Chala’s Story

Some months ago I wrote about Chala, a former Shan State Army fighter who now works as a translator and has started an orphanage in Kamphaeng Phet. We met when a Singaporean group went down to Chiangmai to help out in some of the villages, but hadn’t kept in touch since I entered the military.

2 days ago he sent me another email:

Hello
Currently as I mentioned I just taking care of thirty kids but the do not have enough food as It suppose the kids are just sleeping on the cement floor with just only a piece of blanket please pray for us,My mother has passed -away last year of November my father is 78 years old with that age he can work no more please pray for my father as well I’m not in Chiang Mai anymore I’m here the province called Kamphaeng Phet my number is <taken out>. Thankyou very much
May God richly bless you.
Love in Christ Chala

Yesterday, I called him with the help of Nattacha, my dorm mate from Thailand, and we spoke to him about how much he needed and all. He needs approximately 9000 baht ($254) for food, 5000 baht ($141) for transportation, and 3000 baht ($84) for rent. This, incredibly, comes up to approximately US$450- and this pays for the food, housing, and schooling for almost 30 children in Thailand.

If only there was a way to verify and make sure donor money is well used! I don’t know whether to help or not, as I have heard horror stories of money disappearing. On the other hand not to help would be heartless.

A brief google search turns up this and this, so Chala has been calling others as well. It is such a pity that the first world lives in such prosperity (I spent a dinner here listening to how one of my dorm mates describe herself as “poor”, while trying not to notice her nice clothes, makeup and shoes), while the third world needs to depend on them on its “loose change” donations to survive.

(Edit: This is interesting. One blog says that the orphanage needs $3000 a month; Chala told me he needed $450. Why the difference? The rest of the story, though, is the same. I will call him later to verify this.)