Several teenagers were playing table tennis and badminton, their eyes fixed on movements, their brains whirling, their hands skilfully moving as they played forehand and backhand drives. Most of them are young people who were once juvenile delinquents but now they are trying to turn their lives around. Some of the support they receive is from sports training and empowerment projects initiated by Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha.
Recently, HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the eldest daughter of His Majesty the King, chaired a tournament where these young people competed in table tennis and badminton at the "Nabha: The Secret Scenes" fair at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. She also graced "The Secret Scenes Exhibition", which showcased her initiatives and projects including Nabha Foundation, the R908 Office's sufficiency economy projects, and Bounce Be Good (BBG). For years the princess has been known for her work to enhance the lives of the less privileged, especially female inmates who wish to have a second chance in their lives.
The princess spoke at the opening of the Nabha: The Secret Scenes.
"Children and youth are major forces in steering the country and global community forward," she said. "The new generation has great influences in innovation and development. Problems faced by youth are prominent and must be solved. Sport plays a major role in development and problem-solving because it not only improves health but also serves as training for people to be physically strong, determined, united and practice good sportsmanship.
"It is my pleasure to witness the youngsters' opportunities to prove their abilities today. Apart from having a strong will and practicing hard, they need to live decent lives. They must learn to control their minds to refrain from wrongdoing and attempt to do good. If they manage to do so, they will grow up as good human resources who contribute to national development."
The Nabha Foundation was officially established on Feb 13, 2014, though it had started operating in 2008 as a working team to seek and offer opportunities for those in need. It provides inmates with occupational training and marketing channels for their products. It also offers empowerment training, moral support and basic necessities to ensure former prisoners' readiness to start new lives, have jobs and minimise their chances of repeat wrongdoing.
BBG was started in June 2015 when the foundation inked a memorandum of understanding with Central Sports Club to jointly run the "Young Table Tennis Way Of Change" project to offer sports training for young detainees at Ban Muthita and Ban Pranee juvenile training centres. The main objective is to create sports occupations for underprivileged youth, leading to enhanced self-esteem and social acceptance.
After being freed from juvenile training centres, some children have no houses to live in and no opportunities to attend school. BBG offers sports training for these youngsters. The first selected type of sports is table tennis because it requires little space and is easy for children to practice. Next is badminton. Sports also help players focus and improve their decision-making and problem-solving skills. There are trainers, coaches, psychologists and social workers, as well as scholarships available up to bachelor's level, under the condition that they give opportunities to the next generation. Currently, 202 youngsters benefit from the project.
On Aug 21, 2015, HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha presided over the opening of the Young Table Tennis Way Of Change project at Ban Muthita Juvenile Training Centre in Nakhon Pathom province. Initially, 42 boys from Ban Muthita and 15 girls from Ban Pranee took part and were given at least two hours of table tennis training at least twice a week.
The project later led to the establishment of BBG Training Centre (BBG Home), which offers accommodation and training for participants. Youngsters at BBG Home take care of each other under the brotherhood system. Older members must be well-behaved and are role models for younger ones.
After Nong Pond (real name withheld) from BBG Home became a champion at the KU Table Tennis Club, the establishment of BBG Club followed. Later in March 2016, the Young Badminton Way Of Change project was started. After that, the BBG Princess Cup was initiated. Winners obtain royal trophies from HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha.
In addition, the Nabha Foundation and Bangkokthonburi University agreed to support youngsters under the BBG project to continue their studies for bachelor's degrees.
The BBG project has so far hosted several table tennis and badminton competitions at the participating juvenile observation centres and other venues. Last year, it launched training on money saving, meditation, the rules of table tennis, and how to become table tennis referees.
One of the successful teenagers from BBG Home is Naruemet Klaiklang, 21, who has been participating in the BBG project since September 2014. In 2016, he passed into the second and final rounds of several major table tennis competitions in Thailand.
"We were trained to be good, think positively and use our brains, not just using force," he said. "I changed in a positive way, became well-educated and well-known. I am going to continue my studies at high-school level. The project fully sponsors my studies and training," added Naruemet, who is a former detainee at Ban Muthita Juvenile Training Centre.
After three months of training, he started entering table tennis competitions. Following his release from the centre, he was admitted to BBG Home for advanced training. He wants to be a sports analyst in the future.
Another outstanding player, Piyachat Songsook, 21, has been with the project for around two years since she was at Ban Pranee. She recalled that all participants were initially taught the basics like ball hitting, backhand and forehand strokes, given training for a year and also taught to opt for positive attitudes. About 20 out of all 95 participants in her class passed the tests to become table tennis players.
"While playing sports, I exercise my brain and become thoughtful. I practice every day and enter competitions frequently," she noted. Currently, she is studying for a bachelor's degree at Bangkokthonburi University.
Table tennis coach Peeranut Meesat has been teaching youngsters under both the Young Table Tennis Way Of Change project and BBG Club for a year. He works together with three other table tennis coaches and one badminton coach. Under the table tennis project at both juvenile centres, each coach trains more than 10 youngsters. Only determined and diligent youngsters are welcome.
"BBG Home is a sports academy with accommodation and training for youths aged 10-23. We work with psychologists and social workers. I can clearly see the youngsters change from being hot-tempered and violent into being calm and self-controlled. Table tennis helps them exercise their brains," he noted.
Currently, eight youngsters, including one badminton player, are being trained at BBG Home. The BBG project plans to extend the table tennis project to Ban Rajvithi, a state-run orphanage.
"Now, I have come so far and will not do what I did in the past again. I feel good and my parents are so proud of me. I am studying business administration and want to come back to work for the project. I hope to be an assistant coach," Piyachat concluded.
Visit www.nabha.or.th or www.facebook.com/AtNaBha.
