Aside from the TB project that I’m doing I’m also responsible to host all the volunteers and guest of Kwai River Christian Hospital.  I also help the Candlelight Project. This project was originally established in 1986 at a center in Huaymalai Village, in the Kanchanaburi province of northern Thailand located 15 kms from the Thai-Burma border. A relatively small number of children/youth had been able to access the center because of distance and difficulty of travel. The center continued training in basic learning and daily living skills and some handicraft skills until 2002. 

 

During this period, home visitation was done once a week and a number of disabled children and adults were identified around the district of Sangklaburi. Some of these people had been kept at home for many years without going out into the community.  They had gone without physiotherapy, so several had severe physical deformities.

 

In May 2002 the school program was phased out and the Candlelight Community Based Rehabilitation program was started. They visited disabled members at home doing physiotherapy and trained members, offering general support and advice. Vocational training was also provided using the Candlelight building as a center to do handicrafts.  

 

Naw Kwae is 22 years old and she comes to the center every day except Sundays or holidays. She was one among the 7 youth to do handicrafts at the center. Naw Kwae came from Burma where she lived in the jungle.  Her parents died when she was small and she was cared for by her neighbor. Before Naw Kwae and her neighbor fled to Thailand she had a history of seizures off and on. They were able to flee from Burma and was sent to live at the Tamhin Camp for refugees in Ratburi, a Karen Camp.

 

As the years goes on Naw Kwae grew as a lady, but she had physical disabilities both in her lower and upper extremeties. While she was in the Tamhin refugee camp she was raped and later become pregnant, and she delivered a beautiful baby girl. When the baby was about 2 years old someone had referred Naw Kwae to go to Sangklaburi district in the Kanchanaburi province to live at the safe house.  This person knew there was a Candlelight project nearby that helped people with disabilities like Naw Kwae.

 

Now she looks happy as she shares her talent to do some handicrafts at the Candlelight center.  Naw Kwae uses her foot and left hand to make beads and cut some paper to make a card. Her daughter is now 7 years old and is going to the United Christian school and live with her at the orphanage.

 

Prayer Request:

-         Please pray for the staff of the Candlelight project.

-         Please pray for Naw Kwae and her daughter