The children were there to give a
helping hand.
Derek Franklin
Just outside Pattaya, on the road to Sriracha, are several large
government run complexes housing ladies with disabilities, a boys home and
several large houses for the elderly.
Many of the elderly residents are without any family who are able to care for
them; there is an ever increasing number suffering from Alzheimer’s and
dementia, while others are in need of twenty four hour support from the nursing
staff.
The elderly residents receive few, if any, visitors. Children and grandchildren
are often too busy, too far away or just can’t be bothered to visit, so it can
become a very lonely time for a person who in their younger days was the center
of their family, who worked hard and who lived a good life.
The youngsters from the Father Ray Children’s Village recently made one of their
regular visits to the elderly residents and spent several hours in their
company.
For the children it was an occasion to perform their song and dance routines in
front of an enthusiastic audience, and spend time with a section of the
population that they do not meet every day.
For the elderly men and women it was an afternoon of fun, dancing and being
fussed over by children young enough to be their grandchildren or even
great-grandchildren.
The afternoon’s entertainment started with the children dancing to the ’Birdie
Song’, which meant things could only get better.
The children were very surprised to discover that, after helping push the
residents in their wheelchairs, many were very able to stand and even join in
the dancing when hearing a song they knew and liked.
As the day came to an end, there were lots of hugs as the residents bade
farewell to their new young friends, with everyone looking forward to the next
visit.
More information can be found at www.fr-ray.org or email
[email protected]
After all the dancing, several residents were in need of a sit
down.
It was good for the children to meet their elders.
Once the ‘Birdie Song’ was over, the entertainment got a lot
better.
New friends are made.
Enjoying their time together.
It’s not only the young who know
how to pose for the camera.
