Many rural schools and therefore many children in Thailand suffer from a lack of resources since funds and teachers are often drawn to the cities with better living conditions and wages. Imagine going to school and having to eat lunch sitting on the ground, or having to share one computer between nine pupils, or learning from books that are out of date and water damaged. The aspirations of these rural children are exactly the same as those in the cities, they dream of becoming doctors, sportsmen and women, entrepreneurs and many other careers important to Thai society and the economy. The reality for these children is a career in rubber farming or retail. We need to break the cycle of poor education leading to low paid jobs. Children are our future; education is the only way to give them the freedom to make their own choices. This was the reason why we started our Children’s Project.

Siam Safari has been using its over 20 years experience in the nature tourism industry to raise public awareness and generate much needed funds for three schools in the Khao Sok area. The company is well aware of the limitations of simply donating funds.

We have also started to help children in rural villages of Northern Thailand, mainly donating second hand children’s clothes from our guests and staff.

Children’s project is a win-win situation for everyone participating. We are more than happy to take some of our time to visit rural villages and schools, meet these children and help to share your donations to those who really need it. Our guests who make donations, whether it would be funds, old clothes or toys, you can experience the joy of giving, knowing that some little girl or boy somewhere in Thailand’s countryside will be smiling all day with new clothes or will enjoy playing on a new playground for the whole semester. The real winners in this project are the children.

How can you help? If you would like to make a donation you can do it while visiting our elephant camps, taking part on our tours or even send it to us. You can donate clothes, toys, children books, money, etc. and we will make sure the donation goes to the right place to those who really need your help. Read more about recent donations below.

Click here to see our school photo album

Mr. Simon Brown and his family from Australia came to Phuket and wanted to donate clothes to our Children’s Project. We were more than happy to facilitate the donation of these clothes to the children at Child-Watch orphanage in Kathu, Phuket.

With big smiles on their faces they were all very thankful for these new toys and clothes and even sang a song for us, a thank you song.

We would like to give a big thanks to Mr. Simon Brown and his family who donated these clothes and toys to the children in Phuket.

Ms. Pam Hammond from Australia donated her beautiful handmade clothes for the children at The Life Home Project Foundation in Phuket.

As you can see on the pictures the children were very happy to receive new colorful shirts, dresses and trousers. We would like to thank Miss Pam Hammond who made these clothes and sent to us to give for the children in
Phuket.

Ennovator Marketing and Burchardt A/S in Denmark donated new play equipment to one of the schools in Khao Sok along with Mr Kim Carlsen. Before this there was no outside of class stimulation for the children and as you can see the play equipment was a big hit! We would like to say a big thank you to both Marketing and Burchardt A/S on behalf of the school. Over the next 3 months we will be donating more equipment to 2 other  schools in Khao Sok. Keep an eye out for updated pictures of our donations here!

We are also in the process of creating a project to collect and donate clothes to orphanages in the north of Thailand. Those guests who would like to donate can bring old children’s clothes or even toys and we shall ensure that they are passed on to the appropriate orphanage.

Activities to date:

• Every year on children’s day (13th January) Siam Safari donates 10,000 baht to each of 3 schools in the area to help fund the student’s activities. The schools divide this money between the poorest students to help provide them with clothes, books and pens.
  
  
• A project known to us as “The Trees Can Talk” was also produced. This stimulated the children of the schools to think about what the jungle surrounding their towns would think of them if it could talk. The winner of which received a sponsorship from the company.

• Children’s day January 2006 – Siam Safari and Travel Indochina donated 2 computers to Wat Tam Wararam School in the Khao Sok Area.

• November 2006 – Siam Safari and Kim Carlson (a previous guest of ours) donated 4 more computers, 2 to both Baang Bpru and Yhaa Ploong Schools.

• Donation Boxes in each location where guests can donate to the project, with information about our project.
  
  
• July 2007 – Siam Safari and My Travel (Travel Agent) donated 2 computers to Wat Tam Wararam School .

• June – September 2007. Competition “Keep Khao Sok Green”, children from the schools designed a picture to be featured on t-shirts for Siam Safaris Nature Guests to purchase.  The t-shirts are now on sale in our camps.
  
  
• November – March 2008.  The children planted vegetable gardens with the tools and seeds they were given by Siam Safari, they were very successful providing lots of vegetables for their school canteen. 
  
  
• March 2008.  Dan Broderick and family donated beanie babies, toys and art materials to each of the schools all the way from America.  We thank Dan and his family for all the effort they put in.

• April 2008.  The money raised by the sale of the pictures from Baang Bpru School has been used to make a new school sign.

www.unicef.org/thailand/
www.worldvision.or.th
www.amnesty.or.th
www.pda.or.th