The best thing for an organizer of any event is to say,
“Sorry we are fully booked.” And it is even better when charity is
involved.
After the huge success of the last event, the planners,
and board of FERC decided on a dinner party this time but involving some
major fun elements such as music, raffles, and children.
Scott
Jones and the children of the ‘Children in songs for better understanding
and tolerance’.
The organizing committee brought all 26 children
receiving help from the ‘Children’s Garden’ for guests to meet. It is
always one thing to give for charity when you do not know where the money
will end up but in this case it was visible and could be understood by
everybody.
Jo
Ann Steele explains the donation calendar. Make merit on your lucky day and
send 26 children to school and feed them for only 500 baht…
The aim was to collect school and food money for these 26
children to make it possible for them to live without worries for one year.
As Marc Dumur, Chairman of FERC told us, the ‘Children’s Garden’ need
500 baht per day for schooling and food. 98 community members were able to
take part in the Dinner party and from these 98 sold entrance tickets, 500
baht went straight back to the youngsters, respectively the ‘heads behind
all’.
Some of
the musicians who dedicated time, love and music and who were a major reason
that the FERC Fondue night was such a huge success.
But this left 267 days to reach the goal of one year
without worries. The committee had long thought about what to do and came to
the conclusion that there might be people who would like to go a bit further
by sponsoring some more and using their own special days in their lives,
like birthdays, anniversaries, or just good luck days for doing so. A
calendar was prominently displayed at the Fondue House and everybody was
able to put their name down and 500 baht in ‘the big pot’ for the
orphans from Doi Saket.
Some
of the youngsters who are able to learn languages and receive basic
knowledge of the important things in life, like preparing meals, growing
mushrooms, fruits and vegetables and doing laundry.
The orphanage is led by founder Aik Lone Khammui
(nickname Stanley) who started the Children’s Garden from scratch on a
plot of land he owns in Doi Saket, 20 km outside Chiang Mai. He runs it with
his wife Bu and their six daughters and presently they take care of 26
children, some from the Akha, Karen or Lawa minorities, but mostly from Lahu
hill tribes. Some are orphaned while others come from broken families that
are unable to provide support for a number of reasons. Stanley has turned
the Children’s Garden into a farm that aims to be self-sufficient within a
couple of years. Fruit trees and a variety of vegetables have been planted.
The diners could purchase samples such as fresh mushrooms and hand-made bags
as well as small flower baskets to take home.
The
secretary of the Foundation for the Education of Rural Children,
Dr. Lina Thompson with her husband Charley and daughter Artcharaya.
At the end of the musical entertainment it was all
smiling faces. Scott Jones, Aey and friends from Chiang Mai and ‘The
Hug’ restaurant had delivered a musical message to the city and some money
to the country which was their aim, as Scott had told us before the start.
Original humorous songs kept the guests chuckling, smiling and joining in,
leaving later having eaten excellent food at the Fondue House, listened to
first rate pop and Blues and at the same time supported the Children’s
Garden to make sure these youngsters have shelter, food and education for
the next year to come.
If you would like to ‘sponsor’ these children on your lucky please
get in touch with FERC. These children will appreciate it.
Interested
in music, charity and good company were from left: Rainy Riding, Dr. Rebecca
Lomax, Bud Velat, and Ellen, while Scott Jones calls out another raffle
prize winner.
This
seemed do be a ‘diplomatic table’.
Having
fun while enjoying the excellent food at the Fondue House were (from left)
David Brown from LIST, the Halls and the Hastings families.
Tenor
Ruediger Liesmann at ‘his’ table, surrounded by women…
