June 29, 1999
We Care Ready to strike back Negative attitudes surrounding disabled youngsters mean they are often robbed of a normal life-when normal means being part of a loving family, reaching their potential and being active members of a community. But some people are trying to change all that Ukrit Kungsawanich Nong Tum learns about bowling during an activity afternoon at Ban Sai Reung. After a year abroad, Nong Kay (not her real name) flew thousands of miles on her first trip home. She had a point to prove-that her physical disability does not mean she can't learn just as much as everyone else-so long as she gets a chance. Miss Kay has cerebral palsy, a form of brain damage which has left her physically disabled. She is confined to a wheelchair and the movement in her right arm is restricted. She was abandoned at birth and sent to one of the Pak Kret National Government Homes for Handicapped Children. And that institutional life was her world for 12 years. Then a year ago Sonja and Andy Carpenter gave Miss Kay a new life she could never have imagined. Today she lives in Ireland. And after only nine months of home school, Miss Kay has joined mainstream education. She has new friends, struggles with challenging maths problems and is learning a foreign language. Her adoptive dad, Andy said: "We once worked as volunteers at Ban Fuang Fah (one of Pak Kret's homes) and a special relationship developed between us and Kay. She is a jolly girl who enjoys life and we love her for that." After two long years of paper work in Ireland and Thailand, both governments finally approved Miss Kay's adoption. Today she communicates with her adoptive mum by sign language and she enjoys being a big sister to baby Anna. Miss Kay is considered to be a fortunate young lady and her adoption was made possible with help from the Christian Care For Children with Disabilities (CCD). However, hundreds of other youngsters, just like Miss Kay, remain at Ban Fuang Fah. The CCD is an autonomous Thai organisation founded by Christian Outreach, a group started by four members of a church in England who were shocked by inhumane acts during the Vietnam War. Over the years they have fought on behalf of disadvantaged people in developing countries who might otherwise have a tough time fighting for themselves. One of the CCD project's is Hope for the Hopeless which, over the last 13 years has brought relief to many handicapped orphans at Pak Kret National Government Homes. Their first project was to set up day-care units for disabled youngsters aged between four weeks and eight years, who with the right help have the ability to learn and the potential to be self-supporting. Today the day care centre looks after 23 children, 18 are from Ban Fuang Fah and the rest are day students. Each day begins at 8 a.m. with the national anthem. Then the older children learn to read and play games. And after lunch they join the younger children for physiotherapy. The small centre does its bit-but it simply cannot meet all the needs as there are more than 450 children at Ban Fuang Fah. The CCD wants to expand and its director Wasan Saenwian, said: I feel really bad we can only take about 20 children at one time, there are many other youngsters who could benefit from the centre. I would love to give them that opportunity." Despite the economic pressures, the CCD launched Rainbow House, or Ban Sai Reung, a second rehabilitation centre where disabled children can get an education geared specifically to their particular needs. Mr Wasan said: "We need to care for these children on an individual basis because their learning abilities are quite different from one another. "It takes many qualified people, but that is not the problem. What we really need is financial support and a rich landlord who is willing to donate a piece of land." Nong Kay, who has cerebral palsy, with her new mum and dad Sonja and Andy, and her baby sister Anna. The CCD also has a third project at Kam Pang Saen, Nakhon Pathom where a mobile rehabilitation project educates the parents of disabled children on issues of primary care and home schooling. Sunan Ittivatana, the CCD's information officer, said: "We need to get to the root of the problem. From many years experience, we realise we cannot do it alone and rehabilitation must begin at home." The CCD also plays an important role in helping children find a loving home. While all the children have been abandoned, it is not always out of a lack of love and the CCD tries to locate their parents. One success story is the tale of Nong Chai (not his real name). Chai was abandoned at a rural hospital by his mother who had been deserted by her husband while pregnant with triplets. Of the three babies, one died shortly after birth, a baby girl was adopted and Chai being severely handicapped needed special care. His mother could not afford to pay the bills and so quietly slipped away from the hospital leaving him there. On August 18, 1994, after eight years of separation, Chai was reunited with his mum and sister amid tears and joy. His mother is now able to support her children. Chai has gone back to live with her and now attends a regular school. Finding adoptive parents for youngsters is another task of the CCD. So far 12 children have started new lives with families-six children now live in Europe, two in Australia, three in North America, and one in Thailand. Mr Wasan said: "We wish Thai people were more open and willing to embrace these children into their homes. But I knew the negative social and traditional values surrounding adoption are quite insurmountable." The main aim for the CCD projects is to give children with disabilities an opportunity to have a normal life through education and lessons in self-reliance. The long term aim is to let these children reach their potential and hopefully go into mainstream education. Miss Sunan said: "We are currently facing financial problems. The British arm of Christian Outreach has other commitments in other places and our budget has been cut in half. "We get funding from the Department of Public Welfare, but it's simply not enough, certainly not for our dream project." The dream project is a fully integrated facility with a primary care centre, visitors and officers apartments, a rehabilitation centre, guest house, and dormitory. This land the CCD want for the project is located in Pathum Thani and costs three million baht. "If our dream is finally realised, we could take as many as 30 children. This facility would be the first step for children with disabilities on their path to joining a mainstream school," said Mr Wasan. So why don't the CCD ask the government for land? Mr Wasan said: "The government will give us a piece of land within the Welfare Homes area, but we don't want that. "We want the children to live in a normal environment and to have as much contact with the community as possible. "That was the reason why Ban Sai Reung was built outside of the Pak Kret Homes." The Thai government declared 1999 as Phi Karn Suksaa Phuer Dek Pikarn, the Year for the Education of Children with Disabilities. The aim is to integrate as many disabled children who would benefit, into mainstream education. But how many people know about this? How many schools have supported and welcomed this drive? And how serious is the government about such a policy? After a long day at the day-care centre youngsters go for a fun ride in the sun. Such a policy takes more than good words, it also takes cash and committment. One day care worker at the Ban Sai Reung said: "We don't know why the government doesn't see that helping these children learn to live with others should be one of its priorities. These children have the ability to develop just like children who aren't disabled. We can only push them so far, the rest is up to the government and to individual members of society." Info for donations: -Name of Project: The Christian Care Foundation for Children with Disabilities. -Contact person: Wasan Saenwian, director. -Address: PO Box 47, Pak Kret, Nonthaburi 11120, Thailand. -Telephone: 584-6966, 960-9107 -Fax: 584-6966 -Bank details: Bangkok Bank (Pak Kret branch), account number 2070535790 (savings account). Siam Commercial Bank (Pak Kret branch), account number 305-2 57813-8 (fixed account). -Email address: ccdbkk@ksc.th.com. Alternatively, send your cheque payable to Post Publishing Public Company Limited (for the CCD) to Mrs Kusuma Mintakhin, Editorial Manager, 136 Na Ranong Road, off Sunthorn Kosa, Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110. Her telephone number is 240-3700 ext 3224-5. Please include your name and address with your cheque so we can send you a receipt. -We Care is a weekly series honouring people who believe in giving. Apart from supporting these causes, you can also let us know about people who unselfishly help others so we can honour their efforts. Fax We Care on 240-3668 or call 240-3700 ext 3208 or 3212. Or email sanitsuda@bangkokpost.net. For a comprehensive list of charities covered by Outlook's We Care weekly series, see the Bangkok Post Web site at http://www.bangkokpost.net/outlookwecare/.		Current Issues in Thailand Bangkok Post Year-end Economic Review NEW! 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