Child Protection Thailand Project #50566

Provide Education and Hope for Children at Risk

by Warm Heart Worldwide, Inc

Project Report | Oct 28, 2024
Busy Learning and Growing

By Evelind Schecter | Co-Founder and Program Manager

Children's Site Project visits Warm Heart

The school year is halfway through, with midterms completed and time for a small break. Many of the children stayed at Warm Heart as their villages were not accessible due to the late rains. Most villages survived the heavy flooding and we're getting updates on what's needed for those hit hardest. Luckily, everyone is safe and clearing the fields for the next crops.

We were delighted to have Dr. Peter Bell return with the Children's Sight Program. With funds from the Chiang Mai Expats Club and Chiang Mai International Rotary, plus cost pricing from a local Optometrist, our children, neighbors, and staff had their eyes checked and received free glasses, as needed. The children's eyes will keep changing as they grow, but they were very happy to be able to see well for studying, attending school, and keeping up with their peers.

We recently welcomed a 14-year-old girl, "M," who arrived due to a disrupted family situation. Her mother, a refugee from Myanmar, came to Thailand with her husband and son. Her husband soon disappeared. Once she found work, she managed to bring her daughter over. However, finding steady work while settling her residency paperwork has been challenging.

Her son joined us last year during a period of unemployment, and he has since settled in, catching up in school and making friends. When the mother faced another setback, we offered to take in M, who is significantly behind in school and needs a safe, stable living environment.

M is happy to be near her brother and enjoys caring for the younger children. Our after-school teachers are helping with her schooling, and her mother is now in a safe place, receiving assistance to get back on her feet and reunite with her family.

Our efforts to engage the students in the Children's Home decision-making and leadership have been making good progress, thanks to Mali, our Children's Home manager. Our teenagers have been asking for more time to visit with friends from school and have set up the rules for when they are allowed to join their friends and ensure we know where they are at all times. There are always one or two who test the limits, but overall they are pleased to participate, stay safe, and mentor the younger children.

And one more great bit of news - we graduated another 350 Phrao 4th graders from the Children's Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Program (CWSDPP), with a grant from an anonymous donor through the Chiang Mai International Rotary Club. We’ve now trained 1300 school children in Phrao in water safety and how to swim.

Thanks to your enduring support, these children are safe, doing well in school, and starting to dream of their future.

Best wishes for the upcoming holiday season.

Dana, Michael, Evelind, and the Warm Heart Family

Enjoying new glasses

Time for reading

Learning to swim

Homework time

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Jun 29, 2024
Hot "Summer" Breaks in time for Busy School Year to Start

By Evelind Schecter | Program Leader

Welcoming the new school year

We joined the global heat wave for a month of temperatures over 40 Degrees Centigrade (104 F), thankful for plenty of fans and bags of ice. By early May, scattered rain cooled things down enough to contemplate the start of school.

Everyone gathered back at Warm Heart, with a week to prepare for the new term. We started with a two-day English Camp to clear out the summer doldrums and get the brains active again. Finn and our volunteer, Geof, set the pace with a series of brain teaser games and English conversation practice: general fun and a good way to learn.

This year, the head of the Children's Home, Mali, is working with Soda, (manager of Access to Care for the Elderly and Disabled,) to follow the thematic programs set by Social Services; currently focused on Child Protection Rights.

They have set up workshops with the staff and children to ensure the concepts are implemented effectively. This includes learning positive ways to encourage good behavior.

As part of this initiative, the students have agreed to take on more responsibility to govern themselves and participate in key decision-making processes. Each dorm is set up with a team and leader. For example, telephone usage is an ongoing contention and the students have been asked to set the active hours and stick to them.

The team leaders report every Friday on their progress with following the rules they have agreed upon, and getting chores done without being reminded. The students are losing their shyness and are suggesting ideas to encourage everyone to work together effectively.

We also asked the parents (or surrogate relatives) to participate actively in supporting the Warm Heart organization. They agreed to set up small groups to rotate through every Saturday, to check in on the children and help with maintenance and repairs.

We're excited to have everyone looking ahead to keep the Children's homes evolving and strong.

Thank you for your enduring support, making this all possible!

Dana, Evelind, Michael, and the Warm Heart Family

Brain Games at English Camp

The seesaw is fixed!

Parents, grandparents attend kick-off meeting

Parents help get the fields ready

Homework time

Links:

What is the Convention on the Rights of the Child?

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Mar 1, 2024
School year winding up, big plans ahead

By Evelind Schecter | Program Leader

Fun Learning English with Volunteer Geoff

The heat of the dry season has arrived and the children are looking forward to the end of the school term in mid-March.

Middle and high school students have been up late in the evenings finishing year-end projects. Final exams start next week and then we wait for results. If they have extended families vetted as safe, they can head up to their mountain villages.

We have about ten children who live with us full-time - no parents or family members who are not able to care for them. We try to have them come to us to visit the children.

All the children moving on to the next level of schooling are anxious to finish placement exams and anticipate the challenges ahead.

Thiew and A are headed to Phrao High School. They will take placement exams to see if they study Math & Science, Languages, or a vocational track

We have three seniors headed to university. Sai has been accepted at Nursing School and Tangmo and Ying are still waiting to hear. We have four graduating from vocational high school and will continue for two years to complete their associate certificates in marketing and accounting.

The children have continued English classes with our volunteer Geoff, from Canada, and self-esteem building/ personal goal-setting workshops with Finn. Lots of happy noise and singing help engage everyone.

We've also had some other fun activities - the annual Children's Day at our local sub-district office where our children performed, played games, and ate lots of yummy food. The Glom Immersive Theater, based in Chiang Mai brought its mobile theater to Warm Heart and engaged the children and staff in an afternoon of education and fun. Our staff member, Da had some extra flowers from a wedding and gave our students a lesson in formal flower arranging.

We had our annual visit from the provincial Social Services department to review our facilities and paperwork tracking system for the children. We passed with good marks, thanks to Mali our Children's Home manager, and the database that our volunteer, Judith, set up.

Lots of activity, all thanks to your steady encouragement and support.

Best wishes for the months ahead,

Dana, Michael, Evelind, and the Warm Heart Family

Performing at Children's Day

Learning to make formal flower arrangements

Glom Immersive Theater visits Warm Heart

Working together

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