APEC Secretariat Charity Drive for Child Help Foundation, Khon Kaen
The Child Help Foundation in Khon Kaen was today presented with a donation of Baht 41,000 (SG$1,725) along with children's clothing and educational items from international staff at the APEC Secretariat in Singapore.
APEC Secretariat Executive Director, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said the presentation was a small gesture of appreciation to the people of Thailand for their hospitality in the APEC 2003 Year.
"The people of Thailand have warmly welcomed APEC delegates into their local communities. As an expression of appreciation the APEC Secretariat staff in Singapore, who represent almost all APEC member economies, have collected money, clothes and books," Ambassador Milintachinda said.
"This is a personal symbolic gift from the staff at the Secretariat that will have real benefit for the children at the Child Help Foundation.
"APEC's work is about building brighter futures for the people of the Asia-Pacific community and touching people's lives. On this visit to the North East of Thailand we believe that we can touch the lives of the children at the Child Help Foundation in a tangible way
"We hope our modest gifts go some way to help the children under the care of the Child Help Foundation to have a brighter future."
"The Child Help Foundation is a worthwhile charity for homeless and abused children in Khon Kaen.
"We are confident that the managers of the Child Help Foundation, Suriya and Utis Somjai, will be able to put the gifts to good use."
The Child Help Foundation assists abused and homeless children, many afflicted by drug addiction, ranging in age between 2 and 19 years. The foundation operates a shelter at its headquarters which is also the home of the Somjais, a Baan Suan School on farm land at the outskirts of Khon Kaen and a Small Child Development Centre in the inner city slums by the railroad tracks of Khon Kaen. Website: www.pattayalovers.com/chf/chf.htm
The APEC Secretariat Staff Social Activities Committee 2003 Charity drive was initiated by staff members as a pilot project which will be continued in the APEC 2004 Year in Chile.