After several months of delays due to COVID-19, the end of March saw the start of several pilot football projects in south Thailand. We had been planning and surveying with local partners to identify the neediest areas in which to launch the projects. We hope for good beginnings of these projects and practical impact amongst children and youth (7 to 12 years old) from at-risk communities. With new local coaches, SEEDS workers can slowly begin to implement value-based coaching as we seek to improve physical fitness and develop the skills & characters of the children and youth we work with. Moving forward, this will be the cornerstone of our community development focus through football in Songkhla province, and we hope to expand these projects step by step. This launch in Songkhla also coincided with the visit of the Thailand director of the organisation we are partnering with, to launch and expand the football projects in South Thailand. The visit was a helpful time to consult with the director and do some refresher training.  

Meanwhile, in Pattani province, there was bad flooding at the end of last year. Several families of children involved in the project were affected. After receiving funding, SEEDS workers and local coaches were able to distribute up to 20 relief packages to the worst affected families from the project. Although the flooding had passed already they were very appreciative for our support in a small way.