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| Sanctuary: Children play at the Home of Joy near the Thai border. Simon Montlake |
On Thai border, a rare refuge for Burmese children
Dulci Donata opened Home of Joy to serve ethnic minorities fleeing violence.
from the March 7, 2008 edition
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After two decades of humanitarian work here, initially providing relief services to Burmese refugees after a failed 1988 uprising, her determination has won her many friends. "When I came here, people doubted me. There's not the mentality of pure service [to humanity], so they couldn't understand.… [Now] I get respect, prestige."
Located on a lake created by a downriver hydropower dam, Sangkhlaburi has a population of 26,000. Ethnic Karen and Mon outnumber Thais, and migrants continue to cross over from Burma, along a route where Japan built a notorious "Death Railway" using prisoners of war during World War II. Today, the town sees an influx of weekend Thai tourists.
In 2005, Donata opened a primary school in town, which also enrolls nonresident Thai and Burmese students. For migrant children, a Thai education is a route out of poverty, but few public schools offer remedial classes to pupils who lack Thai language fluency, as Home of Joy does.
At the home, Donata applies a "neohumanist" philosophy. All but the smallest children attend twice-daily meditation and yoga classes. All meals are vegetarian, homeopathic medicine is practiced, and organic food is grown. She also deters mothers from taking "immoral" earnings from prostitution and insists that employees and guests don't drink or smoke and remain celibate. "This is an immoral society, everyone is cheating. Now they see us trying to follow a straight line," she says.
Children aren't put up for adoption, but nurtured into adulthood, while mothers are encouraged to stay involved. As Donata's children have grown up, their horizons have lengthened: nine are currently attending high school elsewhere in Thailand, paid for by sponsors. Four have gone on to university.
Boonsom Pangsiri is hoping to be next. Two years ago, she graduated from high school in Bangkok, and is living there while she applies for a university program that begins in June. In between, she has lobbied government officials to improve the electricity supply to Home of Joy.
Ms. Boonsom dreams of studying in Canada after university. She already has a career plan: working for Donata, whom she loves "as a real mother." Sometimes she goes back to visit her birth mother, but finds she has little in common with her other siblings. Asked about Donata, her eyes light up. "Didi is very special. She has a good heart and never thinks of herself. She always sacrifices for others. I see it. Even when she's very tired, she's still working, serving people."
How you can help
To donate to Baan Unrak (Home of Joy), go to www.baanunrak.org.
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