Volunteers - The Stratton ABC Foundation Childrens Home Chiang Mai

Faces Return.

Jul 172011

Recently the Foundation decided to stop posting recognisable photos of the children as part of its child protection policies. After much thought and consideration this decision has been reversed. We here at The Stratton ABC Foundation take the protection of our children very seriously and have several measures in place to assist in this area. The children are supervised at all times. Visitors and Volunteers contact with the children is also supervised and we ask that visitors and Volunteers refrain from taking photos of the children.
It is important to us that the website can show the children at work and at play in order that you can see exactly what goes on here and that the children are happy and healthy on a daily basis.
From today, excluding times when I may may be over run with things or ill, there will be daily posts and updates.

Thankyou Erma

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Jul 132011

Erma , from Michigan , USA, was a recent visitor to The Stratton ABC Foundation with her daughter Ayanna.

A wonderful Mother and Daughter team who gave valuable time to the children here and are sorely missed.

Earlier this month we received a generous donation of just over 2000 baht via our Donate button from Erma and would like to take this opportunity to say thank you very much.

Also more thanks in order for Ayanna’s kind words about our organisation to the people at Tilted Nations.

Thanks to Ayanna and also thanks to Tilted Nations for a lovely write up.

For anyone who has read this article I would just like to point out that any volunteer wishing to help out for more than fifteen days will require a Non-immigrant O visa and volunteer work permit. We can assist with invitation letters and have the relevant work permit request form available. Also, as we are a Foundation working with disadvantaged children all volunteers are required to provide a Criminal History check.

More Murals , This Time With Erma and Ayanna

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May 112011

Our present volunteers continued to give valuable assistance yesterday.

In the morning they helped the children with yet more mural painting outside.

Erma encouraged Jack who chose to work on his own wall while Ayanna helped the rest of the children work on one of the wall panels close to our original vegetable garden.

In the afternoon, in-between playing various games they also held an English lesson using flash cards and a rhyming word game.

Today they have been into Chiang Mai to take part in a Thai cooking course but will be back for more fun with the kids tomorrow.

Painting, Mural Design, Pom Poms and So Much More

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Mar 312011

Its hard to keep up with everything going on here at the moment. Another fun packed day for the children and another wet eye day for me.

The children having worked so hard lately led to a welcome break from work duty today.

Early on Jack requested to do more wall painting.

Our Volunteer, Roshni, had arrived shortly after breakfast and was already tapestry sewing with the girls.

It wasn’t long before everyone joined in with Jack, perhaps inspired by his the surprising quality of his work, a vast improvement on his previous attempts. The tears were welling up as I watched his swift concentrated brush strokes, producing very effective and beautiful flowers.

Take a look at his last mural attempt and then watch him at work today…..I challenge anyone not to be moved by the change.

A little later in the morning the Art Relief International Volunteers turned up. Firstly to get the children to draw out ideas for a mural around the playground, with a ” Fantasy Jungle” theme.

They followed that by showing the children how to make woollen Pom Poms, an activity many of them have carried on all day.

As the evening draws to a close and bedtime approaches some are still making Pom Poms or tapestry sewing, they have been dancing and singing and Tai has been working on our display boards for our table at Panyaden School Summer Fair on Saturday. If you see us there please consider donating or maybe buying a Pom Pom or two or maybe one of the tapestry Money Boxes the kids have made.

Another great inspirational day full of hope and joy.

For all the photos from today please visit our photobucket album here.

And check out the video clips further down the page.

Getting Ready For The Next Stage.

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Mar 262011

Firstly I would like to apologise to any of the Art Relief International Volunteers who may have been upset by yesterdays post suggesting that the playground was not quite finished. We are all very grateful for all the very hard work put in by everyone and the children have already had lots of fun using the playground over the last couple of days. We would also like to thank all those that contributed to the Art Relief Appeals for funds to make it happen. Your donations have made the children here very happy.

Thanks to a rapid response to our appeal for funds to complete the fence this should be completed today and we look forward to seeing you all sometime in the week for the official “Opening Party”.

Yesterday all of the children got busy with paint brushes to brighten up the walls around the playground and look forward to working with Art Relief on more Mural work in the near future to make the play area even nicer.

Thanks again all…great job:)

Aaron Volunteers

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Mar 192011

Our latest volunteer, Aaaron, hailing from Massachusetts in the USA came to us on Thursday and has rapidly settled into the Volunteer house.
He is planning to help out for around a week and has so far enjoyed playing badminton and football with the kids as well as a spot of Tak Kaw practise.
On Friday he pitched in to help the Art relief International volunteers with the playground work.
He also came along to the end of school celebrations at Mae Salaab school.
Today he joined in with the music class too.

Latest Playground Work

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Mar 092011

Another hard day for the Art Relief International Volunteers with no let up in the high temperatures.
The Monkey bar frame is up;the “Castle” mortared and the tunnel hill has grown some more.
It’ll be interesting tomorrow with school now closed for the “summer holiday” and all the kids at home.

Shades of Narnia

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Mar 082011

I had a busy day yesterday so no photos of the volunteers working this time, just some of the days results. The “Castle is taking real shape and somehow gives me a “Narnia” feeling.

Well done guys and see you tomorrow.

With it being test week at school we had Gu at home all day and Tai home in the afternoon.

In between studying Gu tried his hand at copy drawing from a “stained glass” colouring book that my Mum donated during her recent visit and Tai spent all afternoon a a school project.

Playground Work Underway

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Feb 282011

Exciting stuff going on today with the guys from Art Relief International arriving this morning to start work on the playground.

Arriving shortly after 9.30 it wasn’t long before the many volunteers were getting stuck in.

First operations have been digging out for laying foundations for a block built “Castle” in the far corner and the construction of a tunnel.

With cold season well and truely over its hard hot work and I can only say many thanks to all who are pitching in.

Dance Class Continued

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Feb 272011

On Friday Art Relief International Volunteers returned for more Dance Class with the kids. This time the class was boosted in numbers by some schoolmates from Mae Salaab School.

As usual there was a lot of fun had by all. Its great seeing the kids get stuck into these activities and truely loving it.

Growing in confidence the children are starting to come up with their own routines that are a pleasure to watch.