It can be a lonely road, doing my best to make sure that this Foundation succeeds and goes on to help as many children as possible. So when people like Li Li Tan and her friend Jessica start getting involved I can but glow with hope that something really good is starting to happen.

Words cannot express my gratitude enough.

Today our friend, and webmaster, Ally arrived with Li Li and Jessica about an hour before lunch. Li Li came with a whole load of art materials for the children to use. Jessica, came armed with rocks and minerals to give a very interesting lesson.

Jessica needed time to set up, so it was art with Li Li and then lunch.

After lunch Jessica held a wonderful session, teaching the children about how minerals combine to form rocks. What may seem like an advanced subject for children so young was very successful with the methods Jessica employed.

Using coloured flash cards and samples of minerals and rocks, and her own very engaging character,  she soon had the kids hooked.

One of the highlights of the day, for me, was watching Jack.

Jack often has problems with learning and concentration.

Today I saw a boy absorbed with what he was shown and I have not seen so many genuine smiles on this boys face in a long time. Jessica, thank you so much.

And a big thankyou to Heather, (Bpaaa Bonnie), too.

Shortly before lunch the postman arrived with a big parcel containing a late birthday present for Jack and other toys and stuff that all the kids get to use.

Jack deserves more  days like this.

Even Tai, who can often be reluctant to get involved with events involving the “little kids”, got drawn in.

Indeed, all the children let it be known that they enjoyed the lesson very much.

When our visitors left, mid-afternoon, a bunch of happy children got back to more art work.

Any one else who may feel like donating materials, please contact us as it looks like we need a constant supply to satisfy the childrens enthusiasm.

See the gallery below and for more photos visit our photobucket album here.

Also check out the videos below the gallery.

In particular this week we saw one of the children begin to grow up in a big way. The child in question has clearly had a tendency to go into crying fits if reprimanded or not getting their own way. Having had a couple such incidents I decided it was time to take steps to curtail this behaviour, with rapid results. The last time it happened I instructed everyone, children and staff alike, to ignore the crying , which went on for quite some time and was quite distressing at times. Eventually I asked Boon to explain to them that they needed to calm down and apologise for the behaviour that had started the incident. This did the trick at the time and we explained that, as they were growing up, they needed to accept and understand when they had done something wrong without such a fuss.

A couple of days later there was an incident at the dinner table with the same child. When reprimanded they stopped the row they were making and sat properly when asked, without the previously expected tears. Later House Mother Wasana told me that the child had said that I had taught them not to cry when they got told off. Later that evening we had a ‘Gold Star’ ceremony with the award going to the child in question to acknowledge their important step in growing up…..the smile of pride that resulted could have lit up the City.