This year, following a near two-decades long tradition, the Citylife Garden Fair will be selling tickets for a raffle (tombola) to raise funds for the Dulphatorn Foundation. Tickets will be on sale for 60 baht each (two for 100 baht) and you can INSTANTLY win any of the hundreds of prizes and vouchers offered by our many friends and businesses across Chiang Mai.
From exclusive resort stays to fine dining, to free ice creams to jewellery. We will be giving away hundreds upon hundreds of thousands of baht worth of goodies, and 100% of monies raised will go straight to the Dulphatorn Foundation.
Who are they? Well, Citylife visited them this week and we are in love with what they are doing. With your help, we will be building an activities sala (leisure/work area) for the young people of the foundation. Here is more…
The Dulabhatorn Foundation, DBF, – (pronounced “dtoo-la-pa-torn” – มูลนิธิ ดุลภาทร – in Thai) is a non-religious, non-political, non-profit charity located in SanSai Luang district, Chiang Mai. Ourfocus is to provide support and resources for marginalized young people and their communities.The foundation was founded in 2007 by Brian and Marianne Doberstyn in memory of their parents. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn coined the name based on three Sanskrit words which translate respectively as “justice” or “equity,” “light” and “caring”. A few years ago, DBF changed its focus from providing scholarships for economically disadvantaged students to the education and training of children with developmental disabilities. Individuals with special needs require an individualized approach adapted to their skills and limitations while ensuring opportunities to explore their interests and encourage meaningful participation in their families and community. At the Foundation, we aim to identify and evaluate alternative approaches to help these young peopleperform to their highest potential. Direct educational (Montessori-based), therapeutic (Occupational, Physical, and Alternative Communication – AAC), vocational, and social-recreational services are offered to participants at no expense to their families. Participants are classified into 4 primary groups:
1. School age – children from nearby schools and the local community. Activities include both individual and group interventions utilizing onsite resources such as the foundation swimming pool while also collaborating with organizations like the Military Squadron which provides horseback riding.
2. Transition – as children began aging out of the school system, we expanded services to support independence in daily living and pre-vocational training. These young adults attend daily under the supervision of the Foundation’s therapist and teachers to reach their full potential. A few of the participants have obtained gainful employment in the community while others enjoy working in the Foundation’s coffee shop and gardens.
3. Complex Needs – we provide regular monthly activities for children with complex multiple disabilities who are not attending school due to the nature of their involvement. This programstrives to empower and connect caregivers. In addition to distributing supplemental nutrition, we meet as a group for themed multisensory storybook reading that includes the implementation of AAC tools and strategies.
4. Monitoring – participants who due to either living in remote areas such as the Montessori pre-school Baan Pang Ma-O or local children whose family or physical circumstances prevent their on-site participation. The Foundation provides coaching, and equipment to caregivers during visits and makes themselves available as other needs might arise. The Foundation’s work reaches approximately 100 young people through either direct onsite services or consultation and monitoring. We are fortunate to be situated on grounds with adequate land for development but require additional useable space.
The Foundation is seeking financial support to construct a multi-purpose pavilion to meet the growing number of participants with varying levels of needs. https://www.facebook.com/dulabhatornfoundation
See you soon
