Fountain of Life Children's Center, Pattaya, Thailand

https://www.goodshepherd-asiapacific.org.au/project/16

https://www.facebook.com/fountainoflifechildrenscenter/

The Good Shepherd Sisters, our staff, volunteers, and partners believe that through the approach of treating people with compassion, gentleness, acceptance, and respect the deep sense of worth, dignity, and hope for the future can be awakened. All Sisters and Lay Partners try to hold and foster women to the dignity which is theirs.

A Catholic Sister and a Buddhist Nun develop a Center, together

The Challenges 

Children and families from the poorest regions of Thailand as well as neighbouring countries of the Mekong Region, migrate to Pattaya in search of employment. 

Many of the parents make a living by collecting anything from garbage cans which can be sold for recycling. Some are daily labourers.  Many women work in the bars as prostitutes.  There may be violence in the family, often parents are separated and children are left unsupervised.  The environment of Pattaya city can have a severely detrimental effect upon children, since it has many entertainment places related to sex tourism, pornography and child trafficking.  Apart from having no social rights, children are deceived by exploiters and fall victim to trafficking, sexual abuse and child labour.

What did Michelle and Khun do?

Sister Michelle Lopez and Khun Lampa Watanasunthorn established the Fountain of Life Children’s Center, in 1998. Today it is a NGO working in Pattaya for disadvantaged children and their families. The aim of the project is to provide a healthy environment for children aged 3 to 14.  The children have never been to school, are at risk of drug and alcohol abuse and violence.  Children without adult supervision and in danger of being trafficked or caught into the sex industry.

The website 

Click - https://www.facebook.com/fountainoflifechildrenscenter/

 The Programme

• Focus on health, nutrition, hygiene and dental care. The children receive two meals a day and a snack before going home.

• Regular contact with the parents and guardians of the children.

• The teachers follow the syllabus that is used in the government schools

• The children are grouped according to the age and ability.

• Learning life’s skills is important – as most of the children live in environments with high risk.

• These skills include making handicrafts which are marketable and the children are paid for what they produce.

• The children are taught the meaning and the importance of religion and culture.

• Children are taught to save their money in the Credit Union.  Though the amount is small it is important to the children.

• There are regular meetings for Parents and Guardians of the children to help them be aware of Human Rights, the Rights of Children, Family laws and the Law of the country and the importance of education for their children. 

• Counselling services are provided for families needing help.

• Many of the children are undocumented.  Some were born in Thailand but were never registered, and many have been trafficked into Thailand from neighbouring countries.

How many people are assisted? 

The centre has an attendance of 100 to 120 daily, with about equal numbers of girls and boys.

The number of ex-students who are in different schools and work places – are visited by staff regularly, and there is a meeting of former students every year, approximately 250 to 300 students come with their parents.