International volunteers at Thai orphanage

The orphanage is home for over 100 boys. They are between 6 and 18 years old and live in four groups. Each group has a house with one huge bedroom upstairs, a kitchen and a simple eating area, bathroom and small lockers for their personal belongings.

Some of these boys were found in the garbage, dumped because nobody wanted to take care. Others come from families that are too poor to have them living at their place. A lot of their parents died of Aids, leaving children behind that are not only stigmatised but the long illness also ate up all family savings.

Downstairs is a kitchen, where the orphans prepare their own meals in the morning and evening, and on the weekends lunch also. During the week they eat lunch at their school. In the afternoon, at 4 p.m., when they return from school, they have to do their own laundry, clean the house, prepare dinner and have some time to themselves, , until 8 p.m., which is when they go to bed.

The orphanage is 14km outside of Nongkhai and the boys leave the area only to go to school. With no distractions like the cinema or going for an ice cream with friends, they spend their spare time playing sports or watching TV.

When we go there on the weekend, we often bring dinner, saving the children not only the work and time and giving all of us more time together, but also ensures that they get a nutritious meal

All these children hunger for attention and someone who cares. Cathy and Rowan went there to spend time with them, playing and teaching them a few new games. The orphans, like most Thai children love their pictures taken. But please do not just take pictures, prints are cheap and you should send some to them.

Gary went there with some kilos of plaster cine showing them how to create models.

Volunteer work at the orphanage

We try to visit the orphanage as often as possible, spending time with the boys playing. They are happy with some extra attention and a hug from time to time. Show them that someone cares, by giving your time. Bring some ideas for games to play or just join them for a soccer match.

Staying at the orphanage is not possible at the moment as they do not have extra room. And also during the day all boys leave for school. You may know some of them already if you volunteer in Nong Song Hong, the school most of them attend.

Read about our holiday activities at the orphanage or see some more photos from the orphanage.