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JESTERS ‘CARE FOR KIDS’ CHARITY DRIVE:
OUR LATEST PROJECT: BAN JING JAI.
by Lewis Underwood
Our newest beneficiary in 2006 is Ban Jing Jai (House of Sincere Heart), an orphanage for 54 children and young adults between the ages of 3 and 18 years located on a small cul-de-sac off Nern Plub Wan Road in Nong Prue. This organization is run by Khun Piangta along with her small staff, who provide assistance, shelter, counseling, care, and the opportunity for the children to get an education.
Ban Jing Jai consists of 3 small houses in various stages of disrepair and a small dirt lot used as a makeshift playground. Additionally the surrounding area is lower than the road and drainage is a continual problem.
Our goal and objective at this juncture is renovating the buildings, replacing the sewer system through the installation of two new septic tanks and plumbing, as well as the construction of additional bathing facilities and toilets. This project is yet another joint venture between the Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) and the Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive. The construction is being carried out by Europe Low Energy Houses.
Khun Piangta started Ban Jing Jai back in 1992 in cooperation with the Pattaya International Church in South Pattaya near Pattaya 3 Road. They were there for 3 years before moving to a house on the south side of Jomtien off Soi Chaiyapruk, where they resided for the next 5 years.
In 1998, they moved to their current location with just over 20 children. Today their numbers have burgeoned to 54 resident children, 30 girls, and 24 boys. All of them save for the youngest go to one of eight schools, which include Nern Plub Wan School, Wat Sudtanas School, Wat Nong Prue school in Maprachan, Pattaya #5 School on Sukhumvit in Central Pattaya, BEST school, Aksorn School near Rung Land, Aksorn Institute of Technology on Tepprasit Road, and Thai Ito College on Nern Plub Wan Road. (Note: some of these children have personal sponsors who provide scholarships for them.)
Though we refer to Ban Jing Jai as an orphanage in fact only 10 kids are actually orphans, mostly due to their parents dying of AIDS. The others are there because their parents have been jailed, usually for dealing drugs, or because their parents have separated, and, the children are no longer wanted. Still some are street kids that have been picked up and taken in, while others are dropped off by single parents, who no longer have the means to take care of them.
Building renovation and improving their physical living conditions is only the beginning of our work here. PILC and the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital (BHP) has arranged for the children to get dental and health checks. In fact, as of the day of this writing Dr. Tassenee, from BHP’s Dental Department was coming over to Ban Jing Jai with all the necessary equipment, including dental chair, to seal the molars on all younger children when they return from school in the afternoon.
In addition, Helle Rantsen, who wears hats for PILC, RLC and Jesters, will be taking Khun Piangta and some of her staff members for a training program in Chiang Mai to meet with Khun Joy, a child psychologist, at the School for Life there. This home for 150 children from broken families focuses on family values, learning by doing and acquiring self-esteem and confidence. We hope that Ban Jing Jai and the School for Life can network in the future in their plight of helping the deprived children of Thailand.
When building renovations are done and the children are receiving regular dental and health care, we will continue to work with Khun Piangta and Ban Jing Jai in helping them realize her vision of providing the children with shelter, education, and ultimately the goal of returning to their communities with developed skills and a brighter future.
If you are interested in becoming a Platinum Sponsor, or supporting Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ at the Gold, Silver, or Bronze sponsorship level,through this website to see the many many ways we have here in which you can help.
Click here for the latest news on the Baan Jing Jai Center
If you would like to help us help the kids this year, contact us today or take a look through this website for the latest corporate/individual sponsorship letters or send your donations, cheques, and/or bank drafts to:
Good Shepherd Foundation, c/o The Fountain of Life Center, 3/199 M.6 Soi Chalermprakiet 3, Pattaya 3rd Road, Naklua, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150, Thailand,
or transfer funds directly to their account at:
Bangkok Bank, Muang Pattaya Branch, Chonburi 20260,
Acct# 484-0-68306-6.
Swift code: BKKBTBK
and fax payment slip with your name to number above.
or click here to go to our online shopping mall The charity registration number for the Good Shepherd Foundation is:
Tor 460/2543. Official invoices and tax receipts will be provided for all contributions. |
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