Aid & Show Giving Project in May 2016 given by Gift of Happiness Foundation
Gift of Happiness Foundation is proud to be collaborating again with UNICEF and the Burmese Migrant Workers' Education Committee, working together to help thousands of poor kids in the Kingdom of Thailand.
Project dates including preparation and revamp; 22/05/16 to 28/05/16
Volunteers: Mr. Eddie Haworth, Founder/Director GoHF. - Mr. & Mrs. Martin/Ailsa Kneath.
Paid staff: Khun Prajak. (Driver)
Gift of Happiness Foundation is proud to be collaborating again with UNICEF and the Burmese Migrant Workers' Education Committee, working together to help thousands of poor kids in the Kingdom of Thailand.
Project dates including preparation and revamp; 22/05/16 to 28/05/16
Volunteers: Mr. Eddie Haworth, Founder/Director GoHF. - Mr. & Mrs. Martin/Ailsa Kneath.
Paid staff: Khun Prajak. (Driver)
A Buffoon, Baby and Great Little Helper!
Volunteers Project Report by Mrs Ailsa Kneath including references to Mr. Martin Kneath - 22 to 28 May 2016.
Gift of Happiness Foundation Aid and Show Giving Project Mae Sot
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Sunday 22nd May saw us spending a sweaty Sunday afternoon (I feel a song coming on) packing up the GoHF/Monroe truck, Eddie's Go-Happy Truck and our own Martin-mobile, with the muscle power of long term volunteers Ben Calburg and Antione Van Innis. All the Happy volunteers and Eddie made quick work of loading several tons of children's clothes, adults clothes, toys, toiletries, sweets and 288kg of Spaghetti. So all the hard labour was finished in just a few hours and we were ready to"Go-Happiness" first thing Monday morning!
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Our magical mystery tour began on Monday morning, a 3 car convoy was out of the starter blocks and away by 10 am, Mae Sot here we come! Fuel, coffee, lunch and comfort stops allowing, we were making very good time, until disaster struck.
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100 kilometres from our destination Eddie's car went into "safe mode". With a big black cloud chundering out of the exhaust. Now with Eddie's truck in a very "unsafe" condition. Our trusty driver, Within minutes, Khun Prajack drove ahead and quickly found a man who might be able to find and fix the problem. But, alas, this repair shop man was only able to clean-out some filters and top-up the engine oil but couldn't really find out what had caused this sudden shutdown of the go-Happy Truck?
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That was only the first of three garages we visited until we eventually found some great Mechanics who gathered around the engine with their analytic computer gadgets and soon announced, "yes" we can "fix it", but it would take 4 hours.Yikes! However, Khun Prajack quickly came to the rescue again when he volunteered to stay behind so he could bring the truck across the mountain later, then Eddie, driving the Go-Happy/Monroe Truck and us in the Martin-mobile could reach our destination by 9pm.
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Eddie's Truck almost died after only 260,000 Kilometres!
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Our great driver, Khun Prajack may not have offered so quickly if he had known he would not be joining us until 6.00am the next day, having waited until 4.30am, when the mechanics finished work, to then allow him to drive over the mountain in the pouring rain. The phrase ‘above and beyond’ spring to mind!!!!
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Whilst Khun Prajack caught up with some sleep, we made our way to the first delivery, Mae Sot Clinic. Here we delivered baby bedding and adult clothes before we were taken to the very exciting new clinic. Since 1989 it has existed on the site started by Dr. Cynthia Maung, however they are now the proud owners of a purpose built hospital, on land that they own. What a wonderful achievement and something of which we are all immensely proud to be part of.
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Next visit was to Social Action for Women, run by Dr Htin Zaw for HIV women and children, where we delivered 48 kgs of spaghetti, adults clothes, new children's clothes, toys and sweets. Eddie came here on Christmas Day 2015 and cooked for all the children and helpers and he also gave a show here late 2015.
So no show this time, but plenty of happiness and singing was shared with the children as they arrived back from school to receive all the goods that we are happy to have given them. |
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Last call that day was to AGAPE Orphanage where the same amount of spaghetti and goods were delivered. We had the wonderful experience of the children singing for us, accompanied by one of the elder boys on his guitar. A sea of happy smiling faces, and not just them, we were smiling from ear to ear to see them so well adjusted.
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Day 2 dawned with pouring rain, but "hey ho" Crocs on, and off we went to the Pyongyang Khin Learning Centre. After unloading 48 kg of spaghetti, new and used clothes for adults and children, toys and sweets for 90. The first clown show, preceded by a warm up sing song by Ailsa, who managed to blag her way into making the children believe that she could sing in tune.
The real showman Eckie the Clown delivered his professional one-man-show. The children were soon involved and had great fun in participating, with squeals of delight throughout. Unfortunately one of the very large balloons died when it hit a ceiling fan. Not to worry, extras could be found in the box. Phew!
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After a second tasty chicken lunch it was off HSA Thoo Lei Boarding House, where show number two was to be performed. The team were getting much slicker at unloading the same amount of donations and the Martinmobile suspension began to rise as the next load of spaghetti was off-loaded. Here, we had the most spine tingling experience.
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HSA Thoo Lei Boarding House
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After Ailsa had exhausted her repertoire, she asked if the children had a song that they could sing for us. They then broke into the most moving song, sung in perfect harmony accompanied by one of their boys on his guitar. There was not a dry eye in the house. The children glowed with happiness and roared with glee as each trick was demonstrated by Eckie, especially the last one. A most "likely lad" was pulled from the audience as part of the comedy act, ending with a trick that makes it look as if Eckie removes the boy’s underpants in a quick hand movement. The girls just fall around giggling, whilst his fellow " likely lads" guffaw and thank the Lord that they were not chosen.
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Day 3 was a glorious blue sky, which meant less mud. What a relief!
Off to ELPIS Centre where Eckie set up the show whilst the helpers unloaded the same amount of goods, as in, 8 bin bags of used children's clothes, 4 bin bags of new children's clothes, 4 bin bags of adult clothes, 2 bags of toys, sweets and female and children's toiletries, not forgetting the 48 kg of spaghetti. |
After a quick singing warm-up, Eckie delivers his show to an amazingly active, confident and smiley group, who really engaged from the very first minute. We were charmed on our way as they shook our hands and wished us "God Bless", we felt very humble indeed.
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Our last stop was a delivery to the Good Morning School, albeit it was in the afternoon (he he!); here, the children were just as happy and confident. We just made the delivery of goods here, with many extra bags of clothes as they are very needy, no show as one had been performed a few months ago.
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British ITV Coronation Street Character, Qasim Akhtar (AKA Zeedan Nazir) Brings His Own Brand of Northern English Generosity to Poor Children in North Thailand! HERE |
Back to the hotel, calling in at the offices of Help Without Frontiers, to reconnect with the new staff so that in future The Gift Of Happiness can coordinate visits to their schools. Quick shower and then onto report writing, letters and administration. At the end of the day our usual visit to Casa Mia for a great meal and debrief.
Another amazing and fulfilling trip for all concerned. Please continue to support this life changing charity, as I can vouch for the fact that everything is passed onto the people in need, which really makes a difference and brings happiness into their lives.
Many thanks to all volunteers who sorted and collected so much important goods for the children and a big thanks to all the donors who just keep-on giving so much to the poor! Very special thanks go yo The The Commercial Company of Siam Ltd (Eurofood) for their donation of a whole ton of spaghetti and Monroe Consulting Group who supply the Gift of Happiness Foundation with their wonderful and essential large truck to deliver so much to so many!
Many thanks to all volunteers who sorted and collected so much important goods for the children and a big thanks to all the donors who just keep-on giving so much to the poor! Very special thanks go yo The The Commercial Company of Siam Ltd (Eurofood) for their donation of a whole ton of spaghetti and Monroe Consulting Group who supply the Gift of Happiness Foundation with their wonderful and essential large truck to deliver so much to so many!
GIFT OF HAPPINESS FOUNDATION IS ENTIRELY STAFFED BY UNPAID VOLUNTEERS AND FUNDED BY SMALL DONATIONS.
COMPANIES OR INDIVIDUALS CAN EASILY SUPPORT THIS VERY WORTHY CAUSE WITH GOODS OR MONEY FROM ANYWHERE ON PLANET EARTH!
COMPANIES OR INDIVIDUALS CAN EASILY SUPPORT THIS VERY WORTHY CAUSE WITH GOODS OR MONEY FROM ANYWHERE ON PLANET EARTH!
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