Time out with the family
Actress Khemanit "Pancake" Jamikorn spends the day at a local SOS Village helping 12 lucky youngsters with their chores
POPULAR MODEL and actress Khemanit “Pancake” Jamikorn recently became an older sister for the day, taking charge of 12 young boys and girls at the Bang Pu SOS Children’s Village in Samut Prakan province.
“It was difficult for me as a child to be close to my siblings because the age gaps of five and eight years made it difficult to communicate. Of course that all changed once we grew up and now we get on extremely well and enjoy each other’s company,” says the 27-year-old actress.
Founded in 1972 in Bang Pu, SOS Children’s Villages provide orphaned and abandoned children with a new mother, a family and a home where they can stay until they are ready for independent life. The village has a nursery for young kids and the older children attend the local primary and secondary schools.
Its vocational training centre helps mothers and staff members improve their skills.
Today, there are more than 60 homes in five villages around the country with each SOS house-mother taking care of 12 boys and girls.
“At first, I wondered how one person could take care of 12 very different children with varying likes and dislikes. It seemed like an exhausting job. Spending a day in a home made me realise just how rewarding this job must be. The atmosphere is incredibly warm and friendly,” Pancake says.
Pancake’s jobs as an older sister included helping the youngsters with their lessons, cooking and washing clothes.
“My siblings are afraid of my fierce eyes and know that if I’m quiet, I’m in a bad mood,” laughs the actress. “I asked the SOS mother whether her 12 children quarrelled and she said they did but all of them lived together without problems. For me, the biggest problem was getting their names right.”
Volunteers are always welcome at the SOS homes nationwide.
Find out more at www.SOSThailand.org, Facebook.com/SOSthailand or call (02) 380 1177.
