Sponsor's update from Nongkhai, Thailand

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Nongkhai, Thailand from Winter 2008.

Christmas time is coming again we are willing to give some movement at SOS Children’s Village Nongkhai to you one more time,

The totally children in 11 families houses are 92; those 41 are boys and 51 are girls. Total young boys who moved to stay at SOS Youth House Nongkhai are 19. Now the weather is turn for cool, some children get sick from a cold fever. End of September-end of October 2008 our school-aged children were free from school, we provided special activities for them, additional learning were still provided mainly on mathematics, computer, English & Thai language. Five of extra events were arranged as follow;

●Mothers Day, we celebrated on 12 August of every year, as it is the birthday of our the Majesty Queen SIRIKIT. For us; our SOS family; it is the most important day among the year. The day expresses itself on what the great SOS mothers have been dedicating their life to our children ,in the morning, the celebration starts with offering food to the Buddhist monks, in the afternoon children showed their performance on traditional music and dance, then mothers and children joined in fun-games together, then the children pay respect to their mother with the handmade jasmine or garland and express their love, (almost everyone tears flow at this moment) the highlight of this celebration was the children of each houses secretly prepared cooking and lighten a cake to surprise their ‘Mothers’, next in the evening, all the Thai people, include our SOS families celebrated our honest to the Queen by lighting the candle while singing a special song at same time all over Thailand.

●On 6-10 October 2008, our children attended the ‘International Letter Writing Week’ at the local postal office in Nongkhai province. They learned on postal historical story & postal regulation and had chance seeing stamps from different countries.

Events at Nongkhai, Thailand

●On 14 October 2008, children and mother joined in ’Naga Fireball Festival’, along the Mekong River bank, in Phon Pisai district in Nongkhai province. There are also corresponding celebrations on the Lao side of the river, this year the Festivities run from 10 to 16 October 2008 as the important final days of the three-month Buddist Lent. The early morning we made a merit as North-Easthern region by offering sticky rice wrapped in coconut leaves presented to Buddhist monks. In the evenings, during the festival week, people gather at the Mekong river bank for the Naga procession and cultural performance that reflect the rural local traditions. We could see Thousands of pink and red bursts of light that we call the ‘Naga Fireballs’ rise into the night sky from the Mekong River. It happens only once a year, under the full moon of the 11th lunar month. It remains a mystery that never ceases, just what is the origin and nature of the fireballs that fly from the surface of the Mekong River high into the night sky for all to see? Some say it is an elaborate hoax, but the only way to find out is to travel to Nongkhai and check out river scene and the carnivals!!

●A trip to Kalasin province, visited a Dinosaur Museum, on 25 October 2008, we could see sensation and excitement of small kids on seeing such a spectacular thing.

●Loy Kratong Day on 12 November 2008, our aims is for our children learn and preserve Thai culture and tradition, as you may know that it is one of the most famous festivals in Thailand, we celebrate it on the Full-Moon Day of the 12th Lunar Month in order to offer thanks to the Goddess of the water. ’Loy’ means ’to float’, we make ’Kratong’ as a lotus shaped from banana leaves and natural materials decorated with flowers, a candle, three joss-sticks. We lighted candles and joss sticks and making a wish then placed the ’Kratongs’ on the pond inside the Village. We believe that the ’Kratongs’ carry away suffering and bad luck as well as the wishes that have been made for the next year. At this event we promoted our children to wear in Thai traditional costume, small kids showed their special ability as junior angels on stage as we call ’The Nopamas Contest’.

Please accept our thankfulness to your kind continuous support,

Wishing you being peace, love and fun in the New Year 2009, May this year bring inspiration and happiness to you and your family.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs. Wantana Sethadej, Sponsorship Coordinator, SOS Children Thailand & Mr. Wichan Kampinit, Village Director, SOS Children’s Village Nongkhai