Baan Fah Sigh-y Orphanage, Hot district, Chiangmai,Thailand.

Janchais first birthday Update March 2004 Update Aug 2004 Update October 2004
Update Nov05/Jan 06 March 2008, Sally's story

The Orphanage opened its doors on 01 November 2002 , and to date has 8 babies - (all under 7 months old )

We have built one initial building, which currently houses staff, babies, kitchen, nursery and store room .

We plan to expand the Orphanage as we now have been registered to take 50 babies .

The principle objectives is to provide an enviroment of love and care for orphaned and abandoned children

orphan10.jpg (15908 bytes)

Fund Raising Techniques to date include ;

Use of the web for adverts ref donations of toys /clothes etc – over 50 replies with donations to date .

Letters sent to family and friends

Letters to corporate bodies for sponsorship .

Integration with local schools , to provide education to the pupils about life in Thailand and those less fortunate than themselves.

Hosting Thai cooking classes with all profit to the cause.

orphan1.jpg (10982 bytes)

Contact details:

Sally Forrest sallymforrest@hotmail.com

orphan9.jpg (12270 bytes)

About me (Sally)

I am a full time volunteer and indeed have taken a career break to raise funding for the completion of the Orphanage . My qualifications are as follows ; 9 O levels , 4 A levels , Degree in Pharmacy , MBA in business, and also I am a qualified officer in the territorial army in the UK .

I take no monies or costs from the projects – all the monies go directly to the orphans.

On the ground in Thailand, is my colleague Phil Hohnen, a missionary from Australia, and a member of the Dream Center Church on the gold coast .

I met Phil and Wanida back in 2001, whilst on the antique trails in Chiangmai. Phil has a passion for restoring old wood and took great delight in selling his huge sticky rice trays to me .His vision to open the Orphanage was immediately infectious and I kept in touch with him ever since .

Being repatriated to the UK did not dampen my enthusiasm to help and initially I helped with personal donations.Fate /luck/divine intervention (call it what you want ) then took over, less than 6 months from being repatriated , my husband accepted a job with the Bodyshop, covering SE Asia, and we were back on a plane to Singapore.

I knew the time was right to take a career break and so offered my help full time to Phil and Wanida to raise funds to support the future development of the orphanage.

Although I live in Singapore, my heart is in Thailand and each month I return to see the kids. I have attracted a group of 10 helpers in Singapore, all unknown to me prior to this life changing journey, all have different strengths, and all of whom are committed to help in any way they can (photos by Terry – professional photographer) Our mission is to raise funds primarily, and also we have just shipped over a 20 foot container full of gifts from Singaporean families.

All projects are achievable and sustainable .We have a large plot of land , and have been approached by another missionary who is very interested to develop a health center on site for education to the hill tribe people and provision of basic care .

This synergy will be fantastic for the welfare of our babies and staff .

17 years in the corporate world have helped to prepare me for this challenge, however the learning’s experienced over the past 6 months have outnumbered all previous experiences and will stay with me forever. Making a difference to these kids is the most rewarding life experience I could ever have hoped for.

Life is put into perspective when you see the results for these kids and I encourage anyone who has a stirring in their heart and wants to help to contact me.

orphan14.jpg (14760 bytes)

orphan6.jpg (14284 bytes)

orphan11.jpg (13972 bytes)

orphan12.jpg (14403 bytes)

orphan13.jpg (16568 bytes)

orphan8.jpg (15924 bytes)

orphan5.jpg (16439 bytes)

photos by Terry

How can you help ?

We would love for the monetary contribution to complete our projects .

We can dedicate the project to your cause and certainly will provide a plaque to say love and thanks to the donors.

Outstanding projects ; Nursery ( 180,000 Baht ) and Minibus ( 700,000 Baht )

I am happy to provide regular updates on successes, and do hope you find the love in your heart for these children .

We have various projects which we are seeking funding for , and these are listed as;

1)Project Basics – to provide the basics needed for an initial 30 children – cots , clothes , mosquito nets , bottles etc ……

Progress to date – this weekend I shipped a 20 foot container of donations from the generous people of Singapore .I estimate we are 50 % there in achieving this goal.

2)Project fresh water

To provide artesian water to the Orphanage for drinking /washing purposes -.

Progress to date – COMPLETED .

3)Project staff provider

To provide accommodation on site to staff ,and to provide a ratio of one staff to every 3 babies we have .

Money needed = 500,000 Baht .

Progress , one third of the way there with donations from friends and family.

4)Project mothers at risk .

To provide women the chance to give birth with dignity and proper medical

support .The incidence of HIV spreading to the new born can be reduced if proper medical care is taken .We aim to build 5 small cabins to house 2 women at a time .

Money needed = 300,000 Baht

Progress , one cabin money donated by friends .

5)Project Nursery

As the children numbers increase ,we need to separate small babies from toddlers .

Money needed = 180,000 Baht .

Progress – All Outstanding .

6)project Mini Bus

To transport the children to school / hospital etc in a safe way

Money needed = 700,000 Baht

In the meantime a team of local doctors and nurses visit once a month and give full examinations and provide care to the babies ( this is again all given voluntarily , as they have experienced first hand the love and excellence we aim to provide )

All Operating costs are born by the church in Australia.

From Sally Forrest:Update August 2004, the children have really grown, "Herewith the latest images of our first 8 babies, who have all been with us since soon after birth, except Robin, who was premature and came to us a bit later.

We are off soon to Hot to start setting up the new Nursery for from new-borns to about stagger about stage. This will separate them from the toddlers, who are becoming increasingly bold and quick". - Phil. click here for photosUpdte April 2004Updates from the hills of Thailand – Baan Fah Sigh-y (Blue Skies) Orphanage Six months have passed since I updated you on the progress at the Orphanage and I am delighted to be able to share with you some of our wonderful successes.

We now have 12 babies in our care and another baby due to arrive any day now. Their individual stories continue to shock me and the latest little girl was born to a young mother who was drugged and raped at her very first party. The mother tried to commit suicide on discovering she was pregnant, however her parents have been supportive and helped her through and now the baby is with us.We have just completed building our staff accommodation, and the staff are delighted to have a place they can call home, and which is built to such high specifications.The project currently underway is to build a shaded play area for the children, as our eldest baby is approaching 18 months and so is already running around, and needs shading from the scorching sun.We have also raised funds now for a nursery and so this is the next project on our list.I would like to thank everyone for the help, support and interest that my last article generated .I am grateful that so many found it of interest and that it generated support I can always be contacted on my E mail at sallymforrest@hotmail.com or messages can be left with my father ( Gerry Forrest ) on 015242 21907 New Photos on Web, click here to see them

September 2003 Update on Baan Fah sigh-y Orphanage I wanted to give everyone a Pre Xmas update on the wonderful success to date at Baan Fah Sigh-y Orphanage in Hot, Chiangmai .The doors opened on 01 November 2002 and as we approach our first year in operation , I have some fantastic successes to share with you all.We now have 8 babies and again I share with you the information on how we came to love each one of them .Please treat this with confidence for the babies.1)Gaew – Our first baby – born 14/10/2002 ,and so is approaching her first birthday ! She is the baby of an 18 year old student who was studying a marketing degree ,and the father ran away .It was frowned upon to be an unmarried mother and so the student was asked to leave the training facility .She wanted to continue with her studies and luckily found a caring teacher who continued to educate her in the evenings .When Gaew was born ( a beautiful , healthy baby ) neither the young mother , nor her family could afford to keep her , and so she was released to the Orphanage. Anyone who has met Gaew , will have lasting wonderful impressions of a happy , cheeky little girl , full of fun and mischief . She is the eldest of our babies and she knows it !She was the first to be using a baby walker on wheels and was scooting all over the Orphanage directing operations !2)Janchai – Born 18/11/2002 , to a 37 year old suspected village prostitute .The mother was also procuring girls into prostitution and did not want the responsibility of a baby herself.There were suspicions that the mother is HIV positive , however Janchai is tested and is OK .Janchai is a very alert little girl , the quickest to respond to any noise or movement .Her thick black hair makes her stand out from the rest – and gives us all a challenge when cutting it !3)Mark – born 06/01/2003 and was 2 months premature .His mother was to be sold into prostitution by her step grandmother to pay for dialysis for her grandfather .The father was already married and wanted nothing to do with his pregnant girlfriend.The mother refused to go into prostitution and ran away – however once the baby was born , she did not have the money to support him .Mark is a very alert ,handsome and solid little boy – he looks like a wrestler in the making – so strong and healthy !4)Angie – born 07/03/2003 to a hill tribe mother ( Karen tribe ) who ran from the hospital on giving birth .The mother is believed to be HIV positive and we now await tests on Angie .Angie has the face of an angel – so beautiful .We all pray she is healthy and when old enough to be tested I will keep you all informed .5)Robin – born 24/10/2002 and was 3 months premature .His mother had tried to abort him at 6 months pregnant by self injecting – he survived and was 1.2 kg at birth !His mother does not know the whereabouts of the father and was unable to look after Robin , she left him alone all day,whilst she went to work , taped to a mattress in a run down shack !Robin is very special to me as I collected him with Wanida from the shack – the transformation in this little boy makes me confident the work we are all doing is so worthwhile .On collecting him he was covered in ant bites and dirt – even his eyes were bitten and they had become infected ( green puss oozed out of them !) …he is now a wonderfully healthy boy and gives Mark a challenge on size !Together they look like a pair of sumo wrestlers – having put on so much weight and they are always happy and cheerful !6)Leo – born 18 /02/2003 .The mother already had 2 children and the father left her when pregnant – so she could not cope .She asked her aunt if she could live with her , and was allowed …until the Aunt realized she was pregnant – and said if she wanted to stay then she must give up the baby .Leo is a perfectly healthy , happy little boy .He has a very handsome face and is most photogenic!7)Gerry – born 26/04 /2003 at 27 weeks .His mother already had 2 older children ( 21 and 10) and her first husband had died .She ran away with her boyfriend and became pregnant .The boyfriend eventually ran away with all her money and the mother was very sick at the time , so the baby was induced at 27 weeks.The mother died 10 days after giving birth ( of a broken heart ) .Gerry will need to be tested for HIV once he is older.He is the little weakling of the pack – however we are all confident with the right love and care , he will pull through.8)Gina –born 28/06/03 was born to a married woman whose husband is in jail and as neither the mother , nor the boyfriend wanted a child , she was abandoned .She is growing very quickly and only looked like a baby for 2 weeks!So a great start , with 8 happy babies on board .

Other successes 1)The water project is completed thanks to the kindness of Carolyn Tarrant and the BCTFN in Thailand.We now have freshly pumped running water .2)Staff Accomodation is now being planned , thanks to the excellent work done by the Singaporean volunteers and Singaporean donors. We had an excellent event with the Tanglin school which raised significant fundings .We have the money to construct separate staff quarters and plans are currently being drawn up .3)A 20 foot container full of donations has been delivered from Singapore ( and unpacked with glee) at the Orphanage .Gifts included beds , wardrobes , cots , toys , clothes , TV , bikes ……4)The basics have now been provided at the Orphanage , so each baby has a separate cot and area ,along with baby walkers , prams , toys , clothes etc.5)Doctors and nurses from the local hospital have agreed to come and check the health of each baby on a monthly basis ( free of charge ) 6)An article has appeared in the Bangkok Metro magazine , spreading the word about the Orphanage and seeking support .7)Individual donations are coming in from our many friends from as far afield as the UK , Australia , Russia , Thailand .We really are becoming a name on "global"lips !Thank you to one and all – we really do appreciate your help – and EVERY dollar goes to the children !!8)We now have a team of 9 dedicated staff working in the Orphanage .Our ratio of 3 babies to one nanny will provide the correct love and care required .Staff roles have been defined and clarified to cover everything from management , to maintenance , from nannys to security …..quite an operation !

Future needs /Project1)Project Nursery As the children numbers increase, we will need a separate area for the small babies. Estimated cost 8000 Singapore dollars2)Project homes for mothers at risk .We want to provide women with the chance to give birth with dignity and proper medical support .The spread of HIV to the baby can be reduced if special care is taken at birth .Estimated cost 10,000 Singapore dollars ( we have already received some donations towards this and the cost is the remainder)3)Project Basics There will be a continuous need to provide more basic items as the baby numbers increase. We now have the authorization for 50 babies /children – so the challenge is ahead for us 4)Project Mini bus Again as our numbers increase , so too does the challenge of transporting the babies and children around .Estimated cost 30,000 Singapore dollars I have attracted a lot of kind helpers and willing volunteers in many parts of the world , and together we now need to come up with exciting new ideas to raise funds for the above projects and future funding .All operational costs are being met by the kind donations of the Dream center church ,Australia– where Phil originates from ,and again careful consideration has been taken of our growing numbers .I will have a brainstorm for the volunteers in Singapore in mid October , and of course encourage anyone who has any ideas to let me know .One idea, which is worthy of consideration coming up to Christmas ….We do all spend a lot of money on things like Christmas cards , expensive gift wrap etc…all very commercial , and many are just disposed of post Christmas which seems a waste .An idea ,given to me , is that instead of spending the money this way , we let our friends / relatives / loved ones know we are still thinking about them at Christmas by donating the monies to the Orphans instead – and encourage them to do the same !( sorry to all the Christmas Card retailers out there!!) Just think if between us we raised enough money for a nursery ( which is permanent !!) – how wonderful that would be !Well hope you like the updates, and do keep in touch if you need anymore information or want to help further .I know many people are helping make this a success and I want to say thank you to each and every one of you –the donations, no matter the size, are all welcomed!Thanks for helping change the lives of our 8 babies – and looking forward we do have space for 42 more babies!!!