16 July 2013
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Just Back from Mae Sot
Last Sunday, I traveled to Mae Sot in Tak province with a Singaporean couple. Mae Sot is the main land gateway on the Thai-Myanmar border and is home to an estimated 100,000 refugees and migrants from Myanmar including 30,000 children. We traveled to visit an orphanage, day care, and boarding school that cater to children of these refugees and migrants. Another Singaporean friend has raised funds for these institutions and the couple has sponsored one of the children.
This trip left me swimming in an ocean of thoughts and feelings. I have been looking to volunteer here in Thailand again, helping those who are in need. I think this trio of organizations is worth supporting and I want to think about how best to do that. Over the next few days, I will share some more pictures and more stories as a way to process my thoughts.
The picture above seems to capture the entire experience, though. The boy, just over a year old, was sitting in front of a wall at the orphanage that is decorated with painted pictures and a few bible verses. He is sitting in front of the words “God Bless” but it wasn’t until after I took the picture that I noticed that he was blocking the “B”.
“God Less” seems almost fitting, given how forsaken these children are. Lacking legal standing in Thailand, most also lack documentation from Myanmar, making them stateless. In a place where the poor are already largely uncared for, the children of these refugees and migrants are ineligible for the already-scarce government resources. They rely instead on the ingenuity, efforts, and resources of volunteers, caregivers, and non-government organizations.
Comments (12)
Sometimes fate takes care of our photos! Beautiful child – love those sad eyes.
The plight is difficult indeed. Best wishes in your new endeavors. Take care to not get so wrapped up when every child or situation cannot be saved. But I know that doing your part will help & bring more awareness. Sometimes, all it takes is a smile and encouraging word. This one hits close to home for me. If I hadn’t been adopted by Americans, it could’ve very well have been me sitting against that desolate wall.
omg – the baby is so adorable. It’s admirable that you’re thinking of making a commitment to volunteer. I’m looking forward to your updates.
the children of the world need more people like you….may your thought process be right on.
Such a beautiful child…..Those sad eyes….May God’s Blessings be with those children…..
I would like to go there one day and see what I can do for them. A friend of mine goes there from Seattle and stays for a couple of weeks at a time and teaches there. I think she always gets involved with the clinic run by a Burmese doctor. Looking forward to hearing more about your trip. God less is a fitting description. Heart breaking but fitting.
This is a heart wrenching situation. I’m sure that you will be able to make a difference – even if it is one child at a time.
I know how torn you had to have felt Chris. I went to India and worked in an orphanage one winter, and even though the children were treated extremely well and were fed three meals and snacks daily, the feeling of loneliness in their eyes was daunting. I know whatever you do for them, they will be the richer and so will you.
It is not easy to decide the priorities.When the sad eyes hit you it is like an arrow to the heart…Whatever you decide, it is what it is.
Truly heartrending and emotionally exhausting to be confronted with this kind of abandonment.
Truly heartrending and emotionally exhausting to be confronted with this kind of abandonment.
i can’t imagine walking in their shoes. for whatever reason they became orphans, they deserve as much life happiness as the rest of us. kids around the world have no clue how lucky they are. hope these kids at this orphanage will grow up to be positive role models and make a positive difference to the society. if only government around the world would spend their money more on the well being of the children of their own country instead of their political needs.