Recent Comments
A big thankyou to my Mum for the recent arrival of a package of ladybird books for the children to practise reading English;
and also for the hand puppet soft toy for May 2 , to replace the one she had on her birthday which she left at home in Nan during Aprils home visit.
All the children here at Stratton House Childrens Home, were very happy and all say thankyou very much and they can’t wait to meet you when you come.
Seven and a bit months since we officially opened and nearly a year since started this project has seen much funding by the Directors. We have a few regular supporters and a couple of child sponsors, who add a little to the coffers.
Whilst still in the process of registration it is difficult to go out and find the bigger sponsors that we need to ensure that our work goes on here.
We would like to ask all that know and trust us and anyone who finds this site and likes what we are doing, to find it in their hearts to look at the ways they could help.
Please take some time to browse the online shop. We hope to extend the range of goods available, with all profit going into the Foundation Funds.
Please consider joining the ‘Because You Care Club’ and let us send special greetings to your loved ones on their Birthdays. Or perhaps you would like to become a sponsor for one of our children and get personalised updates on their progress, exchange letters , gifts etc.
You can donate online using the button on the right of the page.
Maybe, if you have the time and inclination, you could join our Australian friends, Faa Gamma, and organise a fund raising team and get your efforts featured on this site.
As the old saying goes, every little bit helps.
If you would like to fund something in particular please take a look at our wishlist.
Everyone here at Stratton House thanks you for your interest and any help you may be able to give.
We have long wanted to have a Thai language version of this website as local support is very much wanted and needed. At long last we have made some headway. By clicking on the Thai flag you will go to the Thai language site. This is still under construction and at the moment contains both Thai and English language.
With some difficulty in finding someone with the time to be able to run the Thai language site we have decided to make it a project for the children. Each week a different child will write about life here at Stratton House. Then one of the 4 eldest children will enter the stories into the site.
If this goes well we will also be featuring english language versions of their work on this site.
We hope to get started with this project this weekend.
Just in case you were wondering what the Stratton House kids were upto last weekend; on the Saturday we took them with us to San Kam Paeng. Whilst I was busy with the Huay Sai English Camp, Jack, Yong and May enjoyed the Hot Springs facilities with Wasana and Boon. Not surprisingly the most popular activity being playing in the gardens swimming pool.
For more photos please visit our photo album here.
Fridays mean traditional costume at May and Yongs school.
This was the first time they had worn them and May had a bit of a struggle getting hers on properly but we got there in the end.
You can see why some poorer families struggle with sending their children to school as there are quite a few added costs, which may seem little to you and me, but can mean the difference between getting an education and not, here in the rural communities.
Some schools have 3 or more different uniforms and not all the costs are covered by government.
Still I do like how an effort is made to maintain the traditional culture, and don’t the girls look beautiful in them.
It has been good to see that the T.V culture has not reached the point where some paper, crayons, paints or plastercine fails to grab the kids imaginations.
Certainly, with the children we have at the moment, art seems to be very popular. You will find a dedicated album at our photobucket account with examples of the childrens art work.
Very soon we also hope to produce postcards and seasonal greetings cards using the best of their efforts which will be on sale in our online shop. So pop back in a couple of weeks, when we hope to have set up the shop , and maybe you’d like to help us help the children by making a purchase. All profits will go into the Stratton ABC Foundation Fund and help secure ‘a better chance’ in life for the kids at Stratton House now and hopefully many more in the future.
To see more examples of our childrens art work please visit our photobucket album here.
So now Jack has some playmates.
On Monday, we were approached by a local lady , concerned for the welfare of two young sisters who had recently had their placement in their previous Home ended.
The lady was concerned that this would mean an end to their education, as there was no school in their local village.
Also, it transpired, the girls were in the care of their Grandfather who was struggling to care for 6 other children already. When we visited the family home, in Mae Wang, our immediate attention was taken by the obvious weight loss suffered by the girls. It was clear that the Grandfather was unable to ensure reasonable nutrition to so many children, on his means.
Once again we were happy to give placements to these two delightful children and help them resume their education as well as address their nutritional needs as well.
The family were wary at first, still confused by the ending of the previous placement which had come abruptly and with apparently no clear explaination. But after assurances and a visit to our facility they were keen to accept the placement offer.
After the usual upset of leaving what they know, both girls quickly settled in and have been very happy so far. School placement has been arranged at our local primary school.
We are monitoring their weight daily towards ensuring health improvements.
Both girls came with sore throats and runny noses and a doctors visit has diagnosed mild bronchitis for which they are now being treated with the medicines prescribed.
For more photos of recent times please visit our photobucket album here.
So, after lots of hard work we have at last been able to open Stratton House Childrens Home and our first placement has gone to Jack, a ten year old boy from a Lamphun rural village, who desperately needs some stability in his life.
You will be able to learn more about Jack in his profile which will be posted within the next week.
We will also be posting details of how you can help through our planned sponsorship programmes.
In the photo background you will notice the conversion on the Mazda from pick -up to song-taow style bus, complete with safety gate.
We have already received one enquiry about a placement for a seven year old girl who is also in need of a home. We will be making further contact with the people involved later today and arranging a visit to make an assessment as soon as possible.
We are expecting a visit from local Police officials very soon in order to finalise the neccessary contract to enable us to place collection boxes with which to begin to generate local income.
Also the ‘where your money goes ‘ page will be updated as soon as possible, once I have overcome some of my computer illiteracy, in a new spreadsheet format that will give a much clearer view of our budget incomings and outgoings.
For many more photos of the bus conversion and Jacks first couple of days at Stratton House please visit our photobucket album here.
