Baan Doi
Home and Healing Center for Children is a non-governmental organization in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai, the northernmost city of Thailand near the Golden Triangle on the border with Myanmar. BAAN DOI's main target is to support orphans and disadvantaged children in Chiang Rai province so that they have the prospect of a healthy development and a good education and the opportunity for self-determination and financial independence. In order to reach this, BAAN DOI is working on various programs.
In 2007 Barbara Meisl from Austria, and Graziella Ramponi Najai from Switzerland came to Thailand for the first time. While they were volunteering in Mae Sai they met a 6-year-old orphaned boy, who had no family left, and was without social institutions or homes to care for him. This is how the idea of BAAN DOI was born, and was realized in 2009 when Barbara and Graziella, together with their Thai friend Saowaluk Junwong, bought a piece of land and built the first houses with their private capital and the support of family and friends. BAAN DOI was recognized as a foundation by the Thai government in 2011 and has been registered as a foster home in 2016.
1. THE ORPHANGE
The Orphanage provides a safe home and a loving family with full-time care for orphans. The individual needs of the children are addressed, and special attention is paid to health and education. In addition to medical care - in cooperation with the local hospitals – BAAN DOI ensures the healthy physical and mental development of the children.
2. OUTREACH FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM
The BAAN DOI Outreach Family Support Program enables orphans and half-orphans who come from very poor backgrounds to stay with their relatives while being well-cared for and receiving education and medical care. The program supports the families with
– Financial support for education
– Medical and nutrition expenses
– Activities and trainings under the program
– Guidance and consultation
3. LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
The Life Skills Development Program provides and strengthens life skills. The long-term objective of BAAN DOI is the integration of the adolescents into Thai society. A healthy development and adequate education, and therefore the chance of self-determination, financial independence and establishing an own family, is essential to improve the quality of life of underprivileged children and adolescents.
The Life Skills Development Program starts with the heart room at the grass roots level by strengthening the individual using play and art therapy. The resource room offers - equipped with stimulating and promoting material - the framework to learn basic academic skills.
Moreover, education and prevention work is pursued in the prevention project to reduce stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV, as well as preventing unwanted teenage pregnancies and new HIV infections.
Developing at the moment is a training center, where underprivileged youth are taught agricultural, manual and business skills.