Our present running costs are around 40-50,000 baht. So ideally we are aiming to find 15 to 20 teams out there.
Have you volunteered here recently, or heard of our work from friends, or possibly come across this site while surfing the net and like what you see?
If you would like to join us in developing this Foundation and helping to help many more children here in Thailand please consider setting up your own fund raising team.
We can supply you with promotional material and info on our Foundations work, Aims and Objectives.
We are currently in negotiations to purchase land on which we hope to build a purpose built , permanent facility that will increase the number of placements we can offer.
To make this a reality we desperately need your help. Each team will have their fundraising work reported here on this website.
If you would like to help please get in touch using the contact link at the bottom of the page.

Its been a while since I have had the chance to teach the kids and its been great seeing the improvement in their English language skills since they first came here.

Gus skills have improved immensely although he still needs to work on his confidence as he gets very nervous when called to speak.

May 2 has leaped forward in her ability getting very close to being on a par with our top student, Tai.

Nu is also not so far behind and has plenty of confidence, not afraid of making a mistake; best for good learning.

The younger ones still have a way to go but all have improved by leaps and bounds with their pronunciation and recall of short phrases.

The two new boys, Bong and Zak are also doing well.

Bong speaks very clearly with very good accent and Zak has excellent mimicry skills and recall and, I think, will be very fast to learn.

Three of our children, Jor, May(2) and Nu were part of the ‘show’ as the children of Mae Salab School started the main event singing traditional songs on the main stage.

Everyone dresses in traditional white clothing for this event. We did our best but with nine children our budget restricted us to buying the traditional costume only for the girls who were performing.

The girls went of to prepare at around 5pm and the rest of us followed on just after 6.

The road was cordoned off and there were many foodstalls by the riverside outside the Temple.

Inside the Temple and School grounds there was the large stage and Marquees and hundreds of chairs set out. We had been told that they were expecting around 4000 people to attend.

Overhead ominous skies lingered. Some of the blackest clouds creeping slowly across the sky towards us.

The School children started their performance at around 6.30 as the expected crowds began to fill up the seating area.

I was very proud of our girls doing their bit on the stage.

It must have been hard work for them having to remain sitting cross-legged for around an hour and a half.

The event carried on for most of the evening but we left shortly after the girls had finished on the stage.

Just as well because not long after we got home the rain hammered down with avengence. How they carried on at the Wat I don’t know.

The children here are still respecting the vegetarianism, supposedly a ten day stretch. I caved after 3 days. Although I am happy for the children to follow the tradition if they wish, I personally believe that there are far too many different events of this kind that seek to make Buddhism a religion rather than a philosophy. Its fine as an event that brings the community together, but as I am not a vegetarian I feel that my 3 days was enough.

Kaow Pan Saa celebrates the beginning of the new rice growing season.

It was a colourful affair with children and adults from the many schools all dressed up in their different traditional costumes. All meeting at the local Wat, the procession got under way at around 2.30.

There were many colourfully adorned pick up trucks and marching bands as well, adding to a great atmosphere.

Thankfully the rains, that had been on and off all day, held off during the procession.

All the children seemed to enjoy the affair very much.

My ex-pupils from Pasak school were in attendance and it was very nice to see them all again. I do miss you lot!

Sadly I could not stay for the whole celebration as, with House Mother on her day off, I needed to get home ready for our children to get back from school.

I sure it all went well and hope everyone enjoyed it.

For all the photos please visit our photobucket album here.

For all the video clips visit our youtube here.

Hopefully I will complete the catch-up over the next week , so please check in for features on the holiday period, including our first Volunteers;

 a 7 day home visit for the kids from Nan; two new arrivals;

and the return of regular updates on life at Stratton House.

Last week saw 5 of our 7 children go down with a 5 day virus. poor Jack even ended up in hospital for 3 days with a fever of 40 degrees.

I’m happy to report that everyone made a full recovery.

Last weekend I was not so well myself and Sundays day out was a quiet afternoon in Chompoo village which I shall add a report on later this week.

This weekend the children had asked to go to the waterfall at Doi Suthep but we explained that with the recent heavy rains this might not be very safe.

So in the end we decided on a trip back to San Kampaeng Hot Springs.

A good time was had by all. 

You may notice from the photos that Mae, Yong and Jack weren’t present.

Mae and sister Yong have finished the school year and have gone home to Mae Wang until the 18th of April.

Poor Jack, after his illness suffered the loss of his Grandmother and went home for 3 days.

The rest of the kids enjoyed the time swimming in the Hot Springs pool and playing in the play area later before heading home.