Hi ! We are a french scout team who decided to go to Thailand for a project with children from the 17 th of July to the 10 th of August 2023. The team is composed of four members : Coline, Eva, Emeline (girls) and Cyrille (boy).
We found the Camillian Social Center organization on the internet, we called them and we had a very good talk. We had to choose between different organizations in Asia. The Camillian Social Center was the one who inspired us the most.

Our first day was a bit stressful but really amazing. Our team was so excited to meet the children and the staff. We got to see the children who seemed very interested in meeting us. We rapidly became close and attached to them. The first thing that we realized was that it would not be easy to communicate in English with all of them : some of them having a beginner's English level and some having trouble speaking due to their handicap. In the end, it turned out to be a minor problem : we found other ways of communication with them.
Within a few days, we were part of the "family". We received support and help from everyone.

Here is what our daily schedule looked like :
- 6.30 am : waking up
- 7 am : breakfast with the kids s
- 8 am : flag raise + prayers
- 8.30 am : thaï class with teacher Ann (we prepare our lesson)
- 9.20 am : english class with us
- 10.10 am : snack
- 10.30 am : games in english with the American volunteer Jeffrey
- 11.20 am : lunch with the kids
- 12.30 pm : rest time/preparing activities
- 1 pm : activities with the kids
- 2.30 pm : snack
- 3-3.30 pm : chill time with the kids
- 3.30-4 pm : shower
- 4.20 pm : dinner
- 5pm : chill time with the kids
- 6pm : go back to our rooms
- 6.30 pm : kids go in the dormitories

I am Eva, 19 years old girl. Before coming, we Facetimed a lot of times with Jirasak and Sister Cecilia. I think this helped us a bit to think about activities for the children, to make sure we understood well the needs of the center and to anticipate our posture at the center. It helped them too, because this way they could get to meet us and make a first impression of us for the kids.

Back in time, I have always found it easy to bond with children, but I didn't expect that it would be this easy and natural. I completely immersed myself one month in this center, living the life of the children and bonding with them. I enjoyed all the little things: helping them to eat, brushing their hair, folding their clothes, cuddling them while singing to their favorite Thai songs…

Teaching them English and doing activities with them wasn't the easiest task to do. We needed a bit of time to adapt and change what we had been planning before our arrival here. Every child is different and unique. Some of them learn quickly, some of them need more time. Some have a good English level, others can't say a word due to their intellectual disabilities. Adaptation is a keyword.

I go back to Lyon with a soul filled with love and happy memories.
Besides the children who contributed to my well-being in the center, I want to thank all the members of the staff. Special thanks to the kine, Jirasak and Sister Cécilia which allowed us to feel part of a big family.
I'll never forget you, merci :))

I’m Coline, a french 20 year old girl. I’m part of a scout team which has a project focused on children. We’ve been preparing for 3 years for this big project in Thailand : little other projects, jobs to raise money, and team meetings. We have done many meetings with Jirasak and Sr Cécilia, it helped us a lot to set up the project in the Home of Charity.They left us with a very good impression and that reassures me a lot. Jirasak and Sister picked us up at the Chiang Rai airport. The next day, we met the children, had an explanation with the staff about the organization of the center and the daily routine. These first days were a little bit stressful but a few days later, we were very integrated with the children. What I was most worried about was the children's disabilities, but it turned out not to be a major problem, just like communication. Children are very engaging and cheerful : we try to bring them joy and it's incredible to see all the bursts of joy and laughter. Sometimes we’ve played with disadvantaged children (kids from hill tribes), it was a great moment also.

As for the adults (staff and teacher), communication was sometimes complicated due to the language, but we managed to get through it ! They were very attentive, especially to cultural differences. They tried to introduce us to the local culture: we did a bit of sightseeing, went into the village and visited mountain tribes. We tried to follow the centre's routine as much as possible and worked with them during the times we were there. We gave English lessons for the 2nd period in the morning and in the afternoon we did various activities according to the plan.

It was a really great experience : I know we were only there for a short time but we tried to bring joy and make the children happy.

I’m Cyrille, 20 years old, the only boy in this scout team. After a year of preparation with my friends, we left to stay there for a month in the Camillian Social Center. Thanks to calls with Sister Cecilia and Jirasak, we were able to get an idea of ​​how the center works. However, it was only once there that I really realized who lived here. The children were waiting for us and they sang a little song to welcome us. After that we very quickly put ourselves in the shoes of the staff members by feeding the children, playing with them, cleaning the common rooms... We have chosen to invest ourselves as much as possible to enjoy every moment here. The routine quickly settled in although each day is different. Sometimes we were with the children of the hill tribes or those of the parish.

Communication was one of my biggest concerns. 3-4 children speak english at a school level, others pretend to understand what is more annoying. Finally, some don't speak... We managed to make ourselves understood with simple words. What was complicated is also the saff's level of English; if 2-3 speak fluently, the others are at the same level as the children.

The children are fond of the activities that we have offered them. Although we prepared activities at a much higher level, we had to adapt. The most important thing is that they are happy!
Finally, the relationship with the staff was wonderful. We were able to exchange with some, others took us on tours in town or in the region. Always smiling, generous and with humor, I am sincerely grateful to everyone.

This journey at the CSC will remain forever etched in my memory.

My name is Emeline, I'm 20 and I am a midwife student. With my friends I have prepared this month in Thailand for 3 years so I was really excited to discover the center. I was totally in trust before leaving my home because we had several calls with Jirasak and Sister Cecilia and they always answered my questions. When we arrived we discovered a new country with its culture, but also what is the life of children far from their home and life with disabilities. During my stay I always feel part of the big family they form.

The language barrier never stopped us from communicating because children and staff really wanted to welcome us. Every day I have created bonds with all the children. People at the center took care of us every day by asking us if we had as much food as we needed, if the bedroom was comfortable, if the classes with children were going well.

They also took time to bring us to discover some absolutely wonderful places around the center. We have teached them some songs with choreography, some french games, some vocabulary and they teached us how to smile in every situation, how to laugh at everything and how to be happy for the littles things.

I leave this center with a giant feeling of gratitude because I went to help the center and to enjoy children but I leave this place full of so many incredible souvenirs that I am forever thankful to Camillian Social Center for welcoming us.

Email: emeline.dumortier@hotmail.fr