Upon their arrival the 36 visitors get to know the Orphanage by watching a short VTR about the daily activities and happening.  Later they split up into three groups, so different groups of children could enjoy intensive attention of the visitors. These had the pleasure to spend their energy at the motivation room with the children of the School for the Deaf. With the toddlers they were engaged by playing ball and running games. And last but not least, at the baby room the visitors had the chance to take care of each child individually.

Before leaving, group photos are taken and the female Chaplain Thamsen and Khun Toy, Director of HHN Foundation exchange souvenirs to appreciate the work of each other and good cooperation.  We want to thank Khun Peter Thorand for constant good cooperation by giving groups of the US Navy and Marine the opportunity to share their laughter, smiles and happiness with our children.

Proud parents, applause, dancing and nine young students, who are now ready to take on life. The graduation party of the Sotpattana School for the Deaf was, without a doubt, an important day in the lives of these young children. After several years of hard study, these deaf and hearing impaired children are now well prepared to enter Thailand’s public school system.

The ceremony was attended by the entire staff and all pupils of the Sotpattana school, as well as the young graduate’s parents and relatives. The pride in their eyes was unmistakable. The teachers, having spent years caring for and living with the children were quite touched by the moment, realizing that the children will go their own ways now. Likewise the children, for who the school has been a home and a family, sensed the gravity of this big moment in their young lives.

Father Michael Weera, Director of the Pattaya Orphanage, presided over the ceremony, giving his blessings to the nine graduates as they received their diplomas. The official part of the ceremony was followed by dancing and acting performances by the younger children from the School for the Deaf and the Pattaya Orphanage. Finally all guests and visitors joined the children for a big farewell meal.

The HHN Foundation Thailand wishes the young graduates all the best, wherever their life will take them.

On the 24th of December a group of orphans and ex-orphans from the Pattaya Orphanage went carolling to various venues in Pattaya. They had been preparing for this special event for several weeks.

The carolling started with Mr Kurt Krieger’s Bavarian Christmas celebration. The children lit the candles on the christmas tree and sang the German Christmas song “Oh Tannenbaum“. The children were not only treated to some lovely snacks and drinks, they also were given many presents.  There was also a collection to which many people generously contributed.

They then proceeded to the Hard Rock hotel and café where they performed several songs to the delight of the assembled guests and patrons. There they were also treated to some lovely christmas snacks.                                                                          The children then went to the St Nicolas Church where they also sang.

On the 25th of december the orphanage celebrated Christmas day by inviting patrons, old residents and sponsors for food and festivities to the Pattaya orphanage.

They had set up a large stage with a sound system and beautiful decorations. Those that attended were treated to a medley of christmas songs as well as some traditional Thai dancing by the children and teachers who performed wonderfully. We were also treated to a touching speach delivered by Father Michael.

The orphans were also joined by the children from the Sotpattana School for the Deaf and the children from the CPDC. The CPDC children and staff thouroughly enjoyed themselves and joined in with all the festivities. They were especially happy when Mr Rainer Calmund gave them presents, his support helped to make their Christmas day special.

There was also a huge bouncy castle which the children loved, they all spent as much time as possible playing on it, only stopping to eat and drink.  There were various food stalls set up and everybody ate their fill of the wonderful traditional Thai cuisine on offer.

The older children enjoyed socialising with the adults who had been orphans, the whole event felt like a giant family reunion. There was also a raffle in which many prizes were given out. The older children were very excited and won many gifts.

We would like to thank everybody who helped make this day possible by donating money for the children’s presents. We would also like to thank the more than 30 German benefactors, including Mr Rainer Calmund, who were with us.

Since September of this year, the Pfalzinstitut für Hörsprachbehinderte (School for the Deaf and the Hearing impaired) in Frankenthal, Germany and the Sotpattana School for the Deaf have had a cross-country friendship.

Sandra Werner-Kreßmann, a dedicated pedagogue for the hearing and visually impaired and her students from the vocational school have maintained active contact via e-mail with the children from Sotpattana School for the Deaf. They have also been sending pictures and letters back and forth to learn about each others cultures. Despite the short period of time, the German students have built a close relationship to their little friends in Pattaya and sent them self-made jigsaw puzzles, memory games and a domino set.

The children of the Sotpattana School love their new toys and play with them often. Now, as Christmas approaches, the German students have sold self-made Christmas cards to support the Sotpattana School and to buy Christmas presents for the children. Especially Anuschka and Jesco, two committed students, took great effort to make this donation possible.

Human Help Network Foundation Thailand wants to thank Sandra Werner-Kreßmann and her students for their constant support and the joy they are bringing to Sotpattana School for the Deaf – Merry Christmas!

After several weeks of hard practice, the Children from Sotpatana School for the Deaf performed wonderfully at this year’s Primary Christmas Recital at the Regent School Pattaya. The children sang and danced together with the Regent School’s primary choir, which was surely one of the evening’s highlights.

The concert, organized and moderated by Mrs. Jill Thomas, included a variety of instrumental and vocal performances by the Regent School’s primary students. The children from Sotpattana School for the Deaf had been invited as special guests to sign the songs Jingle Bells and Away in a Manger whilst the primary choir sang.

For the past few weeks the School for the Deaf and the Regent School’s primary choir had been practicing together, both learning to “sing” the songs in sign and spoken language simultaneously.
Mrs. Karen Partyka, a music teacher at Regent School, and Ms. Anne Engelmann, one of our German HHNFT volunteers, had been working together closely to set up this remarkable musical act uniting the deaf and hearing children.

The resulting performance turned out to be very cute and a great success for everybody involved. Human Help Network Foundation Thailand would like to take this occasion to say Thank You to all those who contributed to this event and made this special day possible for the deaf children.

Early that day all CPDC children were transferred to the Pattaya Orphanages compound to join the orphans so to splashing water to the passed by on the main Sukhumvit Road. All children had the opportunity to take part in the water games that are originally a ritual to clean the soul for the New Year and an important part of the Thai culture and tradition. In front of the Pattaya Orphanages compound the children had space to play while they were watched by their nannies.

The Orphanage hosted lunch for all children and moreover provided some water guns and water for the children to play. All children and staff members had a fun day outside playing with each other.

All children and staff members of the Pattaya Orphange as well as the staff members and volunteers of Human Help Network Foundation Thailand joined the celebration. Everybody enjoyed the evening which emphasized and focused on the Thai culture and traditions as all participants, including the volunteers, wore beautiful Thai dresses on a small parade on the Orphanages compound.

The children had a lot of fun dressing up as they later all proudly presented their traditional costumes. Some of the girls of the Pattaya Orphanage performed a traditional Thai dance and a small New Years celebrity was held.

At the same time the Family Day was a good opportunity to also celebrate the birthdays of children and staff members of the Pattaya Orphange who had their birthdays during the past three months. Father Michael Weera, director of the Pattaya Orphanage, congratulated each of them and surprised them with some presents.

Later on everybody enjoyed Isan food and a nice evening with all members of the Pattaya Orphanage.  It was a very nice time and especially the children had a lot of fun playing, eating and dancing with all their friends and members of the Pattaya Orphanage.