Creating a Family During the Holidays

The school term holiday is not just an ordinary break. It is also a time for some of the children to reconnect with their roots, to visit their villages in the jungle, and to see the loving faces of those who once cared for them. It is joyful and exciting.

Some children have this opportunity. But for many, there is no past to return to, no roots to revisit, and in that moment, it can feel very sad. For those who remain, we organize activities to strengthen the feeling of a cosmic family. If they do not have a small family, they naturally become part of a larger, universal one.

The feeling of belonging to a cosmic family is incredibly joyful and uplifting, to feel part of all.

During the holidays, we always try to reconnect with past volunteers. Many return again and again, and their faces have become familiar and dear to us. Pavitra never fails to come back, and each time he arrives, the children are filled with happiness.

This time, he came with someone new, the father of our long-time volunteer, Francesco. Francesco lived with us for five years, sharing both our good and difficult moments. We went through COVID together. Now he has his own social project and cannot return, but the feeling of family has never faded. His father, Alberto, came with Pavitra, carrying that same sense of continuity and belonging. A family that may live far away, yet remains close to us—that is family.

During their stay, Pavitra and Alberto took some of the older children on a meaningful trip to Kanchanaburi. They visited the Bridge over the River Kwai and the Don Rak War Cemetery. It was not only a journey, but also a moment of learning and reflection. Walking together through these places, the children could feel both the beauty and the weight of history.

They stayed with us throughout the holiday, even during Songkran, when only a few staff members remained. They organized games, took the children to the river, arranged small outings, and even shared simple joys like visiting a convenience store. In every activity, they were present.

Because of this, the children who might have felt left behind instead felt included, cared for, and truly part of a family.

Some of our university students, whose holidays coincided with Baan Unrak’s, chose to return. Yuttana, Samuella, Vijay, Kirana, and others like Narayan, To, and Tawan made sure to spend their time here. They helped organize games, supported Pavitra, and simply stayed close to the younger ones. They have grown up here, and now they return as elder brothers and sisters. That is family.

The children cherish them deeply. It is something very special to feel that we belong to one another, rooted in Baan Unrak’s traditions and its 35 years of love and care.

Even those university students who could not return still found ways to be present. While they were in Bangkok, they took responsibility for a small group of younger children that we brought to them for short periods of time. They cared for them, played with them, and brought them joy because they missed them. They have always been big brothers and sisters, and they continue to be, even from a distance. That is family.

Here is what Rochana shared:

“During the school break, we usually take the children on trips. This time, I brought them to explore Bangkok. I don’t know many places there, but since the children are of different ages, I thought it would be nice to take them to a playground. It was like a normal playground, but much bigger, with many different types of equipment, which made everything feel exciting.

I could clearly see how happy they were. They had so much fun playing, and seeing that made me happy, too. Just watching them was enough to feel their joy. When they laughed, it was so lovely. I truly love spending time with them.

The next day, we took them to the sea. It was very crowded, and I felt a little worried that we might get separated. The children were so excited, many of them had never seen the sea before, so it was not easy for them to stay close or listen carefully.

But everything turned out well. They played in the water and enjoyed the food that my friends and I prepared. While Prapana, Kirana, and I were getting everything ready, we also felt very happy.”

In the end, what we received was exactly what we hoped for from our extended family.　Because family is not only about blood. It is about presence, care, and responsibility. It is about returning, even from far away. It is about making time, even when life is busy. It is about remembering one another.

We may not share the same bloodline, but we share something deeper, a connection that transcends blood. And in that connection, we truly become family.