It’s
called Sunshine Village and a better name could hardly be imagined.
On the edge of the tourist paradise of Phuket in Southern Thailand,
this six-villa complex will eventually be home to up to 144
children. Some of these children were orphaned or made vulnerable
by the tsunami and others will come from disadvantaged or abusive
homes.
The idea was first conceived by local resident David Van Zandt
and his colleagues in the local Lions club. The financial input
for bricks and mortar came from the French Red Cross. A respected
Thai NGO, Childwatch, manages the centre which opened its doors
in July.
“In addition to supporting immediate relief we decided
we wanted to do a long-term project for tsunami victims and
children in need,” says Van Zandt. “We had lots
of contacts for raising funds but we realised we didn’t
have experience in looking after children so we got in touch
with Childwatch. Fellow Lion’s Club member Frank Cotoure
had connections with another Lion in Marseilles who knew the
head of the French Red Cross delegation here at the time.”
The beauty of the French Red Cross investment in construction
is that all the money raised for child welfare by private individuals
can now be spent directly on children. Although it is only operating
at half of its capacity today, costs for education, food, clothes
and other expenses total approximately US $10,000.00 per month
(Euro € 7050/11,800.00 Swiss francs) although it is only
operating at half capacity for the moment.
“The Phuket Sunshine Village Foundation (PSV) is self-sufficient
in funds for three or four years,” says David, “but
we are doing our ten-year funding plan now, which includes child
sponsorship and other activities.”
The Village consists of six villas and several “families,”
groups of up to nine children looked after by a “mother.”
The children are all of different ages to replicate a real family,
and stay together. There is an open sala area in the centre
of the village for activities, several play areas and office
space.
In addition to the children orphaned by the tsunami, the other
children at the Sunshine Village are from abusive and dysfunctional
families, making the involvement of the Childwatch NGO vital.
All families are encouraged to maintain contact with their children
and take them on outings once a month. If the child has no family
then the PSV foundation takes them on monthly excursions. The
children are placed at the heart of everything the PSV foundation
does.
“We could be at full capacity now,” says Supalak
Kanchanamethaleul, President of Childwatch, “but it is
the middle of the school year so we prefer to leave children
in their local schools rather than disrupt their education”.
Within a few short months, the Sunshine Village in Phuket will
be home to 144 children – 144 young lives immeasurably
improved since the tsunami turned their world upside-down in
2004.
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Wanasiri
Taebanpakoon (left), director of Phuket Sunshine Village
with French Red Cross project assistant Mochana Pelaud
outside one of the PSV villas (p16668)
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One
of the children at Phuket Sunshine Village in reflective
mood. (p16669)
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Monks
pray at the opening of Phuket Sunshine Village. (p16670)
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Red Cross officials with children from Phuket Sunshine
village at the opening ceremony. (p16671)
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