Trustees Annual Report Year ending April 2021
It is lovely seeing plans come to fruition. As promised, the builders went to Lert Sa Wat straight after the first Thai Lockdown. Lert Sa Wat has a new roof, and it was all finished before Thai schools and nurseries opened on 1 July 2020. Everyone in the Home is delighted. No more collecting drips in buckets in their bedrooms. The new roof and last year’s new guttering mean that no rainwater is wasted. All year Lert Sa Wat has had a plentiful water supply. Thank you for all your support in making this possible.
The Nursery children adapted quickly to the Covid restrictions. Nearly all were able to wear masks or face shields. The morning assembly and singing of the Thai national song took place outside on the newly tiled steps of Lert Sa Wat. While some lessons were held outdoors,
others were spaced out, helped by individual learning of the Montessori system. However, the youngest ones still liked to have their circle time with teacher Nong.
Last year we reported that some of our families were facing hardship during Lockdown as they were unable to work. The Lert Sa Wat family went out delivering food parcels to families in the greatest need. TonKhao, who grew up in the Home, has a great concern for people in need. She is in the middle of a two year course in Social Development at Korat University. She went out on all the trips delivering rice, eggs and a little treat to the families.
Education for other school and university age children was not too badly disrupted. Instead of the school year starting in May, it began in July, and continued as usual until March. Lert Sa Wat continues to give nearly 130 children the chance of a better future.
Home news. Boss went to stay with his Great Aunt Dim in Bangkok in April in the hope of seeing his parents. He was very disappointed that they did not want to spend much time with him, and then with Lockdown he was stuck in the Bangkok slums until June. He was begging Joop to come and take him home – home being Lert Sa Wat. He was very happy to see his friends when he went back to school.
Blue started the Lert Sat Wat Nursery in July. Last Autumn he caught his leg on some barbed wire and had to spend a week in hospital. With that winning smile, he charms people wherever he goes.
Thailand escaped the worst of Covid in the first year, but to our horror, in April, 10 members of the Lert Sa Wat Family caught Covid and were taken to the local hospital in Sikhiu. Six were discharged after quarantine. Project leader Deeo, and daughters Joop and Nong were transferred to the city hospital in Korat. After a week, Nong was back with the others. She looked after Boss in hospital after he caught a secondary infection. Joop needed oxygen, and by mid April, Deeo was in intensive care on a ventilator.
Thank you for your support for Lert Sa Wat. For 21 years, children from some of the poorest families in North East Thailand have been given a chance to escape the poverty trap. Whatever the future brings, staff are determined to do their best to continue to help local families. We end with a thank you picture drawn for a sponsor. The children appreciate the help they are given and so do we.
The Lert Sa Wat Trustees
October 2021
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