We found a house! Actually, it’s two houses, a meditation room (soon to be volunteer’s quarters) and 2.5 beautiful acres of more shades of green than we’ve ever seen. We will be renting from a very nice couple who specialize in organic agriculture which means the land is full of orchids, bananas, coconuts, mangos, guava, Asian pears, lychee, passion fruit and countless other beautiful things we’ve never heard of. There is also a small fish pond, a huge rice irrigation stream filled with all sorts of delicious food, rice paddies up for rent in the vicinity, fresh air and room to roam! On the 30 minute ride back to Chiang Mai, the COSA team was giddy with ideas and plans for how to make the property really feel like Baan Yuu Suk. There is a nice guest house nearby and plenty of mountain views for anyone who may want to come for a visit in the future. We welcome volunteers, sponsors or casual travelers to stop by and say hello or stay and help for a few days.
Although finding a shelter location is a big step in the right direction, we still have a lot of work to do. We are working hard to gain legal guardianship of the Harbor House girls and we are remaining optimistic that they will be filling the new house with life in a matter weeks. We have to keep reminding ourselves to have a little patience until they finish school.
Renovations will continue on one of our two houses until October but in the meantime, the COSA team is still trying to reach our fundraising goal. Very soon we will have to start buying basic amenities for the house, including furniture, a stovetop, pots and pans and blankets. Ideally, we also hope to purchase an inexpensive outdoor clay oven in the future to teach the girls some basic baking skills (fresh baked cookies?!), bicycles the girls can use to travel to the nearby school, and a motorbike to transport shelter necessities far distances. Of course, we still are in need of the basics as well-- school supplies, vegetable seeds, forks, plates, buckets, and shoes – all the little things we take for granted at home. In the coming days we will post an itemized list of necessities to give our followers a basic idea of the cost of living here. If you would like to donate towards a specific item (or few items), please let us know!
We still have a lot of work to do before Baan Yuu Suk is operational. However, thanks to our supporters, we are getting closer and closer to a successful opening in October. We cannot begin to explain just how much the help received thus far means to us and sincerely thank everyone for their thoughtful suggestions and donations! As Baan Yuu Suk’s opening nears, we hope you will continue to follow our progress!
THANKS
Mickey, Anna, Christina, and Cecilia
COSA Team
The COSA team would like to send out a gigantic THANK YOU to all of our more than generous supporters for helping us exceed the Baan Yuu Suk start-up fundraising goal in only one month! Thanks to all of your encouraging words, advice and monetary contributions, many sexually exploited, abused and at-risk girls will soon have a place to call home, a solid education and the freedom and security to look forward to a positive future!
Though it is clear that Baan Yuu Suk will now become a reality, we still need continuous support to ensure that our girls never have to face an uncertain future again. We always appreciate monetary donations, but if you would like to contribute in a more concrete manner you can donate towards specific items we will need in the shelter or become a sponsor of one of our new girls (we will put individual biographies of each girl online as they arrive)! Better yet, plan a trip to Thailand and spend some time with us!
Again, thank you so much for all of your help so far; we’ve been overwhelmed by the positive response we’ve received and hope it continues in the future so that even more girls can be saved from a life that no one should have to live. We hope you all continue to follow our progress and support COSA and the girls in any way possible!
Mickey, Anna, Christina, and Cecilia
COSA Team
Dear family and friends,
I am writing to you on behalf of COSA in request for urgent need of your support.
Over the last 4 years we have been working with and supporting the Harbor House Foundation; a shelter located in Northern Thailand for child victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation. There are currently 6 girls residing here; all who are receiving support from us to attain an education, vocational training and a supported future.
Today we face the closure of the Harbor House Foundation as per order by the newly elected local Government committee.
Without having the funding for this unexpected crisis, the girls who have been together and known this place as home for almost 8 years will be displaced and relocated to several governments run villages throughout the Chiang Rai province, including the separation of three sisters.
We are asking you to help us in any way for us to be able to take in these girls and housing them into an emergency shelter; keeping them together and ensuring they continue to receive their sponsorship through COSA.
In order for us to set up this emergency shelter in such a short time we need to raise $8,000 USD. This amount of money will allow us to provide housing and security, relocate schools, and once again provide a safe and supportive environment.
This is a difficult time for us all, particularly the girls who knowingly are facing an uncertain future, without family or each other to support them through this time. If you feel you are able to help us achieve our goal, please contact Mickey or Anna to further discuss your thoughts and ways you can help.
Please remember that we are a tax concession charity within the USA and Australia; your donation is tax deductable. We look forward to hearing from you
Yours sincerely
COSA Team