Thailand: La Maison de l’Espoir (House of Hope)
Programme Coordinator: Lucie Dechifre - Field Coordinator: La-ong Maneeterm
La Chaîne de l’Espoir, alerted by its team in Thailand and its network of partner schools on the critical situation of some children, launched in 2004 the building of a house for orphan, abandoned or abused children. The House of Hope is able to welcome 50 children. Its role is to protect and accompany children in situations of extreme psychosocial, family and emotional vulnerability by offering them a favourable environment for their individual and collective development.
OBJECTIVE :
- Ensure a proper psychosocial support for the most vulnerable children and provide them with a favourable environment for their individual and collective development
ACTIVITIES :
Built in 2004 and further expanded in 2007, the House of Hope includes two pavilions, one for girls and one for boys, between the age of 6 and 18.
- A place for psychosocial support and assistance
The House of Hope is a shelter and a fresh start for children living in difficult and painful family situations. A qualified team of educators, social workers and a psychologist provides the children with psychosocial support and assistance and a wide range of activities to promote their development.
- Activities for child development
Many activities are organised to structure and enrich their daily life and encourage social reliance (participation in daily tasks and recreation activities such as reading in a corner set up as a library or gardening in the house’s kitchen garden). Socioeducational activities adapted to individual needs and various age groups are also proposed by the local team and external actors (after-school support classes, short vocational training, educational tours, computer science...). Time is also spent every day on meditation and group discussion. Excursions are organised during the holidays (introductory visits, traditional dance and music lessons, nature classes...). A minibus is available at the House of Hope in order to facilitate the organisation of such activities and provide safe school transport.
- Health: access to healthcare and prevention activities
Every child welcomed at the House of Hope enjoys comprehensive care including regular medical checkups and access to healthcare according to needs. Prevention activities are also organised on topics related to the different issues identified locally (sexual and reproductive health; prevention of addiction; prevention of violence...).
The House of Hope also hosts dental and ophthalmic consultations once a year for the children sponsored by La Chaîne de l’Espoir in Thailand.
In 2017, the team of La Chaîne de l’Espoir seeks to focus on the prevention aspect and to strengthen school health activities and the partnership with public hospitals and health centres.
