More About Drop In Center
How long do the children stay at the Center?
The Drop-In Center is not a long term home for children; it is a safe haven where they can stay on a temporary basis. If someone wants to return to their home, after living rough in Pattaya, arrangements will be made for them to return home whilst they stay at the Center. Young children will go to live at our Children’s Home or at the Fr. Ray Village.
There is no definite length of time a young person can stay at the Drop-In Center. It can take a long time for a young person to trust adult workers, and even longer for a young person to accept advice on moving to a more stable environment.
The Drop-In Center was opened in February 2004 with the aim of offering and providing help to those children and young people living on the streets of Pattaya, or at risk of ending on the streets following a break up of the family unit.
Accommodation
The Drop-In Center has accommodation for up to 40 children and young people to stay overnight in separate dormitories for boys and girls.
Everyone staying at the Center, no matter how young or old are expected to be involved with the daily chores of the Center and everyone is expected to do their jobs so that the Center is kept clean. They are expected to help the cook in the kitchen, make sure that the dormitories and common rooms are kept clean.
There is a small garden with cat-fish tanks which are the responsibility for the children to take care of. They grow chilies, papayas, lemongrass, morning glory and we also have a few banana trees. The fish need to be fed daily, and also the tanks need to be kept clean, and once the fish are big enough then they are caught, cleaned and cooked for everyone to eat.
