she fundraised, promoted and delivered from Vancouver, BC, Canada, IN PERSON to Bangkok -- 80 pairs of Rugby cleats for the children at the NAK SUU Tigers Rugby Academy in Thailand!

Jess, a grade 11 at Carson Graham Secondary, in North Vancouver, BC and her "Cleat Drive" was featured in the North Shore News & the BC RUGBY Union News. After meeting ExtremeSports leader and former Canadian & Japanese NATIONAL Rugby player, Eddie Evans, co-founder of NAK SUU Rugby program in Bangkok, she said she was so encouraged to be a part of their vision.

She has an incredibly supportive family, too. ARK International was blessed to meet her, her brother, Andrew, her parents, Lindsay and Brian as they brought in 3 huge bags full of the Rugby boots for the slum kids that attend the year-round Rugby program. 

NAK SUU, also written นักสู้, means 'warrior.' This refers to the heart of the children that this non-profit team works with. In spite of the difficult situations they come from, they can still overcome. 
Since the inception of the work in Bangkok’s disadvantaged communities over 3 years ago, Ark International has worked mentoring hundreds of children.

These targeted regions are considered to be ‘at-risk’ because of poverty, lack of opportunities, the challenges of migrancy and documentation, limited health care access and limited educational opportunities, etc.

Watching the NAK SUU 2011 video at the ARK office

See here for the 2011 End of the Year NAK SUU video and more info on NAK SUU at ARK International!