CityNews — On any given day at the Rajanagarindra Institute of Child Development you can find Light Footsteps Initiative volunteers empowering children of all ages and activity levels to engage in art, music, athletics, and dance. These children have varying ability levels, both physical and cognitive and the volunteers range from high school students to adults.
Light Footsteps Initiative (LFI) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2013 by Yada Pruksachatkun, then 15 years old. Growing up with two doctors as parents, Yada was able to see firsthand how hospitalised youth do not have the opportunity to pursue their passions and develop self-confidence. Children in the hospital miss out on the social interactions and many of the experiences that children outside the hospital enjoy freely. This is where LFI comes in. Volunteers of varying skill levels meet with the kids in small and large groups to work on anything from drawing butterflies with coloured pencils to playing badminton in the hospital hallway. LFI is currently active in four hospitals in Chiang Mai and looking to expand.
In between music therapy sessions and doctors appointments, the children in these hospitals enjoy visits from volunteers across the world each of whom bring a unique set of skills to the project. “I can tell the work we’re doing is really making a difference to the kids,” says Katherine Lange, an intern from New York, “ They’re always so excited to see us!”.
By the end of the summer, LFI volunteers hope to help the children release a second CD. The CD will feature both original and well-known songs in English and Thai. Volunteers will work over the next few weeks writing the songs and teaching them to the children.
The organization is always looking for new volunteers who have a little bit of time to donate to working with the kids.
Additionally, LFI has just launched a summer fundraising campaign. Those outside the Chiang Mai area or without the time to volunteer can still help LFI achieve its goals by donating through our online fundraising page.
Interested volunteers should email Yada at [email protected].
To donate to the LFI fundraising page, please click HERE.