Situated a short drive from Pattaya is the Hauy-Pong Children’s Home set in relative tranquillity a few kilometres from Mathaput.We first became aware of this home which cares for almost 400 children when in March 2000 one of our trustees visited the home in search of a street kid that he had previously tried to help.The home, which started life as a government correctional facilty for children is now part of the Department for Prevention of Human Trafficking, is located on either side of the main Bangkok – Rayong Highway and has two separate sections, one that cares for the girls and the other for the boys. There is approximately a 50/50 split between boys and girls whose ages range from 5 –17 years.The children cared for at this home are often children who have been rescued from the streets, abandoned by their families or from families who are to poor to care for them. Many of the children, abandoned at a very young age have no idea as to their true identity so basically are non-existent in any government records. Despite the best effort of the staff at the home to try and trace any family that the children may have often the home will have to create an official identity for the child so that when he or she reaches the age of fifteen years they can be issued with an Identity Card which is required under Thai law.Some of the children we have met have been terribly abused within their family unit and removed to the children’s home. We met one boy whose tongue had been cut out by his drunken father whilst another had lost the lower part of his arm when one of his parents help him up against a revolving ceiling fan. Yet the children remain happy and are always delighted when any visitors arrive as it gives them the opportunity to show the visitors around the home and practice their English. Many of the children have learned their English from watching western programs on television so the opportunity to try it out on a visiting foreigner is never passed up. The home provides basic education for the children and vocational training workshops. For the girls there are classes in traditional Thai Physical Massage, Hairdressing and Needlecraft. For the boys training in Engine Mechanics, Carpentry and Building. When the children leave the home as they reach 18 years of age, it is hoped that the training they have received will enable them to find work.The children have a long and exhausting day, rising at 5.30 am a shower then the raising of the Thai flag followed by prayers. The first meal of the day follows with school starting at 7.00am until lunch at noon. After lunch the children resume their schooling until 3.30pm when they return to their dormitories to clean and tidy the dormitories and hand-wash their clothing after which they are free to play games or watch television. At 6pm the last meal of the day is followed by more schoolwork then prayers and to listen to the teachings of the Lord Buddha before they go to bed at 9.30pm. Friday afternoons are free for sport and Sunday is a day without study when all of the children, weather permitting, take advantage of the large outdoor open spaces at the home to play sport or simply relax.Whilst the staff at the home do everything they can to ensure that the children receive love and attention the budget from the government for doing so in minimal and luxuries such as toiletries and clothing are often in short supply as are the opportunities to take part in any leisure activities. There is on ongoing need for sporting equipment such as football shirts and shorts, footballs, football boots, basketballs and volleyball equipment. All of the children enjoy sport in their free time and the home has a great expanse of open field for them to do so, however without the necessary equipment much of the enjoyment of the sport is diminished.One of the tasks that the children at the home had to carry out was to cut the grass at the home using hand-shears. The Childrens Home is set in a very large complex and the work of cutting the grass was never ending. We decided, after consultation with staff at the home, to buy two motorised grass cutters, These mowers are now in constant use and the problem of grass cutting at the home has been solved. Another purchase that we made for the children was an ex-Bagnkok bus. The old bus that was used to take the children on visits to the beach and for camping weekends had become uneconomical to repair. After contacting a company in Bangkok that refurbished buses we purchased a 65 seat bus that is now in full use for those important trips to take the children away from the home for short breaks. During the time that we have been associated with the home apart from the items listed aboved we have also raised money to fund replacement bedding throughout the boys dormitories and supplied toiletries and cosmetics for the children. Bought sports equipment, a computer and televisions. The life of these children is austere to say the least, whilst their past history is often of abuse and poverty and the future foreboding. So anything we can do to help make life a little more enjoyable for the kids is truly appreciated by the children.Each New Year we organise a party for all of the children at the Hauy Pong home which gives the kids a really special day and we also make sure that every child receives three gifts to help round off an enjoyable day.
