Smelling hope of a new life Ms. Piromya Satthathai

‘It hurts, I'm scared’ – the voice of a child screaming in the night echoed though the home at the Duang Prateep Foundation's New Life Project at Kanchanaburi, west of Bangkok, near the border with Burma. It was the girl's first night in her new home and staff rushed over to provide comfort.

The little girl was called Nang, she had come to the foundation with hope for a new beginning after suffering abuse and torture for the previous sixyears of her life. The face had sorrow written all over it. The scars were both mental and physical. The torment was easy to see as the girl's face was so badly damaged that her nose had been flattened.

For the Duang Prateep Foundation, the story began when a policeman saw this little child, Nang, beg on the streets and decided to take her to Prateep and Mingporn at the Duang Prateep Foundation. Nang told about how she was forced into begging from a young age, having to earn 500 baht per day. If Nang and the other children failed to earn enough money, they were tortured with cigarette burns until the scars were deep on the body. Each day Nang would go out on the streets, pleading for money from everyone walking by. As old wounds healed, almost every day there would be new scars.

Once Nang had a fever and was unable to go begging. Her master felt no pity on the little girl, instead he smashed her nose in. Nang was in tremendous pain and howled for help, but her master shoved his fist in her mouth, and threatened to kill her if another tear was seen or scream heard. Tears were held in, but the moment haunted her a million times as she grew up, not just on her first night at the New Life project.

Nang clearly remembers the warmth she felt the first evening she was held tight in Prateep's arms. She was six at that time, but it was as if for the first time she was actually alive, in a new world with happiness and security. At the New Life Project, her wounds healed, she became part of a 'family' of staff and other children and could dream of a bright future.

Nang stopped crying but did not forget the pain of her past. Nang soon got a chance to go to school and felt pride in wearing a uniform. Despite the lack of a birth certificate, and with no opportunity to trace her background, the foundation was determined that there should be no obstacles in the way of her education.

Today Nang is 19 years old, and leading a healthy life style, studying in secondary school level 5 at Baan Kao Vitthaya School. She is involved with projects at the foundation and is prospering everyday. She is very talented, and great at arts and crafts, such as making flower garlands. Nang won first place in Kanchanaburi for making the most beautiful garlands, which made friends and teachers very proud of her.

Nang is now a confident speaker and learner, with good values, wisdom and kindness. However, one issue still remained - her nose, a constant reminder of the brutality of her early years. Not long after coming into the care of the Duang Prateep Foundation, Nang received temporary surgery on her nose. Recently, now she is an adult, it became time to wipe away the last traces of the past from Nang's body. Therefore Prateep and Mingporn arranged for Nang to have cosmetic surgery for a new nose during April 2009.

This young lady has many hopes and dreams for her future and wants to contribute to the society which shaped her. Nang hopes to further her education at Rachabhat Kanchanaburi University, where she hopes to obtain a bachelors degree in Management Studies. After graduating Nang wishes to return to the foundation and contribute her knowledge to the next generation and help the many projects in whatever way possible.

The Duang Prateep Foundation strives to help every child fulfill their dreams. Nang is one example of how care, affection, and education can help lives be transformed and goals achieved. Every child has the right to live in hope and adults must point them in the right direction.