I am Sybil and from China

I stayed here for about twenty days. It was really an excellent experience.

When I arrived at Chiang Rai airport in the evening, I was warmly received by the staff in Camilian Social Center. Though exhausted and tired by the long trip, I was extremely excited to meet the nice people. The children didn’t pick me up at the airport because it was too late.

My accommodation is really nice and beyond my expectation. I lived with other volunteers and some staff in the home of charity. And I had my own bedroom as well as a bathroom. Besides, I got a shared kitchen and living room. It is really nice places to live and all of the volunteer felt at home in the center.

In the following day, I met all the lovely children. It seemed that all children were ready to give you a hug and say hello! I was touched by their enthusiasm and smiling faces on the ground that all of them are more or less disabled. Most of them have basic understanding of English so it only takes your patience and love to communicate with them. To obtain their trust and develop a quite deep understanding of them requires a lot. Anyway, don’t worry about it if you can’t speak Thai.

Undoubtedly, it takes time to get to know the kids, so it would be better if you plan to stay one month or more here. It’s worthwhile to devote your time to help those children achieve some goals in their daily life. The most important thing for them, in my perspective, is to become as independent as possible like dressing, feeding themselves, and it is what we volunteers are trying to do at the same time. I have to say, it’s probably the happiest time when I spent with the children. They gave me the unconditional love and trust which I would bear in mind for the whole life.