'Mother' of tsunami orphans to visit UK

Children in new garden at Ban Tharn Namchai

Khun Rotjana, the 'mother' of a home in Thailand which cares for children orphaned by the 2004 tsunami, is visiting the UK next week with five of children from Ban Tharn Namchai. They will meet friends and supporters and perform a special Thai dance at a benefit dinner in London.

Rotjana has dedicated the past five years to caring for children who lost their loved ones in the devastation of the tsunami in 2004. She arrived in the area days after the tsunami on Boxing Day 2004 and immediately set up a home for displaced and orphaned children from a tent in a refugee camp.

With support from the Thai Children's Trust, Rotjana now runs a permanent, purpose-built orphanage in the area which is home to 70 children, many of whom are still scarred from the loss of their families on that fateful day.

Andrew Scadding, Director of Thai Children's Trust said: "Rotjana is an amazing woman. She is a truly unsung hero who has overcome incredible barriers, including ill health herself, to provide safety and security to children with nowhere to go. Her dedication and passion is humbling and we at the Thai Children's Trust will do everything we can to make sure that the orphanage can continue to feed, clothe and educate children who have no family to turn to.

"This part of Thailand still needs longer term, sustainable assistance. We are very proud of the part our supporters and volunteers have played in helping Rotjana build and maintain a community spirit among these children to enable them to cope and build new lives."

From 7pm on Thursday 20 May, the UK-based Thai Children's Trust, supported by the Anglo-Thai Society, will hold a special dinner at the Thai Square Restaurant in Covent Garden, London,166-170 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8JB. in aid of the Ban Tharn Namchai Orphanage it supports in the tsunami-stricken area of Khao Lak, Thailand.

Tickets cost £40. This includes a delicious set meal and a £15 donation to the Thai Children's Trust. Places can be reserved by contacting Jo Furlong at jfurlong@thaichildrenstrust.org.uk