Baan Feung Fah's Daycare & Play Area (Thailand)

The following is a postcard from Charissa Murphy, GlobalGiving's In-the-Field Representative in Southeast Asia, about her recent visit to the Christian Care Foundation (CCD) in Thailand, supported by For Life.

After my visit to the government orphanage wards for abandoned, disabled persons in the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand, the need for more assistance in the country for disabled persons was overwhelmingly evident. The children and young adults live together in wards of about 50 people each. The more physically disabled lie on mats on the floor and don't have the chance to go to school or receive education. Little stimulation is received on the wards, which hinders development and increases vulnerability of the children. The negative stigma of being disabled runs deep in Thai society, and the lack of focus on developing stronger systems and programs of care and development for these children onlymakes the situation worse for people with disabilities living in Thailand. As much as it pained me to see this firsthand, it's the reality. It also made me realize that the city itself lacks disabled-friendly facilities and equipment. I noticed that even hotels had signs that read, "No handicapped rooms." Elevators and chair lifts are not widespread, and I imagine trained professionals are much (much) fewer.

During the visit, I saw the Christian Care Foundation's (CCD) dedicated staff and volunteers working closely with the disabled children and adults that it supports, ensuring that they know they are human, cared for, and important. For Life supports CCD in aiding these disabled and abandoned children, providing homes for them, personalized care, rehabilitation and sensory programs, educational and life skill trainings, and overall the ability to experience life. I was given a very thorough tour of the facilities and care programs at CCD, meeting some of those living at the Rainbow House, a residential home connected to the CCD campus for disabled persons that provides many life building and basic skill programs. I also visited the staff, volunteers, and disabled orphans at the Baan Feung Fah orphanage daycare and play area. The government staff at the Baan Feung Fah orphanage is extremely small. Seeing the care that the CCD team provides was uplifting in the otherwise dreary environment of the wards. The attention they provide to the children for a few hours each day really made them smile and respond with squeals of joy. The CCD team sung to them, encouraged sensory responses to help their minds and physical senses, fed them, changed and cleaned them, giggled with them, and let them know that they are important and that someone cares for them.

Though it takes a good deal of effort for the staff to bring the children to the play area from the wards or from their daycare center on the government campus, it's used very often! The staff really is dedicated to the children and devote as much effort as they can give. The swings, a netted tire-swing, a self-spinning seat, ground-level trampoline, and slide were all popular with the kids! Seeing their faces and hearing their giggles was enough to make my heart smile. For Life and CCD are truly dedicating themselves to bringing life to these abandoned children despite the lack of facilities provided for people with disabilities in Thailand. I only hope that change comes soon. Every child deserves the right to stimulation, education, love, and equal opportunities despite their ability level.

Upcoming Event on GlobalGiving - TODAY, this Wednesday, July 16th, is a Bonus matching day!:

Today, July 16th (Wednesday), beginning at 9AM EDT, GlobalGiving will match 30% of any donations (of up to $1,000 from any individual donor) to For Life. There are $130,000 in total funds available for matching that day for all of GlobalGiving’s partners. To ensure your donation is matched before the funds run out, please consider donating early today shortly after 9AM.

I want to thank CCD and For Life for allowing me to visit!