Mother’s Day 2013 (English and Thai text)
What an AMAZING day, being with some Amazing people and having an amazingly good time!! We hosted our traditional Mother’s Day activity for the residents of the Emergency Home (a protective shelter for children, teens and women who have been victimised, abused or facing difficulty) yesterday morning. The Theme: “YOU’RE AMAZING! JUST THE WAY YOU ARE! “
This was deliberately belated so as to enable many more participation from our friends and sponsors.
And what a great turnout and support we had yesterday! The biggest team of 15 was from the Dhurakij Pundit University International College (DPUIC), whose students came and helped with MCing, the entertainment and organization of the games. For the main part of the program, Glammer Hairdressing School, Makeup Arts and Technique School as well as Dasy Design International joined hands to provide the makeover in hairstyling, makeup and nail design. On hand to help were also four Swedish volunteer students from the Mid-Sweden University who were with us even days before the event, helping to make booklets, organize and pack gift bags! Thank you all!
Though not present but very much an integral part, we were supported by parents and families from the French kindergarten, Centre Acacia, as well as the Ban Job Rak school and other private individuals who provided much of the gifts and prizes which were given out to the moms, teens and kids yesterday.
Our traditional pillar of support for many years is the Oishi Group which traditionally provides the healthy green teas as well as the tasty Japanese “o-bentos”! This year, Oishi generously again provided with a sumptuous array of four varieties of o-bentos. Some friends also helped in donating what was needed to make the extra Thai special of Kai Yang, somtan and Kao Niew, for the residents and volunteers as well.
We opened the event, reminding everyone how special they are – aptly put in the refrain of Bruno Mars’ hit song “You’re Amazing – Just the way you are”! We had everyone turn to their neighbor to tell them how amazing they are and then, with their hand on the chest, declare “I am amazing, Just the way I am”!
Then, thanks to Miracle Grand Hotel, we had THREE beautiful cakes, and lots of cookies plus Chomthana’s Cremo icecream distributed to all, while they were entertained by the DPUIC band. And when you have cakes, you gotta have a song, so we sang ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ in place of Happy Birthday! Ha!
Afterwhich, They’ve Got Talent! – Six teams from the HIV women’s group, to the teens and even the children all vied in the talent contest for the prize money of 1,000, 800 and 500 baht – donated by the Italian Women’s Association. We encouraged the residents to all work together, and as it turned out, the first prize went to the traditional Thai dancers from the HIV group. Next, the teens and older children group won with their song rendition for Mother’s Day. Finally third prize went to the whole kiddy department, of some 10 kids who sang a simple song together.
While part of the audience and the winners were getting their makeovers, the DPUIC engaged the rest of the ladies with a Hot Potato game, where those receiving the ‘potato’ were asked to sing and dance. For an incentive, there was a prize when they did well. They could choose their prizes from the DPUIC gift table. The game definitely brought on some good fun, to watch young and old shake, rattle and roll!
Meanwhile, another team from DPUIC took all the kids, playing games with them & offering them sculptured balloons.
Besides the yummy lunch treat, everyone was also entertained by the young magicians from the Thanksgiving Home. They executed some fascinating moves – pulling a pigeon out, surprising us with bouquet of flowers….all done by kids from 6 and up, most commendable for these kids who are considered to have slow mental development. It all stems from their Amaazing mentor, Khun Wanchai!
After lunch, we were able to distribute the gifts bags – specifically for the pregnant mommies, then the mothers with newborns, then the young single women and teens, the HIV department and finally the children. They all received a variety of supplies including milk bottles, diapers, towels, powder, deodorants, soaps..etc..
Thanks to the Ambassador Bilingual School in Chiang Mai, we were also able to distribute the bilingual book “Wonder of Mothers” to all the mothers; while the other single residents, participants and sponsors received our inspirational “You’re Amazing” booklet.
And if all that wasn’t enough….. since we also had a big bag of nice clothes, we had the ladies choose one outfit (top and bottom or one piece each) . Everyone who got one outfit was then obliged to go on the catwalk and show off their clothes. We promised them a prize for whoever could best walk/dance and strut their stuff. The music came on and the fun began! They sashayed down the aisle, just showing off and having a great time! We gotta do this again!
An event of almost four hours, we finally came to the end of an amazing day , with everyone leaving with their hands and hearts full – thanks to so many who shared with us all yesterday and made that difference to these lives!
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