BUPA 60th Thailand Challenge

The video diaries for weeks 5 and 6 have now been uploaded. If you can’t view them here they’re also on the intranet - happy watching!

Week 5

• Julia McCance
• Catriona McQueen
• Adam Bullock
• Tracey Walsom
• Jacky Sylvester

Week 6

• Dawn Davies

Jo

Those five simple words from Father Mike just about sum it up.

The challenge is finally over and everything’s back to normal. Or is it? The experience might be over but the memories and spirit associated with Sarnelli House will stay with many forever. As one of the volunteers so succinctly put it, “we came to give and received so much more”.

We in Community Connections had hopes that this challenge would be a success for both the volunteers and the children of Sarnelli House. Never in our wildest dreams did we expect to be so overwhelmed with support and passion from the volunteers and everyone else who has contributed along the way.

Every single person involved in the BUPA 60th Anniversary Thailand Challenge should be immensely proud of their achievements, commitment and spirit. This challenge has shown what dedicated employees we have at BUPA and has united people up and down and across BUPA businesses around the world.

In summary, we achieved more work than we ever set out to do. Thanks to the absolute determination of each and every volunteer Sarnelli House now has: 

• Four newly re-decorated houses both inside and out
• A landscaped BUPA garden
• New beds for the older boys
• New furniture throughout all the buildings
• Four new sports courts
• Four new playgrounds
• New kitchen at the girls’ home (together with new appliance and a raised ceiling to make it bearable in summer)
• 20 new bathrooms
• Hot water allowing the children to have showers in the morning before school
• Protected rice fields so rice can be grown for the children each year
• Newly painted front fence and signs

Wow. A truly amazing achievement in just six weeks and it couldn’t have been done without you. 

Just as Sarnelli House will never be far from our minds it appears that you also made quite an impact during your time there. We heard from Father Mike just the other day and his honest words show how you have touched the lives of so many. We thought this would be the perfect time to share them with you:

 “We have photos of six weeks of BUPA volunteers and the kids can pick them out and give their names. I go home for five weeks and when I return, the wee ones stare at me like I have a bunghole growing out of the middle of my forehead. They can’t remember me. They sure do remember their favourites from BUPA. You haven’t just sent money from some unknown location from unknown people, but you are friendly, caring, loveable, huggable people who have entered their lives.

We will always be beholden to you. Thank you for all the BUPA people did. We look at the flower garden and the memorial, and miss you all deeply. Have a wonderful Christmas and all God’s blessings in the New Year!” Father Mike 

 Lots of love, Claire, Jo and Siobhan. 

Note: Please continue to use this blog. It is a way to help ensure Sarnelli House stays top of people’s minds and we will use it as a way of communicating future plans with you all. 

Weather awful here so thinking of you all out there on week 6. Arrived home, upset to leave but very happy of what we achieved last week and what has been done on the previous weeks. Way to go ! Thought I’d upload a few pics of us from last week, haven’t got around to much more than loading on PC yet … but will. Love Trace x  

It is certainly a difficult task to put into the words the feelings running through all of the wonderful week 5 team at the moment without repeating the words already said in the previous 4 weeks, or without it feeling like a cliche.

Today is our last day in Nong Khai and as I type everyone is packing away their things and reflecting on what has been. As for me, from the moment the team met until the time we say our goodbyes tomorrow, I have been part of something truly special. A truly life changing experience in every sense.

The work was tackled with gusto and every hour of every working day, we could see the environment for the children improving immeasurably. Our team with hardwork and teamwork transformed the front of the main Sarnelli House, the inside of the main building, bedrooms, gardens, the children’s sick room, front gate and wall and of course the signs!! Sarnelli House now says loud and proud what a special place it is.

And as for the children……..

Without doubt the interaction with every child was the most moving and special part of the trip. Having read the context with which they came to Sarnelli House and to see them thrive and develop in such a special environment was the most amazing thing. From the minute we met them last Sunday, there were no barriers, each and every one of us instantly made friends we will never forget. My friends, Net, Geow, Top, Leow, Mut and Nong greeting me with such warmth and enthusiasm every time they came home from school that these images will never fade from my memory. Language was never an issue, the smiles were enough.

The final day included words from Father Mike and a thank you ceremony from the children that would turn the most hardened person to mush. I had held it together well (which is more than I can say for BFJ), until right at the end, after I had said goodbyes that I didn’t want to end, when Net started crying as the minibus pulled away. Needless to say the journey back to the hotel was in complete silence as everyone tried to make sense of how they were feeling.

Put simply, this has been a truly memorable trip and the feelings I have for Sarnelli House, all the staff, the wonderful children and my 11 new best friends will never leave me.

Good luck week 6

Adam

Well computer now working in room for first time on our last day so will b lots of blogs today.

Just arrived back from our favourite Thai eating place….it was shut so ate in hotel…reflecting on yesterday our last day at Sarnelli….more tears!!!This evening is going to be hard for everyone as it is the fainality and realisation that we are going home to our families but these are the people that you have shared a life changing experience with and you will want to talk lots more about it in the weeks to come.

Please if you are reading these blogs and you want to do more contact one of the volunteers. What has been achieved here over the last few weeks is amazing and all down to the Bupa teams…..week 6 you will have a fantastic time.

I said my goodbyes yesterday to each child and finally Man u….this little boy has Aids, cannot walk without the aid of a frame or my arms, I had just given him his daily dose of 4 syringes of various medicines all without fuss and a massive grin on his face….look out for him and give him a huge hug…all the other children can walk up to you he cant!!! The children have huge amounts of love to give and share hugs and smiles everyday……perhaps we can learn from that when we are all having a bad day….its easier if you SMILE.

Helen I wish I could stay and wait for you to share the experience again….enjoy.

Thanks Dirty Dozen ,Adam and Julia you kept me sane we had a ball missing you already.. My wee scottish friends will miss you,Princes Anastazia Keep in touch. Luke my second son your mum will be so proud,Whirling Dervish… keep positive because you can, Jacky and Mrs P Glad you were on our team, Little Kiwi and Mr Derek Thank you.

Well this is it the last day in NongKhai for week 5 and what a week it has been. An emotional journey that I am not sure unless you have experienced Sarnelli that I will ever be able to put into words so that you can all share it with me, I wish I could bottle every moment.

I have met the most amazing,AWESOME(Joanne) people who have been an inspiration to me and will miss more than they know…..lets hope that we all keep in touch we have shared so much together……lunch now will finish later.

Miss you all so mucH seeyou next week Karen X

Promised a blog tonight sorry it’s not going to be long. Well what can I say not a lot tonight but about today, last day at the orphanage: wonderful, fantastic, emotional, happy, sad, heart breaking, etc. For all of you like me who have been so lucky to come how can you put it into words the children, Father Mike, all the numerous other people out here we’ve met the whole experience and today all I can think to say is …………. well I can’t not tonight really really sorry ! For anyone else - we’re all ok, won’t forget this (ever) just want you all to know that. Thanks so much for the messages of support left re today means a lot out here to all of us on week 5. The time is almost over, it has gone so so quick, exhausted - going for a G&T I’ll write more tomorrow thanks xxx

Is it really the last day……it has gone so fast and doesnt seen 2 minutes since we arrived here in Nong Khai. Today is the day that we have to say goodbye to the children and carers at Sarnelli!! What will I take away from this truly amazing experience ….memories! filled with laughter and fun not only from my new found friends but from the children as well. If I could bottle the experience that I have had here and sell it then the children not only at Sarnelli but millions around the world would benefit from it.

They say ‘Home is where the Heart is’………it truly is here.