I got back about two weeks ago from spending my summer in Thailand, doing humanitarian work. My time there was the best experience of my life so far. I heard once that people write the words they can’t say- I’ve found it’s hard to truly explain & express to people what an incredible experience I had. I've been meaning to jot down my thoughts and experiences I had while still fresh on my mind.
As a volunteer, I was free to choose where I wanted to work most and spend my time. One of the first places we visited was the DEPDC, which is a prevention center for all kinds of child exploitation in the very North Thailand in a border city called Mae Sai. I was instantly drawn to the DEPDC because I felt something very special there; the kids had something that tugged on my heart strings. Just in a matter of days, I went from feeling like a complete stranger to knowing without a doubt that we will be friends forever. I never expected that. Every minute spent there was so precious to me.
I came into the DEPDC with the mindset that I was going to give it my all and help these kids learn and grow, but I definitely was the student. The kids taught me that happiness has nothing to do with how much you have or where you live on the globe. They were the ultimate examples of love and Christ like behavior- I saw how they looked out for each other, truly loved one another-always having so much love to give, shared with one another(even though they have so little), and cheered each other up when another was sad. I remember thinking often how I could ever leave Thailand, and the sweet children I love there with all my HEART. I miss all the big smiles and even bigger hearts, the little hands, hugging, squeezing, pulling, pinching, laughing (that never stopped), singing, dancing, and braiding my hair in all different crazy do's. I miss being called Lolo (my nickname from the kids). I even miss sleeping on the ground and the bugs. So I might miss Thailand a lot… and I might have contemplated taking all the kids home In my suitcase haha but I know that the journey didn’t end there that day I left in Thailand.
There are things I can do here still to help out! I know that this organization is so great- the volunteers there are very intelligent and talented and the founder Sompop Jantraka (who has been nominated for Nobel peace prize 4 timesJ) is very committed to love and provide for these kids with everything he has. While at DEPDC/GMS, the main project I worked on was the PR videos, to send as DVD’s in information packets to potential donors. The DEPDC lives off donations, and there is a huge need for them right now. Since they are very strapped for funds I knew this project would be crucial and decided I wanted to spent most of my time on these reaffiliation videos. It took staying up into the middle hours in the night working on the video pretty much until my eyes turned square. Working hard was great though because we all want this more than anything. I know this organization has so much potential, and I saw the hope in the eyes of these children. I know that kids are the same all over the world, and I believe that they should all have equal rights to make their own choices. These underserved children just need help from us. The last thing I want is for these children I love to not be in a safe environment. I hope & pray that these videos will help give the DEPDC a sufficient amount of funding. Because every second counts... Literally! I read that every 26 seconds a child is trafficked.
Here is the DEPDC video :)
DEPDC gives these extremely at risk children so many opportunities for a better life. . The class I taught was Kindergarten- But I had students as old as 14, who had never been to school before. Many of these kids are refugees of war, and many have been through very traumatic experiences. Most of the children have no legal nationality (stateless is what they call them) and don’t get their basic right to public education. I had the chance to visit Burma, and see this country where many of these kids come from and many still live. I was astonished as we trekked through mud and barbed wire fences into little shacks of homes, if even that. It was hard seeing the harsh conditions these kids are in.
They just have so little and Burma is not a safe country. After I saw and learned about the hardships these people face - It's clear that the world is in a far sorrier state than you could ever perceive it to be living in America. There are wars, corruption, greed and so many people struggling in severe ways that I didn’t even know about. In Burma, there are over 700,000 child soldiers- children as young as ten years old being used as slaves,babies used as drug couriers, porters, trafficked for organs and sex slaves- more than any other country in the world! It breaks my heart thinking when I was ten I was eating happy meals and going to dance lessons... and how I always knew without a doubt that my family loved me, and wouldn’t sell me for any amount of money- yet hundreds and thousands of children in Asia don’t get that luxery. I love the words of Plato, “Be Kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” I know now that the "trials" I face are nothing compared to those these little ones face every day.
Teaching the sweeetttesst kids of my life English, and creativity classes was my favorite thing I did. Whenever I come in the morning, they all would storm over to and hug me tight and jump in my arms and on my back. I swear sometimes you never had free hands or legs haha... but that's ok because I loved it. I got pretty attached to the kids which made it that much harder to leave. The feeling of how you connect and love more than you ever knew you could is indescribable, I was pretty emotional from the love I felt the day I left. As i was saying goodbye the kids put their stickers they got that day for being good all over me, until my front of my shirt and the sleeves were covered in lilo & stitch and minnie mouse. They kept saying “Lolo I am sad” in their cute little accents (proud to know what sad meant from our lessons) Before I left I told each of them that I loved them. I’m not quite sure if they know really how much I do. But with my heart slightly broke and with tears streaming down my face I left the DEPDC. Not a day will pass I won’t think about these kids and smile. They were my highlight no question and I will miss them every day. I consider myself lucky and truly blessed to have known them.
They taught me so much about life. They taught me where true happiness comes from and that life truly is about learning to love and being filled with the spirit of serving others. I think sometimes I struggle with how easy it is to become so focused on myself and my problems, that I miss important chances in my life to help someone else. I want to be as warm and loving to others as they are- whether it be close family or a friend or a total stranger. I want to be more like them in all that I do. I have an idea now of what I want to do in my life now job-wise, but more importantly- I know how I want to live. My eyes are a little more clear, and I will forever view the world differently.
The wonderful Help International video with our awesome team
