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2025
August Newsletter
Welcome to Lorliang Cheewa monthly newsletter. We will share some updates from the past month and highlights of ongoing projects. If you enjoy what you see please reach out to let us know how it affected your day.
Whats inside this month
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1. Vermont is Cold, but the People Are Warm
So we went to Vermont. Because why not fly 8,000 miles to talk about a tiny village in Thailand?
Turns out, the Rotary Club of Woodstock is full of people who care a lot. We told them about our work. We said things like:
“Some of our kids start smoking at 7.”
“Some were born while their moms were still high.”
“Some are brilliant, but no one’s told them yet.”
And the room didn’t blink. It leaned in.
One man offered to donate two bikes and a skate board.
A woman said she’d pack a suitcase full of sports gear, books, games and clothes.
A doctor ran to us before we got in our truck to say, “I’m visiting your village. Count on it.”
A few more opened their wallets. Just like that we have funds to start building a water filter and start Dare To Dream, a weekly workshop at the village school.
Nobody said “Well where are the parents?”
They just got it.
Because when you believe in kids before the world tells them they’re not worth it, that’s where the magic starts.
2. Cooking to Raise Funds and the Temperature in the kitchen
An idea came out of the Rotary meeting, and it smelled like garlic and lemongrass. What if we offered a Thai cooking class at a silent auction?
They will get the spice of southern curries, the crunch of papaya salad, the rich hug of coconut sticky rice. They will learn how to smash chili paste like a local, using a stone mortar and pestle just like Grandma used. And while their taste buds will be able to celebrate, Woodstock Rotary was able to raise funds.
We are excited to host Steve Huveldt and a group of his friends virtually in our bamboo kitchen.
Next month we will update you with what they chose to make and the details of the evening.
3. Pen Pals: Vermont Kids, Thai Kids, and… Bug Snacks?
We met an elementary teacher in Vermont who already runs a sister city project with a French school. Now she wants to start one with our village school in Thailand.
The idea? Thai kids connect with Vermont kids. Vermont kids connect back.
They’ll trade stories, drawings, maybe snacks (please yes).
Questions will be asked:
“Do you really eat bugs?”
“Why are your noodles so spicy?”
“Can you skateboard in a rice field?”
Imagine Vermont kids trying durian. Thai kids seeing snow. This is about building empathy, curiosity, and confidence in two corners of the world that rarely meet. It’ll be weird and beautiful. Just like childhood should be.
4. Enlightenment via Coffee and MSG
First thing we did when we got back to the village? We went to a temple. At Thung Luang, we offered food to the monks. Then came the Dharma talk. Not about karma. Not about letting go. Nope. It was about coffee and MSG.
“Don’t bring fake cream or deserts. Bring water.”
“If you bring coffee, let it be real.”
“And maybe ease up on the monosodium glutamate?”
Was it spiritual? Not really.
Was it surprisingly practical? Absolutely.
Sometimes awakening starts in the grocery aisle.
5. Clean Water. Four Barrels. One Giant Leap.
We have some news that makes us grin like idiots. We now have the first ever drinking water filtration system in the village.
Here’s how that happened:
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Leo, the past president of the Woodstock Rotary club is a donor with a big heart a passion for water projects and excellent timing. He funded the whole project.
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We followed the design by Josh Kern of AQSOLUTIONS, who created it while volunteering at Pun Pun Organic Farm.
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Josh noticed villagers were drinking from plastic bottles because they had no choice.
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So he made a better option:
Charcoal. Sand. Rocks. Four barrels. No electricity.
Just science and love.
They tested the water: cleaner than bottled.
So now, 78 kids will drink clean water when they visit our future learning center. Goodbye soda. Hello hydration.
6. Dreaming Started August 29
On August 29, we launched Dare to Dream at Chonglom School.
It’s not just English class. It's a life class disguised as language learning.
We’re talking about:
Storytelling
Speaking up
A healthy body and mind.
Dreaming beyond the nearest hill
78 kids. 1 school. Zero limits.
Thank you to Leslie and Tambrey from Vermont who donated this month to allow the very first English workshop in Chong Lom School to kick off!
7. Mindfully Eating and Brain Food
Nate brought books to Vermont. Not because we had extra space in our luggage. We didn’t. But he needed to share this.
An Introduction to Mindfully Nourishing Your Brain is a cookbook he co-wrote with Haylee, which is filled with brain-friendly recipes using herbs like turmeric, coconut, and green vegetables. And packed with information about the nervous system, gut health, brain health and more.
It’s about healing food.
It's about tasty food.
It's food that supports Brain health and Traumatic Brain Injury recovery.
Find more information about Haylee here and join our email list here
Final Thoughts (Like a Nap After a Big Lunch)
Thanks for reading.We’re building this foundation like we cook Southern Thai curry, slowly, with care, and always better with friends.
If you want to help:
Say hi.
Send snacks.
Spread the word.
Come visit.
Or just keep reading these strange and wonderful updates.
Because when a child knows you believe in them, the real story begins.
With gratitude and hope, Nate &Tik
To make a Donation click below
For More Information
Contact Pornwara@lorliangcheewa.org
+66.64.859.1520