Ch-Ch-Chick-Chicken... Lay a little Egg for me

So whilst I had two weeks to spare in Thailand, I thought I would head back to Baan San Fan Children's Orphanage where I volunteered last year on my South East Asia travels. 

Set up and run after the 2005 tsunami by Sam and Gai, a lovely Thai couple, the orphanage is a place where vulnerable children can come and receive the care and attention they need. 

Baan San Fan currently cares for 22 children aged from 4 to 16 plus some older children who are currently studying at University - thanks to Sam and Gai. 

Unlike Western societies there is little to no funding for these types of organisations. Gai and Sam have unselfishly dedicated their lives to providing and caring for the children they take in. 

The orphanage runs on donations and the occasional government grant , but mainly from the profits of their Organic Farm. 

The chicken farm here is not only a source of revenue but also a sustainable food supply. Baan San Fan now supplies a number of supermarkets in Phuket and Bangkok with their Organic Chicken Eggs and Meat. 

In order to meet the current demand, they are desperate for more chickens. One chicken costs $10 USD. That's just £7.60!!! Which isn't even the price of a decent cocktail! 

If you would like to donate, it is simply just a Paypal Transaction to the e-mail;  paypal@baansanfan.org

See here for a full list of other projects you can also donate toward to help with the running of the orphanage; https://www.baansanfan.org/projects/

Meanwhile, heres some pictures of the current Chickens raised on the Baan San Fan farm. 

Baby Chicks that were hatched from the Eggs laid at the farm. 

Eagle Eyed Chicken! 

Read more posts on my experience at Baan San Fan below;
http://styleteaandcake.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/ban-saan-fan-children-orphanage-thailand.html

http://styleteaandcake.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/week-2-children-orphanage.html

http://styleteaandcake.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/travel-beauty-must-have.html

Coco Crazy for Coconuts

I wrote previously a few months back about how Coconut Oil was my must-have beauty item whilst travelling. Well since returning I have been testing Coconut Oil in almost everything, I LOVE it. 

I love it for it's versatility, it's results, it's smell, it's taste, it's health benefits... The list is endless. 

Most recently someone recommended I try a dash of it in my Coffee, and OhEmGee it tastes amazing!! 

Groovy Food Organic Coconut Oil £6.99 

Gym Coffee is what my friend called it when I told her about it, and after looking into it I can see why;

Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

• Increases Energy
• Speeds Up Metabolism
• Boots the Immune System
• Helps Improve Cholesterol 
• Improves Bone Health 
• Eases Digestion
• Heals Damaged Tissue and Infections 

Don't even get me started on the Beauty benefits! Coconut Oil has a number of uses, such as; 

• Nourishes Dry Skin & Prevents Wrinkles
• Hair
• Athletes Foot
• Sunburn
• Insect Bites (a great help when I was travelling)
• Scars (also helped to heal my insect bite scars when travelling) 
• Make-Up Remover
• Bath Oil
• Eczema (coconut oil is an anti-inflammatory) 
• Massage Oil
• Strengthen Eyelashes 

In fact Coconut Oil is so versatile it can even be used for cleaning!!! 

I use 100% Pure Organic Coconut Oil, from Baan San Fan Children's Orphanage in Thailand where I volunteered back in February. 

 

The Oil is handmade with help from the children at the orphanage and all of the money goes back into the Orphanage and towards the future of the children there.

At the moment the orphanage is desperately trying to raise money for new roofs on the homes that house the children - a small leaking hole which could soon turn into something more disastrous with Monsoon season.

You can purchase their wonderful Coconut Oil (trust me, this stuff is a miracle worker) here; http://www.baansanfan.org/how-we-help-ourselves/products/#oil it costs 200 Thai Baht which is less than £4.

There are also a number of other wonderful products you can buy from them too, all of which is organically made. Simply e-mail your orders to baansanfan@yahoo.com who will then e-mail you a PayPal invoice.

Want to Read More?

My Avocado Cheesecake Using Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil; Travel Beauty Must Have

Baan San Fan Children's Orphanage

My Week Staying at Baan San Fan  

Ban Saan Fan Children's Orphanage Thailand

This week I am staying at the Bungwan children's home, Baan San-Fan orphanage which I found through Podvolunteer.org. Based in the village of Bang Wan, Pang Nga province in the south of Thailand it was one of the worst hit areas in the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. 

Founders Sam and Gai visited the area to help with the devastation it caused and less than 9 months later they ended up opening the orphanage with 8 children as well as their own 3. 

There are currently 12 children housed and cared for here, they would love to take on more but money is an issue. There are hundreds of children in Phang Nga at risk from the prostitution and drug trades that blight the region. The orphanage runs on donations as well as selling products from their organic farm that the children help out with.

Speaking to Gai, you can tell how passionate she is about her orphanage. Calling everyone here her children, no one is treated differently, you are all part of the family and as the only volunteer here this week I have been lucky enough to be welcomed into the family fold with open arms. Yet she is desperately worried about the future. Sam and Gai have many plans and hopes for the orphanage but it all depends on funding. 

Their organic farm is becoming more successful, they now sell over 5000 eggs a week to two different stores, as well as organic chicken meat to markets in Bangkok. Sam has become an accomplished livestock farmer in recent years and has created a thriving business that he hopes will continue grow. The Chicken Farm is a reliable source of income which pays for the children's food, clothes and education.

They're also pretty tasty too! 

Priced at 120 Thai Baht for a dozen they're one of the best priced eggs in the country.

The orphanage also grow all their own fruit and vegetables that's mainly used for consumption here. Such as these juicy pineapples; 

However, the project I'm most excited about is the coffee shop! Sam grows his own coffee plants on the land and hopes to open his own shop. Situated on a main road, there would be lots of passing trade; it's the perfect business plan. All that's needed is the funding to make this possible. 

The coffee plant.

The proposed coffee house.

The coffee itself which is delicious!

Another source of income for the orphanage is the soaps and gifts they make, all from natural sources grown here on the farm. You can choose from Coconut Oil, Mangosteen, Coffee and Bamboo - all smell AMAZING. They also come in the cutest boxes and make the perfect gifts. There's even mini ones which they supply to hotels. 

Other products include honey, coconut oil, Christmas cards t-shirts and bags. All of which are available to purchase on their website or through Etsy. 

Everything Sam & Gai do here is to ensure the children and the orphanage have a future, something Gai is concerned about. Their eldest son is currently at university in Bangkok studying law, he helps selling their chicken and eggs in the market there and once he has graduated Gai hopes he will return to help support the orphanage. She wants someone to continue to look after and run the place long after she has gone. 

If you are interested in reading more, donating or purchasing any products please visit their website; http://www.baansanfan.org or their facebook page; 

https://www.facebook.com/baansanfan