It was encouraging to see that since our previous visit, obvious efforts have been made to use initiative and to take good care of the resources at Hoay Maw.

Bloomin' Pigs

The two mother pigs looked in excellent condition. They are both pregnant. The smaller will deliver next week. The larger is due in a couple of weeks. Wang Seh Lui is responsible for the pigs. He was working hard preparing the food for them. Lattanaporn had visited Chiang Rai and used the internet to discover a local plant that pigs love and is very good for them. The plant is like chewing gum to the pigs – and pigs love to chew. When the piglets are due and arrive, they will be watched 24/7 for a period to ensure that they aren’t squashed by the mother.

A quick slurp ...

"Yum, Yum, Bubble-Gum!"

Cabbage Patch Kids

When we last visited, we showed Joseph photos of a girls home where they were growing their own vegetables. We explained that the photo showed that they were making an effort to support themselves and were taking good care of their resources. We were surprised and pleased that some of the older children have planted an area behind Joseph’s house with Chinese greens. It isn’t really of a size to significantly impact the food supply but it is never the less an achievement. It shows initiative, is well looked after and the vegetables are growing healthily.

Grow Bags & Bananas

Money from the Norwegian charity 'Open Hands' will enable the purchase of more mushroom grow bags. Twelve thousand baht (£180, $360) will buy enough to provide 20kg of mushrooms a day over a period of 9 months. This provides a significant boost to the basic rice diet of the 128 children for a cost of only £20 per month.

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It was also good to see the banana plants coming up into season again. the children enjoy eating the bananas and the stems go to feed the pigs.

'In the Pink'

The government has rebuilt the Thai school in the village. During the re-build, lessons have been taught in the Chinese classrooms on the site of the home. Now they have a brand new school.

There is also a new medical centre in the village. We hope that the children will be able to make use of this facility.