Abbeygate Sixth Form College in Bury St Edmunds is paid a visit by founder of Thai charity Save Elephant Foundation
Abbeygate Sixth Form College in Bury St Edmunds has welcomed the founder of an elephant conservation charity ahead of a student trip to Thailand.
Saengduean ‘Lek’ Chailert, of Save Elephant Foundation, a Thai non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting Asian Elephants, chatted to 180 students from the sixth form as part of a UK tour to promote a documentary about her work called Mother Elephant.
She exclusively visited students at Abbeygate to thank them for supporting her work after two groups visited Thailand on recent trips funded by the Turing Scheme. 14 of the group will also be heading out to Thailand to support her efforts again next month.
On her visit to Abbeygate, Lek said: “Students are the future of the planet and I’m always happy to talk to them. This generation can change the world.”
Lek started working in the field of elephant conservation almost 30 years ago and has tirelessly worked to set up sanctuaries and safe spaces for rescued elephants in Thailand.
She has rescued hundreds of elephants from the circus, riding camps and other places where they have been mistreated for the purpose of entertainment.
She has called for more conscious behaviour and sustainable tourism in the process, winning several awards for her work across animal conservation and tourism along the way.
Mollie Franklin, 17, from Bury, is heading to Asia next month. Mollie said: “I want to help out and do my bit. I’m interested in helping the planet.”
Tom Davey, 16, from Bury, who is also going to Thailand, said: “I’m very ready to feed and care for the elephants. Lek is such an inspiring woman. She has done some incredible work.”
Nadine Payne, group head of careers, opportunities and progress at Eastern Education Group, which runs the sixth form, said: “Thanks to our links with Challenges Abroad and The Futuresense Foundation, we were delighted to welcome Lek to Abbeygate.
“I believe we were the only school or college to get a visit like this, so it will be a real privilege for our students to be able to hear from such an internationally-renowned and inspirational figure.”
