Orphanage in Thailand
The Australian Taxation Reporter became aware of the needs of Baan Fah Sighy Orphanage in Thailand.
Phil and Wanida who are making a difference in people’s lives, saving unwanted and abandoned infants from either the hands of child traffickers or life on the streets.
Only through the generosity and support of others can they continue to do this fine work. This is just part of their story, about their journey, helping to make a difference in the lives of these innocent children.
First, the best news (for us!)! Today, we pick up a 12-seater van for our children's use, which was provided exclusively by the Australian Taxation Reporter. We thank you so much for this; it gives us so many options for education and recreation for the children.
Our history is as follows: I came from the Gold Coast, where I had lived for 20 years. In March 2000, at the suggestion of the Missions Director of my local church, Ian Aitchison, (that I should go to Thailand), I saw so much need on that trip, that I returned home, had a fire sale of my antiques business and put my house for sale on a depressed market.
I arrived in Thailand on September 1, 2000 and launched myself into a Thai language programme. I was single and speaking to the woman who operated the "Tours desk" at the hotel I was staying at in Chiang Mai, I discovered that she (Wanida) had a similar vision to help needy kids.
After visiting many orphanages and feeding children and discovering their (unmet) needs, we decided to open a home for HIV and abandoned new-borns. We were subsequently married on the Gold Coast and returned to Thailand, where after a search we bought land at Hot, which was located next to the Ping River, with a great view of the mountains because the land was 111km south of Chiang Mai.
Chaing Mai land is as expensive as Gold Coast land! The land had no power or water but was beside a new hot-mix road with a new bridge over the river, I knew we would always be able to pump water from the river. We did just that for the first year or so and ran an "extension cord" along the ground for 700 metres to the nearest power grid connected cottage for 2 years, before the Government ran power lines to us.
Pastor Aitchison confirmed that he believed that it was an ideal place to start our children's home and that he would raise support from the Gold Coast community with the help of Effective Aid (Phil has been good friends of the Aitchinsons' for years), many donations and numerous visits from Gold Coast volunteer teams, have transformed the barren, rocky land into a veritable paradise for the staff and children. "We have a great facility now, but people don't see the blood, sweat and tears that went to getting it to this point".
We cleared the land, which was 3 acres of weeds and discovered that 154 fruit trees had been planted recently; these are now drip-irrigated, mature trees and provide saleable fruit, mostly mangoes. We commenced building in March 2001 and despite a severe storm that almost destroyed the new building, opened with Government approval on November 1, 2002.
We have accepted 30 children since the first, named Gaew of "Crystal", though some have been returned to extended families, as is normal in Thailand because most children were born to young students or prostitutes, the shame associated with their birth in Thai culture means that their families have disowned them. We have alternatively, made a long-term commitment to each child to educate them as far as they wish, and to raise them not as orphans but as our own children. "We don't just shove them in here and let them fend for themselves. We parent these children and love them as if they were our own. At the same time, if we had more finances and more land, we could do this again and take on another 25 children. We're not at the limit of what we can do in Thailand, we're just at the limit for this stage to save unwanted and abandoned infants from either the hands of child traffickers or life on the streets".
A child called Robin was the exception to the Hohnens' rule of taking only new-borns. The five month old was neglected and left outside on the veranda while the mother went to work at night. Whenever he cried the neighbours would feed him condensed milk or rice to keep him quiet.
Phil says the children are now being raised in a more privileged environment than a lot of the villages.
"We want to educate these children to dream and do whatever they're capable of. We teach both Thai and English, because there will be many more opportunities open to them if they're bilingual. My goal is to see these kids raised as leaders of the future. They'll have incredible hope and vision, but will also have a love and compassion for their own people, despite their harsh introduction into this world".
We have been building as funds allowed, and now have a primary school building, 3 dormitories, laundry, teachers' cottage and a dining/kitchen/ store building. Most recently, Generation Church at Reedy Creek, Gold Coast, provided volunteers and finances to build a circular yurt, 12m across, which is the social and recreational focus of the Home. They also provided other funds to get stalled building projects going.
We of course now have grid power, town as well as bore water and a mature garden for the children to enjoy. We are helped by locally sourced Thai and tribal women, who help give 24/7/52 love, care and in house education.
Thanks once again to the people who through their generosity and giving that is enabling us to try to meet the ever-growing needs of our children. We love you and pray for you daily.
Phil and Wanida Hohnen
Nurturing Children Foundation
Hot, Thailand
