A Healing Summer for Our Children

2 days ago
3 min read

This summer was filled with laughter and unforgettable memories for the children of Baan Unrak. We organized many outings, always taking the children in small groups so we could care for them better and give each child more attention.

Here is an experience shared by Ice, a staff member and former Baan Unrak child who came back to work with us. This is what she wrote:

“We went to the house of April, our old friend in Hua Hin. She was delighted to welcome us. April generously offered her care, her home, and her time, all with great warmth and kindness.

The children that joined this adventure were elementary school children aged 8–13 and two teenagers. Many of them were incredibly excited about visiting the sea, especially some of the newer children at the foundation who had never seen the ocean before in their lives.

On the morning of departure, the children woke up early, filled with excitement and anticipation. The journey was long and tiring, taking more than six hours, so we stopped in Bangkok overnight before continuing the trip the next morning. When we finally arrived in Hua Hin, April and her family warmly welcomed all the children from Baan Unrak with open arms.

The moment the children saw the swimming pool at April’s house, all the exhaustion from the journey disappeared instantly. No matter how tired they were, they were ready to jump into the water immediately. Soon, the entire house was filled with the joyful sounds of laughter and splashing water.

The nearby neighbors also came to greet the children and get to know them. They kindly brought snacks, fruits, and ice cream to share while chatting warmly with the children. The children could truly feel the kindness and love from everyone around them.

Every evening became a special “Movie Night.” The children gathered together in the living room to watch movies while eating popcorn. For many families, this might seem like an ordinary activity, but for some of our children, it was their very first time experiencing something so simple yet so meaningful, and they absolutely loved it.

During the trip, the children also visited the Huai Sai Wildlife Breeding Center, where they fed animals and learned about many different species. Even though the weather was very hot, the children happily ran around with excitement because many of the animals were things they had never seen before.

Of course, one of their favorite moments was playing at the beach. The children explored the shoreline, collected seashells of different shapes and colors, and built sandcastles together.

For them, this was not just about having fun; it was also about discovering a whole new world. Even after becoming tired from swimming in the sea, they still returned to play in the swimming pool afterward with endless energy.

In addition, April and her family also took the children to a water park and generously covered all the expenses and meals. The children had so much fun playing on the giant water slides, laughing and running around together. Afterward, everyone enjoyed cheesy pizza and French fries together. It became one of the happiest days of the entire trip.

Another special moment during the trip was when April took the children to her friend’s café, a lovely place filled with animals and joy. The children were thrilled to meet and interact with many different animals. The café staff kindly prepared food for the children so they could feed the animals themselves. The children carefully offered food to the goats and ducks while laughing and encouraging one another.

This journey was much more than just a holiday. It was an opportunity for the children to explore the world beyond their usual surroundings, experience new things, receive kindness and love, and create beautiful memories that will stay in their hearts forever.

From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank April and her family for being part of these precious memories for our children. Thank you for welcoming them into your home, taking them on wonderful adventures, preparing meals for them, and surrounding them with so much warmth and care throughout the trip. The children were truly happy during this holiday, and it is a memory they will never forget."