Blanket them With Love -Flood&Cold Relief Thailand

Have Wheels will Travel - Empowering the Needy

It was in the wintry season when the Foundation brought a team of volunteers to help in the Blanket Them With Love project in the northern province of Chiangrai in Thailand.

While carrying out activities with the children and youths, the Foundation met with 2 young hilltribe brothers from the Akha tribe. They were among the youths that were attending the English Day Camp and were given writing materials as most were from needy backgrounds.

As it turned out, both brothers were facing hardship, at the time that the Foundation found them. Dou (14 years) and his younger brother Chai (13 years) were recently orphaned, as their mother had just passed away around a year ago. Their father had died then since they were both young, around 10 and 11 years, with only mother as the main breadwinner, having to carrying the burden of ensuring that her boys had the bare minimum to survive everyday.

Now, they live with their uncle, who was mostly not home because he works in a strawberry farm up in the highlands, leaving the 2 young boys to fend for themselves.

Despite their dire state, their mother had taught them well. She had constantly reminded them to be good citizens and to work hard, especially in their studies, so that they will be educated and make right choices. As a result, after her death, they followed mother's advice, and helped in the cleaning up after every meal in school, in exchange for their free lunches, as well as jumping at any opportunities to find odd jobs to help in their daily needs.

As he shared with the Foundation of their plights, Dou said, "I often tell my younger brother, and encourage him to not give up, even though we are now orphans, we must make special efforts to be good, and not be influenced by bad people, so that we can stand tall in the society and live harmoniously with others".

These boys' state of affairs were noticed by the Foundation volunteers and they raised some money to help with a gift of a bicycle for them so as to enable them to travel around without having to pay for bus rides to school.

"Thank you so much, for the bicycle... now I can move around so much faster, and it saves me much time! Thank you!", Chai said, with a big smile on his face.

Although the weather was cold, the volunteers had brought the boys warmth in their hearts, knowing that they are not alone in their struggle.

The Foundation wishes to thank all who have helped to empower people like Dou and Chai, giving them HOPES to live on for a better tomorrow.

Gratefully yours!

The beneficiaries.

Links:

• A peek into the lives of Dou and Chai