New home for underprivileged children in Phuket

By Satish G. | eTN Asia
Offering safe environment for homeless children, a new shelter for underprivileged kids opened in Patong, Phuket district as they commence a new life away from the streets. The Children's Happy Home project is a joint initiative funded by Holiday Inn Resort Phuket, AIG Private Bank and OVB Holding AG, Germany and operated by World Vision Foundation Thailand.

The shelter houses up to 30 street children between the ages of 11 – 16 in dormitory style accommodation as well as housing the staff on site.
 
The Home is accessible 24 hours a day to innocent victims of abuse, neglect, abandonment and homelessness, as well as runaways and those facing family crisis. Equipped with modern facilities and run by staff trained in the rehabilitation and counseling of street children, the home will offer a happy environment for children to play, learn and relax in safety.
 
"The Children's Happy Home project will be of great benefit to the street children in Phuket who deserve a better way of life and a real chance for future happiness. It's good to see the NGO and private sector working together and supporting the government's aim to achieve a better community for all," said Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura.
The Children's Happy Home project was initiated by The Holiday Inn Resort Phuket which donated 9.7 million Baht to sponsor the building of the home from charitable funds raised by the resort in the aftermath of the Tsunami tragedy in 2004. It also intends to remain closely involved in the future funding of the project.
 
An additional 500,000 Baht, provided by AIG Private Bank enabled the acquisition of a new building for the project's expansion.
A further sponsor, OVB Holding AG, Germany, will ensure the necessary funds to pay for the day-to-day running of the home.
 
Niklaus Siegrist, a member of the Management Board of AIG Private Bank, added: "The people in Phuket have undergone tremendous hardship in the recent past, and the ones that suffered the most are the children. It is therefore a pleasure for us to be involved in this project, in helping them to rebuild their lives."

July 31, 2006   Posted in: Thailand