All the children go to school. Because the education of the children is particularly important to us, the children are taught on Sunday mornings with Montessori materials in our clay house, the resource room. This is in order for the children with learning difficulties to catch up, but also to support and encourage the gifted children.

On the weekends and during the holidays we organize many activities together with the children. It is important to us that the kids contribute on all levels. This includes the work in the household and garden, in the office and in the care of sick children.

During our monthly house meeting there is room for all of us to discuss and talk about our wishes. Sometimes we use the occasion to do group work on current issues, which the children are confronted by (or dealing with).

Every last Sunday of the month we go to the temple near BAAN DOI to meditate with the abbot. We all go there together and while the Buddhists meditate, the Christians in our family sweep the leaves in the temple garden.

Thai holidays like Songran (New Year) Loykratong, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are just as important as western holidays like Easter and the absolute highlight Christmas, which the children look forward to for months.

The BAAN DOI Outreach Child Support Program enables orphans and half-orphans who come from very poor back­grounds to stay with their relatives while being well cared for and receiving education and medical care. The program supports the families with

• Financial support for education
• Medical and nutrition expenses
• Activities and trainings under the program
• Guidance and consultation

A positive future for our children means next to health and good education the integration into Thai society and financial independence.

Our Life Skills Development Program offers the youth in BAAN DOI’s programs the chance to actively participate in BAAN DOI‘s work in order to practice, develop and improve various skills, responsibility and endurance.

Here are some examples of the different areas in which our youth participate:

• Direct work in program activities
• Office work
• Handicrafts
• Organic agriculture

The Program has grown out of our Networking and Cooperation with the communities with the main target of the prevention of HIV new infections and unwanted teenage pregnancies. BAAN DOI provides trainings about Sexual Education and Online Safety by applying a peer to peer approach especially designed for teenagers.

For BAAN DOI networking with other NGOs and governmental institutions working in the same field is essential. Not only is there an exchange of new and proven methods, but of opportunities and possibilities. Governmental recognition and support are also being advanced.