Support - The Stratton ABC Foundation Childrens Home Chiang Mai

February 2012
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Another Special Sunday

Jan 292012

Yet more thanks to Pui for helping to put us in touch with our new friend and supporter Jurgen,

Today we had a very welcome visit from Pui, her family and Jurgen and his friend Ohs. Jurgen has expressed an interest in helping our Foundation, liking our core philosophies and our work so far.

Our visitors came with yet another great lunch for the kids, with green curry, chicken, noodles and much more. Jurgen and Ohs also presented us with a huge supply of toothpaste and toothbrushes for the children, donated by a dentist friend of theirs in Switzerland. Sorry I failed to get your name, but we all say a big thanks for that.

After a fantastic lunch Jurgen offered a return visit to Childrens World at the Night Safari. And so there followed a wonderful afternoon for the kids and a relaxing time for the adults with chance to discuss several ideas in connection with onward funding and development.

This includes a kind offer to help design and produce drawings for our ” permanent facility”.

We would like to thank Jurgen, Ohs, Pui and all her family for their generous support and I look forward to ongoing discussions in the near future.

Surprise Re-union as Yet More New Friends Arrive

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Jan 292012

On Thursday I received a phone call from acquaintances of our friend Pui, saying that they would like to come and donate food for the children this weekend.

We made the arrangement for Saturday lunchtime with me happy that yet more people are stepping forward to help but with no clue as to who these new people were.

At 11.30am Saturday morning I got a very nice surprise as we were treated to a visit from Bpaa Ohm and her generous group of friends.

Prior to starting the Foundation, I had run a business in the centre of Chiang Mai for 2 years and for the majority of that time Bpaa Ohm was my next door neighbour, with her own business. We got on famously then and I have often wondered how she was and remember those times fondly.

She was equally surprised, having no idea that I was running this Foundation. Our old landlords secretary, who worked above Bpaa Ohms shop was also in the group.

So it was a particularly happy welcome to this lovely group of Thai citizens, plus one “Farang” , Ian, who came and donated not only a fantastic lunch of Hang Lay and other traditional Thai food, but also bedsheets, kanom, kitchen supplies, such as cooking oil and sauces , and a generous cash donation of 4000 baht.

We would like to thank them all very much and hope it won’t be too long before we see them again.

A Mary Xmas and A Brucey New Year

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Dec 192011

Sorry about the lousy title, a little bit of Xmas madness creeping in…its been a long year..:)

This years festive season comes with many positive notes for the Foundation as friends, old and new, step forward with their support.

This post is to say a big thanks to our old friends Mary and Bruce who, having visited our Foundations home last year, recently donated a significant amount of money with a view to sponsoring each and every child here to the tune of 10 pounds a month for the whole year, to include 1 new child who is expected to join us in May.

They have also indicated that they are prepared to consider help with funding extra educational needs for our hardest working students.

I am moved and delighted by this gesture and all here at Stratton House wish to say a huge “Thankyou” and wish the Grays a very enjoyable Festive season and a very very Happy New Year.

Villa and Sport Project all But Completed.

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Dec 062011

For the last few weeks, in a quiet little village, just outside Sarapee, Chiang Mai, a group of determined young people have been steadfastly working, not only for themselves but to earn your respect and compassion and support; to show you that they are a group that truly deserve it.

Given a near free hand with 3 objectives; new vegetable plots, new sports facility and a shaded play/relaxation area; and a budget of just 5000 baht (approx 100 pounds sterling), our four man Mattayom Student team, with occasional help from the younger children have proved themselves very capable.

We now have our new vegetable plots with new crops already well on their way.

We have a Batong (Boules) Pit.

And yesterday the team completed their “Villa”.

All but completed? Just a general tidy up is all that’s left.

The sign translates to “Place to sit and play”

As I write, I make no bones about the moisture welling up in my eyes, as I think with pride of how well these children have done.

From the outset of The Foundations beginnings it has been my intention to nurture these children in a way that they discover as many of their own latent capabilities as they can. This way they will be best equipped to take full advantage of opportunities that come their way and have a truly better chance in life.

We may be small and some people may not see the bigger picture. But here at The Stratton ABC Foundation we do our best to instill the best of values, understanding of the benefits of sharing.

Our hope is that as they reach an age, these children will strongly consider returning to their home communities to share the opportunities, knowledge, and compassion that they have been lucky enough to have received.

I sit beneath a spreading chestnut tree , whose branches of hope grow daily before my eyes.

Please, if you see the way that concentrating on a small number, facilitating the best of care and development, may then help to make much greater change for the better future of the rural communities that these children come from, then look deep into your hearts and help us continue and develop.

I have, and will continue to, put all my heart into maintaining this Foundations goal, but if those branches are to continue to grow, and not wither, these children need your support.

Back Home Plus Two

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Apr 262011

After three weeks family time for the children and R&R for me, we arrived back at Stratton House on Sunday early evening.

The number of children being cared for here at Stratton House has now risen to 11 with the arrivals of; B0ng, 13 year old brother of Gu our eldest child; and Zak, 7 year old brother of our second eldest child Tai.

Bong had been due to come last year, being the one his parents first asked for a place for. At that time Gu was 14 and at the limit age for new entry here. As we were also at our limit for new intake last year, it was decided that Gu would come first and I promised to keep a place for Bong this year.

Although the health of their Mother has apparently improved, problems with Zak, dissapearing from home to play miles away, had already set in and caused similar concerns to those that brought his elder brother Tai here. The poor living conditions and lack of adequate supervision for Zak led to the decision that he would be far better here, under the guidance of Tai who has done so well during his time with us.

My time in the Mounatain village where Gu and Bong hail from was just what I needed and gave me even greater insight into the lives of the sort of communities we aim to help. Although the inspiration behind The Stratton ABC Foundation has always been strong in my heart, the past three weeks has strengthened and boosted that inspiration.

There will be posts appearing soon on preperations for our first “Outreach” Project. We are still very much a fledgling organisation and we still have much to do to consolidate our present operations; but with your support and all the effort I can put in to gain the necessary sponsorship, then we very much want to reach out, and work towards giving the sort of help that may mean that there is less reason for children to leave their family homes to get the better chance we want them to have.

Having made a strong bond with the community in which I lived for 3 weeks, my hope is that we can create a program of support that will, with time , show clear and tangible results that help give that better chance to, not just one or two children but all of the children in that community.

There will be no point in starting such a project without the necessary support, giving hope that can not be sustained is not what we are here for.

I would like to say to all of you that believe in my commitment; who share my hopes; who have seen what we have done so far; who have come and helped and want our work to continue; who have found this website and like what you have seen; your thoughts and words of encouragement are much appreciated, your support and assistance with raising the funds we need to continue our work and increase the help that we give in the future is what we need.

Spread the word; hold a jumble sale; a concert; a raffle; speak to your boss about the PR benefits of sponsorship; sponsor one of our children; if you see one of our collection boxes please give; every little bit helps. As a small organisation it is hard to find big sponsors. We rely on the idea that many small sponsors, doing their best, accumulates.

Big Thanks to The Grays

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Jan 012011

Everyone here at Stratton House would like to say a big thankyou to the Gray Family and hope their onward travels go well and that they all enjoy a very happy New Year.
During their week long stay at Stratton House they helped out so much, not just with donations for the lawn, garden tools, a weeks worth of food shopping and more; but also lots of great ideas to help with our garden projects; spending time with the kids helping out with, homework etc. Bruce and Jemsai spent alot of time with Jack which was a great help, he does so much better with the 1-1 attention.
Special thanks to Mary for all her garden hints, some of which we have put into operation straight away.
It was a moving farewell at Chiang Mai Airport as Mary caught her flight to Phuket and Bruce and Jemsai went off on their onward travels to.
Thankyou you once again for all your support and we look forward to staying in touch.

Kitchen/Dining Area Ready

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Oct 222009

moth4 kitchen2000 As promised we managed to complete the paint job on the kitchen this morning. This has meant that completion of Heathers fence has been delayed but as we will have children here on November first we had to prioritise. Back to the fence next week;).
All that needs to be done now is the final lay out of tables, etc, and our coulourful dining room is ready.
Seemingly showing his approval , we had a visitor just after finishing. Biggest butterfly, (or is it a moth?), I’ve ever seen.
So please, if you are reading this, now is when we really need your support as we begin the job of giving disadvantaged children in Chiang Mai a better chance in life.