JAM START (Yaowawit Band) is a selected group of extraordinary talented students, who can act as school representative by singing and playing instruments, and who can gain confidence and social skills through this joyful activity. Yaowawit is very pleased that the students take this opportunity serious, as it can bring them success in any professional endeavour.

Dwight Kim Atupan is a maths, science & music teacher and is from the Philippines. Before coming to Yaowawit, 3 years ago, he was teaching in Ubon Ratchathani Province for 7 years. After his first visit to Yaowawit he was sold, he completely saw himself teaching life skill programs, and he also fell in love with the natural surroundings of the school. He thought that this place will be perfect for him and his family.

Since Dwight Kim’s passion is music, he is hosting the Yaowawit music club at the weekends, and he even started the “Jam Start” band. One of the sponsors, miss Layla Khodjasteh, bought and donated the first batch of instruments for the kids.

The professional singer based in Dubai swung by for the children and their music club that she supports. Jam Start band is currently working on its upcoming album. Together with Miss Layla the band wrote a song, titled “Family “, for the album. Through music and singing along with the children she wants to touch the children’s hearts, and form strong bonds and lasting memories.

Thailand’s pop sensation Da Endorphine came for a surprise visit, which was sponsored by Mercedes Benz and Thailand Tatler Heroes reality show. They rebuilt the music room and recorded a track named “SONG OF LOVE”, professionally produced with the voice of Funnie Williamson of KARMA studio.

The band now plans to record a track featuring Da Endorphine for the new album.

Jam Start Band has already performed at fundraisers, fun fairs and markets and community events.

She is a very smart and confident girl. She is an active student in the music club.

Pakgard is a kind and open-minded girl. She is not shy when speaking with the guests or volunteers. Pakgard is very energetic, she usually has many ideas and loves to share them with her friends. She is also very kind and likes to help the younger children. In her free time, Pakgard has two big passions: singing and dancing.

Her hard work in studies earned her a high school scholarship. Pakgard has said that after finishing school, she would like to become a flight attendant. She is very ambitious about things important to her and if she continues her studies, she will be able to achieve her dreams.

Pe’s parents divorced when he was 4 years old. Pe and his mother live in a small house in a rather unsafe area with a high crime rate, and she worries that Pe is not safe there. Unfortunately, there is no one to take care of him, because his grandparents are already very old and unable to help. She contacted Yaowawit and Pe is now able to attend the school.

Pe is one of the best students in his grade level, and his favourite subjects are Art, Math and English. Other than that, Pe is very passionate about sports. He does not only enjoy having sports in class, but also likes to play football on the field with all of his friends.

He is one of the active and fast learners in the band. He played basic bass chords in just three weeks and he wants to be a famous musician someday.

She is a friendly, open-minded and out-going person. Her favourite pets are cats. Watermelon is her favourite fruit, and she likes purple colour.
Miew’s parents separated a few years ago.

Her mother decided to take care of Miew and Preuk, her brother, but did not do this very well. Their mother heard about Yaowawit School, so she took them here. The children have settled well in here. The mother tries to visit them as often as she can.

Miew often tries to help out in the kitchen or works in the hospitality. Since she speaks good English, she is a big help in the kitchen, especially when serving the guests. And she wants to work in tourism someday.

She is friendly, polite, and well-spoken in English. She loves to eat strawberries and rose apple.

Twain is originally from the Philippines, she’s been here in Thailand since she was 10 months old. She is the daughter of Teacher Dwight Kim, and she really loves to help out, which is the reason that she decided to join the band. At the age of 5, she often watched her Dad playing music on stage and that’s why she really has a passion for music.

Twain loves to sing and she wants to be a famous singer or a kindergarten teacher someday.

Daisy was born in Phuket, where her mother raised her alone. Her father is a British National, who left Daisy’s mother when she was pregnant. Her mother worked hard in a restaurant to support Daisy and her older stepsister.

But the income was too low to provide sufficient food, clothes and education to her daughters. When she heard about Yaowawit through friends, she decided to contact the school and we accepted Daisy at our school.

After school, Daisy likes to spend time with her friends, either in the theatre or on the field. She enjoys chatting and joking around with them, as well as running or playing volleyball on the field together.

Whenever Daisy has the chance, she likes to sing. She is very talented in singing and has joined Jam Start band as a vocal and keyboard.

Bank’s parents split up when he was about six months old. His father then left, and while Bank stayed with his mother, his sister was brought to their grandmother.

Bank was finally sent here to be able to study, and to receive a proper education and be taken care of.

Bank is the new member and also active in Jam Start band, he loves to play guitar after school. Bank is a very lively and friendly boy. Though he often likes being with his friends and playing games with them, he will never say no to a round of games with guests or new people. If he has made a new friend, he likes to spend a lot of time with them.

He is the lead guitarists of the band. Tonkla grew up in a very rough area in the province of Krabi. Shortly after Tonkla was born, his father got killed in a shooting. Since then, his mother is solely responsible to raise Tonkla and his five year older brother. Over several years she did her very best and besides her profession as a gardener, she generated an extra income by assisting bookkeeping.

Tonkla is a bright boy who loves sports. He is a member of our football team, and in future he wants to become a famous football player. That is in fact the best way to get him talking in English: talking about football. He keeps up to date with all the best teams and players. His best subject is mathematics, where he is one of the best in his class.

She is friendly and cheerful girl. Her favourite animals are turtles. Purple is her favourite colour. She likes to eat strawberries and macaroni.

Nate is very focused when she plays piano. And she got a great singing voice, but she’s too shy to do it.

Nate’s parents separated when her mother was pregnant with her, since then they had been living in Patong, and she was being exposed to the bar life and the surroundings of their home were very dangerous and unsuitable for a young child. Nate’s mother was put in contact with World Vision and they decided it would benefit Nate if she could stay and study at Yaowawit.

Bizarrely, Nate has made up her mind to become a baker when she grows up and plans to own her own bakery shop. She likes to cook and also joined activities like baking muffins to sell them on the market.

Boat’s family comes from a fishermen town in the Krabi province. To look for better opportunities, the family moved to Kapong in Phan Nga. Boat’s family is extremely poor and his father does not take any responsibility for the family. Being an alcoholic, he spends most of his income on drinks. Boat, his brother and his mother were living in a small hut owned by their neighbour, but there was no money for food or education.

Boat is a very happy boy, who likes coconuts and rose apples.

Boat is very open-minded, though he prefers staying to himself and his friends. He takes his time to open up towards other people before you earn his trust. He also loves to play drums, and he is very good at it.