CCD

CCD stands for ‘Christian Care Foundation for Children with Disabilities’ and is run by Wasan Saenwian, pictured here with his wife Chariya.

When Martin Lee, Director of Christian Outreach Relief & Development (CORD), Wasan and Chariya first witnessed the conditions of the government orphanages 17 years ago, the effect upon them was so great they felt utterly compelled to do something.

CCORD encouraged Wasan and Chariya to apply for Thai NGO registration. In 1997 their work with disabled children became a registered Thai NGO and CCD was founded.

Today CCD are touching the lives of over 600 children, they have 50 Thai staff, many of whom are Christian, as well as volunteers from all over the world.

Much of their work is within the Pakkred Government Home for Children with Multiple Disabilities. Here, they have been able to set up three day-care centres, which they have equipped with toys, wheel chairs, high chairs, paints, paper and games etc. This is where many of the staff and volunteers work, simply spending time with the children, playing with them and helping them to learn to walk or talk etc. For nearly all the children this is the greatest human interaction and stimulation they will ever receive.

CCD’s most exciting development recently has been the opening of ‘Rainbow House’, their own purpose-built home for disabled children. So far, almost 30 children from the government orphanage have been completely released into their care. At Rainbow House the children learn many necessary life skills that will enable them to be integrated back into society. They also receive lots of love and individual attention and experience, for the first time, ‘family’ life, beds, toothpaste and school!

CCD also work in the Nakhorn Pathom Province where they do Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR). Here, families are encouraged to keep their children and parents are taught the skills necessary for looking after a disabled child and are given on-going support.

For more information on CCD and the projects that they run, please visit their website.

www.ccdthailand.org