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What we're doing

Hello all!  We (Phil and Jen) are going to Thailand late December/early January and are going to live and work for a week at the Baan San Fan orphanage in the Phang Nga province.  We are thrilled about this opportunity to get to know these wonderful children!! 

Why we're raising money

We are paying for our trip and all expenses associated with it, but we are working to raise money for toilet construction that is badly needed .  This will allow the orphange to grow and better care for the children that are already there.  Because they are in a rural village, this is a very expensive project.

Each toilet construction costs 200,000 baht which comes to roughly $6,500 US.  Four are needed.  We would love to raise the funds for AT LEAST one!  We would be thrilled to be able to give even more though!  Maybe two...or three...or even all four!!  If we all band together and do what we can - we can make it happen!!!

Background on the orphanage......

• On December 26th, 2004 an earthquake off the west-coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra created a massive tsunami wave which caused huge devastation in several countries, including Thailand. The Phang Nga province was worst hit and many thousands of people were killed, leaving behind several hundred orphans. The owners of the orphanage (Sam and Gai) came to the area to help and ended up running a tent and looking after a group of children. A Swiss gentleman by the name of Dr Donat Schibler was inspired by the couple and offered to buy them land in the local village of Bang Wan. In October 2005 Baan San Fan opened its doors to 8 children.
• Now Baan San Fan has a capacity of 40 but a lack of financial support means that they are only able to care for 12 children at the present time.
• The owners of Baan San Fan are Christian and the children are encouraged to participate in Sunday worship, fellowship and other special events. They lead in singing, read from the Bible and pray for people.
• Baan San Fan receives very little outside funding and is working towards becoming self-sustainable by creating products that it can sell and a farm where it can grow its own (organic) produce.  They are not yet self sustaining though and still need our help.
• The tsunami has long since passed but Thailand is very poor and hundreds of children in Phang Nga still desperately need care and protection from the drug and prostitution trades that blight the poverty-stricken people of the region. (I attached a video that highlights the plight of vulnerable children in these areas)

What's different about Baan San Fan?

The main role of any orphanage is to make sure that the children are protected and looked after, but often these children can end up being exploited as adults because they do not have the necessary ability (or opportunity) to generate an income. Baan San Fan works hard to provide its kids with the skills they need to go out into the community as adults. During the day the children go to school and if they demonstrate academic skills they will be given the opportunity to further their education and attend university. For those that are less scholarly, the orphanage works hard to provide them with alternative skills which will help them to find work. No child will be asked to leave until they have secured a job.

Want to know more?

Visit Baan San Fan's website.  http://www.baansanfan.org/

(Please come back and donate on this page though so funds will go to toilet construction project and we can track what we have raised.)

In conclusion...

We believe in the work that Sam and Gai are doing at Baan San Fan.  Will you join them in their work and help impact these children's lives?

Thank you and God Bless,

Phil & Jen

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