Happy days! 18 of our children were eligible to apply and receive Thai citizenship and passports last month which is a great accomplishment for the Home and the success of our mission! These blessed children will also get the greatest gift of all this holiday season: the gift of international travel to Singapore & Malaysia sponsored generously by AirAsia airlines!
None of this would be possible without the generous support and determination of a few individuals: Chusak (aka Taraka Nat, a child from the Baan Unrak Home who had the great task of networking a relationship between the Home and Thai AirAsia airlines); Krittawat and Mother Ladda (who were able to put us in touch directly with AirAsia); and Mr. Tassapon Bijleveld the CEO of Thai AirAsia for sponsoring our tickets, for supporting our mission and providing this awesome opportunity for a very special group of children!
The proposed travel schedule:
Dec 2nd: Travel to Singapore
Dec 3rd-Dec 6th: Performances and sightseeing in Singapore
Dec 6th-7th: Travel to Malaysia (Kuala Lampur)
Dec 7th-11th: Retreat, performances in Kuala Lampur
Dec 12th-15th: Free Time, Sightseeing &Travel back to Thailand
Children Details: 16 kids + 3 Adult supervisors (Ayati, Taraka Nat, Stefanie) + Didi Devamala, total pax 20
Names of kids: Chamu, Mimi, Kamela, Kushuma, Panarat, Soso, Prema, Janako, Taruni, Darika, Ice, Dream, Fai, Malee, Rambo, Davie
Background of Kids:
These kids are mostly displaced children, born in remote villages along the Thai/Burmese border. Most of them have been abandoned by their parents; the primary reason being poverty and a lack of economic opportunity for families along the border. Some have been abandoned by parents that were HIV positive; because the families had no hope for a future to care for themselves, much less their children.
Mostly these kids have been brought to the Baan Unrak Children's Home as a last resort: a safe place where school, medical care, food and housing is all provided for free. These particular kids traveling are a privileged few, only 10% of the children at the Baan Unrak Childrens Home. After a challenging process, they have been able to gain government approval for Thai IDs and passports for international travel. Most importantly, these kids represent the rest of the children from their Home; the kids who have not yet received national ID cards, may never receive ID cards, and for those who may never be as lucky in the future to receive such a privilege as a Thai passport.
Purpose of the show:
Primarily, the purpose for this traveling troupe is to raise awareness about the Baan Unrak Children's Home and to promote fundraising for a major project: the construction of a new school building for the Home Schooled Teenagers. Equally important for the welfare of these children, is the hope that this trip will promote personal growth and development through international travel. For these kids, travel is a precious opportunity and rarely done outside of Bangkok city since the costs are too enormous and the logistics too difficult. Hopefully these kids will have a memorable experience to cherish in their lives; learn something new about different environments and cultures around the world, and hopefully learn something new within themselves as well.
Performances:
Singing songs---2 songs originally composed/written by Lochoy from the Baan Unrak Home
Indian Dance---5 dances
Yoga Performance---3 performances
Karen Dancing---1 dance
Thai Dancing--- 1 dance
None of this would be possible without the generous support of sponsors and friends of the Baan Unrak Home. Thank you and hope this trip will be the beginning of many more for these wonderful kids!
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