Hauy Phong Children's Home in Pattaya

Actually, I wanted to announce Children's Day, which will be weekend all over Thailand held. We do not know this phenomenon in the Netherlands, because we believe that almost every day is children's day.

Numerous activities for children are also organized in Pattaya, especially around the town hall in North Pattaya. Entrance to zoos and bus transport, for example, is free and restaurants offer a special children's menu. The Japanese-American steak restaurant Benihani on the second floor of Royal Garden Plaza offers brunch, where children up to 12 years old eat and drink for free. They must be accompanied by an adult, who then has to pay 1100 Baht net. Nice offer, isn't it?

Looking for some more information However, I ended up on the website www.pattayastreetkids.org and found the story of the Hauy Phong Children's Home near Pattaya. On the occasion of 'Children's Day' below is a summary of an introductory visit to this home.

“The children's home is located a short distance from Pattaya in a quiet area near Mathaput. It is located on both sides of the main road Bangkok – Rayong and has two separate sections, one for boys and one for girls. The home cares for approximately 400 boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 17.

The children are sometimes picked off the street, abandoned by their families or from families that are too poor to care for them. Many of those children, who are taken into the home at a very young age, have no idea of ​​their true identity and therefore do not in fact exist for the Thai government. Attempts are made in the home to trace the family, but often a new identity must be created for them – when they have reached the age of 15 – so that they can apply for an Identity Card in accordance with Thai law.

Some of the children we have met have been abused or neglected within the family and then transferred to this home. They meet a boy who had his tongue cut out by an alcoholic father. Another boy had lost the lower part of his arm while helping his father repair a spinning ceiling fan.

Yet the children look happy and are always happy with (foreign) visitors. They are more than happy to show you the house and its surroundings, where they can practice their English. The children learn English by watching Western TV programs and take every opportunity to put their knowledge into practice.

The home provides primary education for the children and for the somewhat elderly there is also a start of vocational training. Girls are taught massage, hair care, and sewing subjects, while boys are taught motorcycle engineering, carpentry, and other construction trades. If they have to leave home when they reach the age of 18, at least they have something to enable them to find work.

Every weekday is long and tiring for the kids. Get up at half past five, shower and get dressed and then the ceremony of hoisting the Thai flag. Then breakfast and school until lunch around noon. In the afternoon there are lessons again until half past four, after which they go back to their dormitory. The dormitory, toilets, etc. are cleaned and there is also an opportunity to wash your own clothes. When all that is done, there is time for games or watching television. At 12 pm there is the last meal, followed by homework and deepening the teachings of Buddha. It's half past ten it's bedtime. Friday afternoon is reserved for sports activities and the children are free on Sunday. They can then use the large swimming pool, do sports or just do something else to relax.

The staff is very dedicated and does everything to give the children the love they lack. It works with modest resources, because the government's attention is minimal. 'Luxury' items such as soap, toothpaste and clothing are always scarce and there is also a constant need for sports items such as football shirts, shorts, footballs, football boots, basketballs and volleyballs. All children enjoy sports in their free time and the home has a large area, but the lack of material and equipment spoils the fun a bit.

The charity organization “Pattaya Streetkids” has included the Hauy Phong Children's Home as a project in its program for some time now and a lot has already happened. In addition to the household chores, the children also received other assignments, such as mowing the lawn on the extensive grounds. A job that never ends and was done with hand shears. In consultation with the staff, “Pattaya Streetkids” purchased two motorized lawnmowers, which are now almost constantly in action. Another purchase for the home was a second-hand bus, so that the children occasionally take a trip to it beach or make forest. The need for new bedding, toiletries, sports equipment, computer and televisions is also provided.

The lives of these children are austere to say the least, their past consists of neglect, abuse and/or poverty and the future is uncertain. We are doing everything we can to make their lives a little more pleasant now and fortunately we also see that it is very much appreciated by the children.”

If you want to help, check out the extensive website www.pattayakids.org to see how you can do that. Finally, a nice quote from that website: “It doesn't matter how much money you have in the bank right now, how luxurious your house is or what car you drive. In 100 years the world will certainly look more beautiful, because you have now decided to support a child.”

This is a story about a single children's home, as there are still a few children's and orphanages in Pattaya alone. Elsewhere in Thailand it must be dozens, perhaps more than a hundred. I don't care which child in which children's home you support financially, as long as you do it and celebrate your own Children's Day in that way.