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Rotary ‘Lends a Hand’ to Sattahip family

Good-hearted childless couple raises orphans in their home

Rotary ‘Lends a Hand’ to Sattahip family

Paralyzed father and small son get new start in life

Brendan Richards

The recent wheelchair donation by the Rotary Club of Taksin has put an improvised family one step closer to a dream come true. Suradech Suttiwat’s eyes lit up when Rotarians and YWCA members presented him with his new three-wheeler. He immediately asked to put the wheelchair by his bed so that he could give it a test drive. Suradech’s 9 year old son Anupong happily joined his father during the presentation of the wheelchair, along with teachers from his school and nearby residents.

Peter Thorand, CHP Rotary Club Taksin Pattaya with Suradech as he gives his new wheelchair a test drive, son Anupong checks to see whether it is real.

The plight of an impoverished father and son has already touched the hearts of many in Pattaya and the eastern region. The latest installment on their road to a healthier and brighter future came via the Rotary Club of Taksin-Pattaya.

On Wednesday August 19, Charter President Peter Thorand, President Dieter Precourt, Nittaya Patimasongkroh YWCA President and Treasurer Marliese Fritz with her husband Heinz traveled to Sattahip to present Suradech Suttiwat with a wheelchair - the first step in the plan to help him get around.

Suradech thanks his benefactors.

Members of the YWCA and the Lions Club were alerted to the plight of Suradech Suttiwat and his 9 year old son, Anupong, when they were informed by residents of a small village that a family living there was in desperate need of help.

Nittaya Patimasongkroh, president of the YWCA, was led to a hut in one of the poorest areas of town, where she found Suradech laying in bed unable to move. When questioned, the man told Nittaya that he had been involved in an accident at work which had left him paralyzed from the waist down. The employer simply abandoned him and is not paying him or giving him any sort of allowance so he can support his family.

This is what Suradech and Anupong’ call home.

Suradech also explained that his wife could not work to support the family because she is in jail for a drug offence. This left him alone to care for his small son, Anupong. But after the Suradech’s accident, the little boy ended up having to nurse his paralyzed father, so he was unable to go to school, or even go out to play with friends.

The family lives in a run-down hut with a missing a wall, without electricity or water; not even a bathroom. Food is scarce even though neighbors bring them some food once in a while, but only what they can spare, as they are also poor people. They have to get by with an allowance of 1,000 baht per month. This all is about to change!

As news of this family’s plight spread, residents and charity organizations have become involved. The YWCA provided a scholarship for young Anupong so that he can attend school while funds towards caring for their basic needs have been graciously handed over by the Rotary Club of Taksin-Pattaya, Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, The Lions club of Pattaya, the Queen Victoria Inn and the Sauber Fan Club of Pattaya.

The funds will go towards building a decent home for the father and his caring son on land belonging to the Thai navy, which will pass on a home-registration to the family so they can join the government’s 30-baht healthcare plan.

The house will be built so that Suradech can easily use his wheelchair and will have a living cum bedroom, a separate bathroom, a Thai style kitchen, electricity and fresh running tap water, which they currently lack.

The next step was finalized with the signing of the necessary documents earlier this week, which will allow a house to be built on Navy land, with rent set at 1,000 baht per year. Construction of their new home is due to start soon. The new home to be built at a cost of 100,000 baht.

The family now has new hope for regaining their dignity. However, still more is required to complete the project and those wishing to help can contact Nittaya Patimasongkroh, YWCA president at 01-817 0397 or Marliese Fritz, treasurer of the Rotary Club of Taksin-Pattaya at 06-149 3010.

Good-hearted childless couple raises orphans in their home

Gives them love, education and a chance to break away from the poverty cycle

Pacharapol Phanrak

For over forty years Somjai Duangpetch and her husband, Vichien Duangpetch, have been caring for orphaned children and children that have been discarded by their families. Hundreds of children over the years have lived in their small house where the couple feeds, clothes and provides education to children, who would otherwise be left to roam the streets without a future.

The children are taught to pay homage and respect to the Lord Buddha.

The couple is currently caring for 10 girls and 14 boys aged between 8-15 years old at their home in Huay Yai.

“Neighbors quite often lend a hand in looking after the children. We are strict and don’t tolerate laziness. Everyone in the house has to do his or her part. We teach the children to fend for themselves and instill the urge to work. Everybody helps each other,” said Duangjai.

Vichien and Somjai Duangpetch in their humble abode.

“We teach them to be caring and loving individuals, to love school, to love work and to love each other and to have high standards and take care of the younger children. Everything we do is from our hearts,” added Duangjai, who is now 56. She has been caring for these children as her own since the age of 18. She herself was orphaned and couldn’t bear to see others go through the pain and suffering she went through in her early years. “We care for them as our own,” say Duangjai.

Some of the children that the couple has cared for over the years have gone on to make a decent living. Some work in the fields, some have jobs in restaurants and others sell items on the street or in small shops. Most of them now have their own families to take care of. But they have never forgotten the love and care that they received from this caring couple. Duangjai said, “Our daily expenses are quite high but they do what they can to earn an honest living and support the family unit. They will always return to help and provide financial assistance.”

Over the years the couple has raised hundreds of children in their tiny house. “Sometimes it’s difficult and depressing. But we knew from the first day after we took in the very first child that there would be no turning back. Our hearts go out to these kids and we know if we don’t give up, we can make a difference in their lives, even though we have very little and it is often difficult to survive.”