Thailand Heartbreak - Jo
“Thailand Heartbreak” As a state coordinator for Nutrimetics, Jo and hundreds of staff travelled to Thailand as part of their E3 Nutrimetics fundraising group. She showed ‘before and after’ photos of the recent Tsunami damage and explained about the loss of jobs and change in lifestyle of local people.
One can’t help wondering about acquaintances made and whether they are ok. 2053 children were orphaned and are now cared for in different ways, to keep them off the streets and out of harm’s way.
Kamala School and Orphanage, 30 minutes north of Patong Beach: The King of Thailand advanced cash into this project and with other donations they were able to re-open in 2007, housing 300 children now.
Volunteer teachers come from Australia and USA, some from UK. Unfortunately, many girls who reach 16 years of age are then claimed by ‘long lost relatives’. There is no paper work for these people, but there is sad things that happen. The wheels of justice turn slowly and there’s a minimum 2 years wait for results of a complaint, therefore many don’t bother.
Jo’s group spent time cooking, playing games, speaking English and sharing their love with the children. They’re well cared for and generally happy.
Two days later the group visited a gaol at Pataya, where the mother’s tiny children stayed in a room all day, just to be safe.
Jo’s group took lots of toys, books, cuddly animals to share and the kiddies just sat there quietly looking at them, being well behaved. It was heartbreaking! The children sang ‘If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands’; there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. At night the kiddies are with their mothers because there’s no-one to look after them.
The Nutrimetics group took the children back to their own hotel for a day and they were so excited, stepping gingerly across the lawn in bare feet – a new experience.
The staff helped entertain the children for the day, playing water, ball and wet sponge games amidst lots of applaud; the kids were amazed at that. They ate lots of party food, much of it sugar laden and full of food colouring!
It costs $80 to sponsor a child in this program; everyone there willingly did so. We hope we made a difference.”