Child Protection Centre

Official Opening of the Child Protection and Development Centre (CPDC)

On Saturday, October 10, 2009, Khun Jaa (Supagon Noja) of the CPDC was extremely excited to welcome a huge number of guests along to the opening of this centre in Huai Yai.  PILC was represented by our president Gillian Thom, along with Rosanne Diamente, Judy Hoppe, Anja Schoof, Ingrid Cunliffe and myself.

Of course, we were not the most important guests, considering that the Ambassadors of both Germany and Switzerland were along for the occasion.  Also present were Mr. Francesco Caruso, Director of the Children at Risk Program of ADMCF; Mr. Ewald Dietrich, President of Human Help Network (HHN) Germany and Treasurer HHN Thailand; and Khun Toy (Mrs. Radchada Chomjinda), Director HHN Thailand.  The Child Protection Centre is run by the Human Help Network Thailand.  There were many, many other people there from all over Pattaya and Thailand.  Enough in fact, to fill two very large marquees.

The Child Protection and Development Centre is a project that PILC have been supporting since its inception in May 2008, when it was just a few boys in a muddy field trying to knock some timber shacks together on a small plot of land.  It has since moved to a new, permanent location and brought along all the timber structures that were designed to be movable and made the startling addition of three solid concrete houses.  These houses were funded by the Swiss (one house) and German Embassies (two houses) at a cost of 500,000 THB each.  The Swiss Embassy has also promised funding for another.  The project is now able to support 45 children.

The occasion of the opening went well with fine sunny weather and an abundant supply of food.  The German Ambassador , Dr. Hans Schumacher, spoke of the importance of the centre’s aims to help the Street Children.  Ms. Christine Schraner, the Swiss Ambassador, said that she has only been in Thailand for a few months and is very happy and excited to be involved in this project.  Khun Jaa let everyone know how pleased he was with the progress of the centre, and mentioned that he has plans to build a school on site in the future.  The audience was treated to displays of Thai dancing both traditional and groovy by the children of the CPDC and also from the Pattaya Orphanage.  The ribbons were cut and the new houses were inspected by all.

It was wonderful to see such a large gathering of people come together to support the Child Protection and Development Centre, and I’m sure it meant a lot to Khun Jaa, Khun Toy and the children of the centre.

Kathleen Petras, PILC Welfare

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Pattaya International Ladies Club recently purchased 28,000 THB worth of goods for the new homes Khun Jaa has built for the children residing at the new premises in Huay Yai district.  The goods included 35 mattresses, 35 pillows and 40 blankets for use in the new homes that will be available for the kids to move to in the next few weeks.

Jaa has so far built 3 of the projected 10 homes for the children currently living on the premises, and others in the future.  They are very impressive and a far cry from the temporary dwellings the kids have been living in until now!

They are each double story (all identical), with an enclosed kitchen and three toilet/shower rooms downstairs.  Upstairs there are 3 bedrooms which can accommodate 3 people each.  Khun Jaa envisions a live-in house mother or father for each home.

The Welfare committee was also pleased to be able to present the homes with a brand new microwave, which was won by Paul Jackson at the Jesters Care for Kid’s party night.  Paul was happy for it to be donated to a needy charity and it was received with thanks! 

Every month the PILC provides 8 bags of food on the food drop, and we are happy to provide continued support for this valuable centre and look forward to the progress it has made over the years, thanks to Jaa and the great support team he has.