[Uplillacype]

The orphanage of Wat Sra Kaew, Ang Thong province
ʶҹʧà¤ÃÒÐËìà´ç¡¡Ó¾ÃéÒáÅÐÂÒ¡¨¹ ÇÑ´ÊÃÐá¡éÇ

One of the activities that some Thai people celebrate birthday is hosting lunch or dinner for orphans and poor children at the orphanage of Wat Sra Kaew, Ang Thong province, around 100 kilometers far from Bangkok. This temple was built around 300 years ago, Ayutthaya Era. In 1942 (2485 B.E.) the late abbot started taking care of 10 orphans, in 2008 the number of children was 1,500 – 1,600 most of them were from the North.

These children are provided education until they reach high school level, also scholarship for outstanding students to study in higher level. This orphanage receives patronage from the King 15,000 baht a day for many years, the government, and donation.

At the weekend my cousins and I hosted a dinner for these children, the temple staff told us total number of the children was around 1,700. Before having dinner, all children sang ‘Happy Birthday’ song, that’s nice to see them enjoy singing, having food, candies, some pocket money and necessities.

We met 2 Japanese tourists at the temple, they were staying at Home Stay in this area, the 3rd time for them to visit this temple, we invited them to joining us.

Before leaving the temple, we donated money as co-hosts of the ordination (ºÃþªÒ) of 350 novices (ÊÒÁà³Ã) and 200 nuns retreat (ÈÕŨÒÃÔ³Õ – seen jaa ri nee) during April 6 – 26, 2009. Everyone is welcomed to join this ordination ceremony on April 6, 2009.

ÈÕŨÒÃÔ³Õ (seen jaa ri nee) is a female disciple, seriously observes the Buddhist precepts at the temple same as the nun but her head and eyebrows are not shaved as the nun, 'seen jaa ri nee' is also called ‘ªÕ¾ÃÒËÁ³ì - chee brahm’

[agiopwer]

Thanks for sharing your great story and pictures!
How did you get connected to this temple?

[Uplillacype]

I have heard of this temple for long time, my cousin managed this dinner hosting.

If I am not mistaken, Wat Sra Kaew School which these children are studying welcomes volunteers to teach English.

The abbot: Dr. Phramaha Phairoh Kritsanavadee
Director, Buddhist Promotion and Social Service Bureau, Mahachulalongkornrjavidyalaya University

Wat Sra Kaew, Tumbon Bangsadej, Umphur Phamok, Ang Thong 14130
Tel: 035 - 661169, 662033, 081 - 8529058
Fax: 035 - 661273

[Uplillacype]

Preservation Tourism Village Homestay Tambon Bang Sadet

Interesting for homestay :
A ceramic court doll making village and orphanage open for tourists to do volunteer activities.

Historic Background /Outstanding characteristics :
Tambon Bang Sadet is considered a community tourism site with the Tambon Administration as a core coping with Wat Sa Kaeo School and Pa Mok Cultural Center. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Central region 6, gives technological support to the project by training the hosts in management and hospitality. The homestay was ready and started to accept tourists in 1998 and later the Bang Sadet Tambon Administration Office transferred the management to Wat Sa Kaeo School.

Activity :
• Presenting food offerings to the monks early in the morning and learn about the morning life of the people in the community.
• Join the cooking and dining with the villagers.
• Join in the kindergarten students’ activities like recreational and language exchange activities.
• Join with the primary school and high school students to do such activities as language exchange, sports, cultural preservation and agricultural occupation support.
• Study the works of the villagers such as court doll making, fabric weaving, incense making, fish raising, farming and fruit gardening.
• Visit historical sites, both religious and historic, at Wat Sudthawat.

Product :
- OTOP a banana bakes , fry
- The cloth jerks
- Doing joss sticks , money decorations
- Pomegranate fish

Place Number : 15 Place
People Count : 50 people
People Price : 400 Bath/people
Contact : Mayuri Sinak
Address : 1/18 Moo 6, Ban Bang Sadet, Tambon Bang Sadet, Amphoe Pa Mok, Ang Thong 14130
Tel Home : 035 - 661 - 950
Tel Mobile : 081 - 946 - 5457
Website : http://school.obec.go.th/watsrakaew
Email : school_srakaew@hotmail.com

http://www.homestaythai.org/en/homes...gthong&lang=EN

[cinggooft]

Thank you for sharing, Mel.