Thai Children’s Trust Ireland launches Lenten Appeal

La Moo

An appeal during Lent to help feed orphaned and abandoned children on the Thai-Burma border is being launched by the charity, Thai Children’s Trust Ireland, which supports disadvantaged and disabled children in Thailand and surrounding countries.

Some 1,200 Burmese refugee and migrant children who have fled their country to escape conflict and poverty desperately need a daily meal. Travelling hundreds of miles across dangerous terrain, where they are exposed to sex trafficking, drugs and life-threatening diseases like malaria and AIDS, they arrive in the border town of Mae Sot frightened and hungry.
The Trust’s Lent campaign Feed a Future is asking people to support its nutrition programme by giving €1 a day throughout Lent and donating the €40 to Thai Children’s Trust. This will provide a child with three essential meals a day for the next three months.

One of the places supported by Thai Children’s Trust Ireland which is taking these destitute children is an orphanage called Heavenly Home. Started by a couple, Lily and Thant Zin, in 2005 with just three babies, they are now taking care of 84 children – orphaned, abandoned, trafficked or whose parents are in jail or cannot look after them.

One little boy making good progress is La Moo who is now six. His father left his mother when she became pregnant. His mother was not able to take care of him so she left him at Heavenly Home when he was one year old and has not been in touch since. Malnourished and unable to afford milk powder, Lily fed him banana and rice. He survived and has become one of the most charming and well-behaved boys. He loves to dance and has started to learn Thai – his favourite subject.

Thai Children’s Trust Ireland was officially launched in June 2013 because of the generous support it had received for many years from its supporters in Ireland. It is headed by Edenderry resident, Adele Kierans, who is actively encouraging fundraising and sign-ups to its child sponsorship programme.

Speaking about the Feed a Future Lenten Appeal, Adele said: “Finding the resources to give these children nutritious food is a huge battle. Many suffer poor health because of their inadequate diet. Children who are hungry cannot learn. In many cases the simple meals your generosity will provide are the only meals they will receive. Yet we cannot turn a hungry child away. We extend our heartfelt thanks to those who give to our campaign.”

To support the campaign see: www.thaichildrenstrust.ie/feed-a-future