Blog Archives

Doctor Needs Emergency Equipment for Migrant Kids

9/13/2015

Gift of Happiness Foundation is NOT asking for money
But we are appealing for donations of basic medical equipment.

Top class Hospital bed going to "The Good Doctor ZAW" in North Thailand on 21/09/15.

This support is needed for a new small emergency clinic and treatment centre for 104 abandoned children, 19 women, 12 other children all with HIV and the residents of another safe house for abused women and children. The new clinic located just outside Mae Sot, N. Thailand is due to open in late September 2015.

Our good friend Dr. HTIN ZAW has asked us to supply things like blood pressure testing machines (easily purchased at most good pharmacies) stethoscopes, surgical knives, scissors tweezers and the like. In fact anything at all that could be useful to a small team of dedicated medics and the good doctor himself.

We already have a top class hospital bed and a fairly good supply of bedding, towels and a small amount of syringe’s donated by a diabetic person. We need more of the same before we go back to Mae Sot for the second of our monthly aid giving projects this month, on September 21st 2015. (See the first Sept project here).

You can help in Bangkok or posting worldwide, please drop-off or post anything that will help the Doctor at one off our drop-off points in Bangkok any-time up-to 19th September when loading the trucks will commence.
Thank you for your support.
Drop-off/Postal details; http://www.gohappiness.org/drop-off-points-bangkok1.html

Please Give to This Cause... Thank You.

Migrant Children in Thailand receive essentials from Bangkok Charity

9/8/2015

Gift of Happiness Foundation is pleased to have completed yet another essential aid and show giving tour to Mae Sot in the north of Thailand during the first weekend of September 2015.
During this long weekend project we served around 800 poor migrant kids and a few hundred more adults who attend the Mae Tao Clinic close to the Thai/Burma friendship bridge across the Moei River. We gave a performance for around 100 outpatients and some great donations of clothing, bedding towels and hard wearing baby strollers to act as wheelchairs for sick children.
The lucky kids away from the Clinic are from Hope Migrant Learning Centre, Agape Orphanage, the SAW Safe house for abandoned children and the village of P’ Ya Naung “Buddha’s Mountain village” .

Photos courtesy of CoJo Productions: http://www.cojoproductions.com/
ALSO SEE MORE FABULOUS GREAT SHOTS FROM THIS PROJECT HERE!

Gift of Happiness says a "Big Thank You" on behalf of the children
for all the kind support given to make projects like this happen.

We were delighted to have the support of two great volunteers, Jon and Pru Colville from Australia who accompanied the foundation director, Eddie Haworth and two drivers on the long trip to the northern City, then right out into some remote parts of the mountainous Province.

Project report by Pru Colville. Mae Sot 4-7 September 2015
Friday
Monsoon season in Thailand and Eddie Haworth from Gift of Happiness Foundation was heading off on another trip to Mae Sot to bring some laughter to children who don't get much in the way of fun. We set off on the long drive north - a convoy of two trucks loaded to the gunnels with donated goods as the rain clouds gathered on the horizon. It was late afternoon before we passed through the police checkpoint and began the climb up through the mountains to Mae Sot and dark and wet when we finally reached our hotel.
Saturday
The next morning we were fed and watered and on our way by 9am. It's only a short drive to the famous Mae Tao Clinic which was our first port of call where we were greeted by willing workers who unloaded bedding and linen, clothing and children's car seats, strollers and chairs and Eddie's assorted boxes full of props for the Clown Eckie shows he would perform throughout the tour. There was no stage, the rain was coming down so Eddie set up for his show in the waiting area outside the children's clinic. Somehow the news spread that Clown Eckie was there and from seemingly nowhere a crowd materialised. The show was warmly received by children and parents and even the medical staff took a break from their relentless labours to share the laughter.
Then it was time for lunch and meanwhile the heavens really opened up. The downpour turned the ground into a muddy lake in minutes so we waded back through the now waterlogged car park and set off on the drive to the AGAPE children's orphanage where a large quantity of toys, bedding and clothing were donated. The children at AGAPE are mainly victims of the fighting in Burma. Some have lost both parents while others have been abandoned. For the affluent Westerner the bags of cast offs and pre-loved toys might not seem much but for the children at AGAPE they were magical.
On the return drive to Mae Sot we stopped at a little village called P’ Ya Naung or Buddha’s Mountain village. Here The Gift of Happiness Foundation had installed a water pumping system and toilets some months ago and Eddie wanted to check on how things were progressing. Visiting the village was like stepping back in time, experiencing a traditional Thai rural lifestyle now pretty well lost ... the stilted huts roofed with pandanus leaves; the deep stone well; the people going about their lives as they'd done for endless generations. Then it was back to Mae Sot for dinner and then sleep.
Sunday
Off again at 9 on the hour long drive to the Hope School. In the distance the mountains of Burma were shrouded in mist as we passed through miles of fertile farming land lush with crops. The Hope School has been set up for the children of Burmese migrants who work the land. Despite it being a Sunday the whole school had turned out to see Clown Eckie - many of them proudly sporting the Gift of Happiness uniforms donated on a previous trip. Small hands quickly had the trucks unloaded and bags and boxes lugged down the muddy slope and into the school. The show was a huge success as were the donated toys and clothing. The appreciation shown by both teachers and children was so heartfelt it was humbling.
Then it was back to Mae Sot where Dr Htin Zaw - a Burmese doctor has set up SAW - Social Action for Women - which takes the form of refuges for women, including those with AIDS, a medical clinic and an orphanage for abandoned and orphaned children. It was the orphanage we visited - again with toys and clothing. These gifts were met with such delight that Eddie vowed to return at a later date with more donations and to put on a show for the children.
Monday
Eight hours of driving and we were back in Bangkok. A fantastic, never to be forgotten 4 days. The work that Gift of Happiness does cannot be overestimated in bringing laughter and goods to these mostly forgotten children in the border regions of Thailand and Burma.

This project was only made possible because we received financial support or goods from Monroe Consulting Group, The Crackers Ladies Group, Len Penn Music Academy, Park Plaza Sukhumvit Hotel, Opus Consulting and individual donors via our website donation gateways.

Please give to this cause... Thank You.

Almost 6,000 people

Follow @gohappiness

Bangkok charity volunteers to get that lovely warm fuzzy feeling inside again! http://t.co/NNMdbFkTUa pic.twitter.com/CPrKk2oV27
— Gift Of Happiness (@gohappiness) September 2, 2015

Bangkok charity volunteers get that lovely warm fuzzy feeling inside

9/2/2015

Every toy, item of clothing, educational supplies & money you give goes directly to help children like this.

Hot News!

Gift of Happiness Foundation is going back to Mae Sot, N. Thailand, arriving late Friday 04/09/15 to give two more big truck loads of essentials and several big happy shows for some kids who really need it!

First thing Saturday morning we will visit the well known Mae Tao Clinic where we'll give clothing, toys and other goods to child in-patients, out-patients and those invited from local slum communities. Then it's off to give the same to the kids at AGAPE Orphanage in the afternoon.
Another early start Sunday when we will drive around 60 kilometers north of Mae Sot to give many more essential goodies to the 280 kids who will be eagerly awaiting our ninth visit in the past few years to Hope Migrant Learning Centre. Then it's back to Mae Sot City to visit a safe/rescue home for previously exploited women and children victims of HIV. We will be giving lots more to those residents and 104 kids from the SAW (Social Action for Women) community in another safe location near Mae Sot.

Monday morning it's a long drive back to Bangkok with that lovely warm fuzzy feeling inside all the volunteers, knowing they did something very special for theses important, yet often neglected people in Northern Thailand.

Thank you to all those who've given so much to help make this months first aid giving project such a success!

Just a few of the many people who've given more than two big truck loads of goodies in the last few weeks of August and early September 2015.

Please send as little or as much as you can afford, and help us continue giving so much happiness.

Please give to this cause... Thank You.

Almost 6,000 people

Follow @gohappiness

Happiness for survivors of child trafficking & exploitation in Thailand

9/1/2015

A real treat for these kids to see just how silly adults can be sometimes!

True joy for those who deserve a little happiness in their lives

Gift of Happiness Clown gave a "Big Fat Happy Buffoonery Show" for survivors of child trafficking & exploitation at a safe house in Thailand. The clown was accompanied by a great supporter and volunteer, Ms Ailey (AKA Kate) MacQueen who provide some of her fantastic Thai ethnic hand made bags to some of the lucky residents at the home.

Hand over of profit percentage on Kate MacQueen bags August 2015

Every Kate MacQueen Collection bag sold supports Gift of Happiness Foundation with 5% of the profits going directly to the charity.

Both Clown Eckie and Ailey were warmly welcomed by the team at Thrive Rescue Center who also provided a lovely treat of ice creams for all the kids (And the Clown) after the big show. This was also followed by the hand over of a lovely donation of cash from Kate MacQueen to Gift of Happiness Foundation Director Eddie Haworth.

Please send as little or as much as you can afford, and help us continue giving so much happiness.

Please give to this cause... Thank You.

Almost 6,000 people

Follow @gohappiness

Doctor Needs Emergency Equipment for Migrant Kids

Gift of Happiness Foundation is NOT asking for money
But we are appealing for donations of basic medical equipment.

Migrant Children in Thailand receive essentials from Bangkok Charity

Bangkok charity volunteers get that lovely warm fuzzy feeling inside

Hot News!

Happiness for survivors of child trafficking & exploitation in Thailand

A real treat for these kids to see just how silly adults can be sometimes!

True joy for those who deserve a little happiness in their lives

Video About Us

Monthly Reports

Doctor Needs Emergency Equipment for Migrant Kids

Gift of Happiness Foundation is NOT asking for money But we are appealing for donations of basic medical equipment.

Migrant Children in Thailand receive essentials from Bangkok Charity

Bangkok charity volunteers get that lovely warm fuzzy feeling inside

Hot News!

Happiness for survivors of child trafficking & exploitation in Thailand

A real treat for these kids to see just how silly adults can be sometimes!

True joy for those who deserve a little happiness in their lives

Video About Us

Monthly Reports

Gift of Happiness Foundation is NOT asking for money
But we are appealing for donations of basic medical equipment.