The People Behind

Katrina Norrie - Director

katrina.norrie(at)koyao-ccc.com   

(Katrina has been working for the Children Center since January 2010)
“I am 38 years old and I am from Scotland. I have been living in Koh Yao Noi for the past three years, so I am very familiar with the island life and the importance of community here. I have especially made a point of spending time with many of the local children that neighbor me on Pasai Beach where I live and I have participated in some of the activities at the Center over the past three years. These experiences have made me aware of the importance of the community center and the children of Koh Yao’s need for interaction and additional education.
Before coming to Thailand, I have worked as a teacher in the United States and the United Kingdom. I worked with handicapped adults and children and also with children and adults with learning disabilities for several years.
My main goal as the Director of the Children Center is to teach the children as much English as possible in order for them to have a better chance in the job market when they grow up. “

Joy - Teacher and Assistant to the Director

joy(at)koyao-ccc.com  

(Joy has been working for the Children Center since December 2006)


"I grew up on the small island of Koh Yao Noi with love and kindness from the people around me. After I finished my education in Phuket, I stayed there to work. After working there a few years, I wanted to go back to my home town. This island always gave me a good feeling.

 

It's been wonderful since the first time I came to CCC. I always see smiling faces from all the people that come here. We learn and sing, play and have a good time together. It is very lucky for us that we have a nice place for everybody to learn more things. It's not all about English here; it's about a lot of love and fun. I want to say that I have a great feeling to be here."

 

 

Gabriela Mäder - Foundation Council

(gabriela.maeder(at)koyao-ccc.com)

(Gabriela has been working for the Children Center since May 2006. She is now married to a local Thai and lives and works 6 month per year on Koh Yao Noi and 6 month in Switzerland).  

 

"I always took it for granted, that our teachers in Switzerland arrived on time and well prepared to classes and that their lessons were varied, entertaining and instructive. While teaching on Koh Yao Noi I experienced that the students were already glad when their teachers did appear to classes.

 

It is amazing and wonderful for me to experience how those students lighten up and become eager to learn, think, act and react on their own account when you give just a little bit of your time and your attention to them. They are hungry to learn.

 

My education opened the whole wide world for me, I hope we can do the same for the children of Koh Yao Noi."

 

 

Timothy Markin - Guardian  

 

tim.markin(at)koyao-ccc.com

(Tim worked for the Children Center as a Director from April 2006 until December 2009. He is now married to a local Thai and is still living on Koh Yao Noi and supporting the Children Center as a Guardian in his free time).

 

"While studying for a BA in Anthropology at California State University Fullerton, one of my professors, a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, inspired me to volunteer overseas. I joined the Peace Corps in Jan 2004 and was sent to Thailand under the Teacher Collaboration Community Outreach project for a two year service. I was placed in a rural town of Ratchaburi Province where I worked to train English teachers, taught English to Primary and Secondary School students, and initiated community development projects including a weaving project sponsored by Friends of Thailand.


The experience in Ratchaburi was invaluable to me. I learned many things about the Thai language, culture and people. I also realized how beneficial education was to my life and saw how it created opportunities for work and travel. I recognized the need for improvement in the Thai education system and wanted to give Thai kids the same opportunities that I've been given. The Children's Community Center in Koh Yao Noi aims to create an experiential and student centered environment. I liked the idea and decided to come down and work on the project."