Ban Mueang Daeng

After travelling to Chiang Rai we rent a motorbike to head to border town Mae Sai, to visit Baan Nana (or Childlife), the children's shelter we both volunteered at more than 10 years ago. It's been about 5 years since I last visited and about 7 years for Jean. It was nice to see Kru Ngaow, the founder, who hasn't changed too much and this place in the middle of rice paddy fields which has and also hasn't changed so much. There are a lot more strutures on the property as they have plans for a vocational college, and this year they got electricity! Kru Ngaow told us there are less street kids now (especially since Myanmar has changed somewhat politically), however there is still big problems with alcohol and drugs and broken families.

There are still a few familiar faces which is nice, including one boy we knew as a 9yr old, now 20 years old and working there. It's also nice to hear of stories about other children we spent time with there and what they are doing.Read more