Fountain of Life
Year 2 embraced the Reverse Christmas Giving when they delivered 116 presents collected in Primary for the children at Fountain of Life.
They got into the Christmas spirit as they spent the morning down at the Children's Centre leading Christmas activities for their community partner to enjoy! They demonstrated wonderful responsibility in their planning and delivery of fun activities and made many new friends during this special day!
The fountain of life center was opened in August 1988 as a Drop in Center for the women and girls involved in the sex industry in Pattaya. A children's Center was opened in April 1993. This was necessary as many children are in danger of being drawn into the same industry as the women.
The activities at the Women's Center consist of language classes, skills training, cultural awareness, lectures on subject such as health and the law and counseling. The language classes are in Thai, English, and German. Skills training is given in computer skills, dressmaking, hairdressing and typing.
The main aim of our project is to improve the women's education and give them skills that will enable them to improve their lives in the future. They do this in an atmosphere of friendship, trust and mutual respect, which is in sharp contrast to the harsh realities of their lives. We also do a lot of counseling and hope this will have a lasting influence on their future. One of the main b-products of this project is to see the women's self-esteem improve as time goes on.
The Good Shepherd Sisters are involved in the running of the project, the administration and the direction it takes. Thai staffs are employed to teach dressmaking, hairdressing, computer skills and Thai language. Foreign languages are taught by volunteers from abroad.