Public asked to help rescue Camillian Home for children
Faisal Malik, a Canadian furniture maker and artist based in Thailand, is helping to raise much-needed funds for the Camillian Home for Children Living with Disabilities, which is suffering impacts from the virus crisis.
Malik and his wife Elodie organised a Facebook auction in April, offering small gift items they had made – including a tray, a box, and a serving board. Proceeds from the winning bidders totalled Bt29,000, which went to ease pressures being felt by staff and children at the Bangkok care home.
“Originally I thought we would raise about Bt8,000, but thanks to the generosity of everyone we raised much more than expected,” Malik said.
Camillian Home currently employs full-time staff who rotate work schedules to take care of the children. A full-time nurse and other qualified medical personnel supervise the home and hygiene precautions. However, staff have taken voluntary pay cuts so the home can survive, and the children can continue to receive care and have food to eat. Camillian Home is a locally funded foundation taking care of Thai children and the elderly.
“To take care of children with disabilities and run programmes require financial support that depends on donations, teachers, physical therapists, speech therapists, nurses, cooks, cleaners, accounting staff and drivers all must be paid, not to mention general expenses such as food, water and electricity. The government provides little funding or resources, it must come from the generosity of working people like ourselves,” said Malik.
Camillian Home also provides important community outreach support to the elderly living in the neighbouring Ladkrabang community. This includes providing physical therapy and medical assistance in addition to free day services and transportation with a wheelchair-assisted van. Therapists and teachers also help train and guide parents so they can continue treatments at home once their disabled children leave Camillian Home.
Anyone who wishes to make a donation to Camillian Home can transfer money directly to St Camillus Foundation of Thailand, Kasikorn Bank, account number 036-2-51161-7; Siam Commercial Bank, account number 146 -2-46017-7 or Bank of Ayudhya, account number 264 -1-48476-5; or donate in person at the foundation office, Camillian Home for Children Living with Disabilities, at 81/2 Luangphang Rd, Khumthong, Latkrabang, Bangkok.
More information about Faisal Malik is available at https://faisalmalikdesign.com/
For more on Camillian Home, visit https://www.facebook.com/Camillian.Home/