The project work is almost finished – the trenches are dug and irrigation is in place.

We had to close up gaps in the bamboo fence to keep the free range chicks out of the vegetable patch. Tomorrow we will have the privilege of sowing seed in the freshly prepared ground. It is good to be able to support the work here in such practical ways.

The vision for the boys’ hostel was born about five years ago, when the brother of one of the girls at the girls’ hostel accompanied his sister.

They came from a very poor family and this stirred the hearts of the project leaders. Though the girls had education and training there was no provision for boys and they knew they had to set this up. The leaders rented a property near the girls’ hostel and heard of another hostel where children were being ill treated. While these children were back in their own village during the holidays the head of the village invited them to register in a new hostel. Seven children responded in total and the boys’ hostel began.

There are now sixteen boys at the centre.

One of the newest arrivals, seven-year-old Terasak was brought here as he had nowhere else to go.

His father used to drink and was violent towards the family and others in the village. He was in and out of prison and eventually disappeared altogether.

His mother re-married and abandoned the children from her previous marriage. One of the team bonded with Terasak from the start and has now become his new ‘mother’ through sponsorship.