The Rustic Pathways Children’s Home – Child Sponsorship Program

The Rustic Pathways Children’s Home provides care, accommodation, food, and educational access for Karen Hill Tribe children in Northwestern Thailand.  As of January 2011, 28 Karen children are living at the facility. There are more than 100 additional children that qualify for support provided by the RPCH but who have yet to receive sponsors.

In addition to a caring home and nutritious meals, the RPCH also provides supplementary English language instruction, and critical-thinking, communication, and leadership enrichment programs for the children here.  We are also working to develop a vocational training program that teaches practical hotel management and tourism skills to open doors for future employment.

About the Children:
The Karen people are one of many Hill Tribe groups who have lived in the mountains along the Thai-Burma border for centuries.  Karen people living on the Thai-side of the border have long been marginalized by Thai authorities and have struggled to gain access to basic public services like health care and education. The Karen people living on the Burma-side of the border face violent persecution at the hands of the ruling junta. Many Karen youth are struggling to balance the recent past in which their parents lived in a subsistence economy in traditional, isolated Karen villages with their goals for a future in an increasingly modern and global world. They need earnest support, strong education, and to develop relevant skills to enable them to take an active role in the larger Thai society, as well as contribute to the development and preservation of their home-villages and precious culture.

Many Karen children must leave their families behind and travel to urban areas to continue their education. Most Karen families, thrust into an economy without the resources or skills to compete, are now poor, and they cannot support the basic costs for further education in urban centers, such as food, housing, uniforms and books or basic spending money. These young children live on the edges of urban life as they seek access to affordable, quality and relevant education that will enable them to find employment to support their families and build a future.

The Child Sponsorship Program
The cost of a one -year sponsorship for one child is US $ 550 – about $ 1.50 per day.  This cost covers food for the child you sponsor, school uniforms, school fees, and a weekly allowance of $3 for your child to use for personal items. More than that, it enables a child to receive the intangibles of the Rustic Pathways Children’s Home - loving staff, close friends, a window into the outside world, and a path to a brighter future for themselves and their Karen people.

You will be taken to rusticpathways.com's secure server.

How does sponsorship work?

The money that sponsors donate covers the current annual costs for food, school fees, school supplies, and school uniforms for the sponsored child plus a small amount of personal spending money to use as the sponsored child sees fit, under the guidance of our program managers.  Once a child has a confirmed sponsor, they are able to move into the Rustic Pathways Children’s Home facility. In some instances, Rustic Pathways will support a child at the RPCH until a sponsor is found for them.

Rustic Pathways pays the costs for accommodation, orphanage staff, utilities, and facility construction and maintenance as well as special events like birthday parties, school field trips, and general transportation. Rustic Pathways and David Venning also cover any costs for the children that are not covered by the annual sponsorship, including medical care, and you will never be asked to pay for surprise bills of any kind. Rustic Pathways also pays for the operation of a farm where we grow rice and fresh vegetables, and raise chickens and fish to keep food costs as low as possible.

Once we receive your application and payment, we will process your information and advise the child at our orphanage that they have a sponsor.  This is an enormous day for them.  We will send you an email introducing you to the child you are sponsoring and provide you some background information on them as well as a few photos. 

How long does my sponsorship continue?
Sponsorships are one year commitments. You will be offered the choice to continue sponsorship of your child two months before your sponsorship is due to expire. Most people choose to continue their sponsorship, but there is no obligation to do so.  We are very appreciative of our sponsors who allow us to care for these wonderful young children.  We understand when circumstances change and we will quickly endeavor to find a new sponsor if you do not renew your sponsorship.

The transition point for each child out of the care of the Rustic Pathways Children’s Home is different. It is dependent on their age when they enter school, their educational abilities and their goals. When a child is ready to leave the home, having graduated from school and gainfully employed (or earlier should they choose), there is no longer the expectation of support for the child and we will notify their sponsors. Any residual sponsorship money paid will be rolled onto another student under our care for the duration of his/her commitment.

How often will I hear from the child I sponsor?
Sponsors will receive an update from our Orphanage Manager and from the child themselves every four to six weeks.  You will also be advised if they have any significant milestones in their life – a great grade on a test, a sporting achievement, or a special day.  We will also advise you if they have any problems or special issues. You will also receive the RPCH Newsletter.

If you wish, you may be able to chat with your child on Skype.  The Rustic Pathways Children's Home now has an Internet connection at the facility, and sponsored children learn English and learn to use the Internet as part of their participation in the project.  This is a wonderful tool that allows you to stay in touch with your child and follow them as they grow and prosper.  We teach English to all of our children here, and older children will be able to chat with you directly.  Younger children and children who have just come into the program will have one of our staff members who is bi-lingual sit with your child and help you with your conversation.  This is fun and can happen as often as you wish as long as it does not get in the way of a child’s studies and responsibilities. 

Sponsors are also able to send simple gifts to their child, and by prior arrangement sponsors may visit their child at the RPCH. Many families end up visiting the child they sponsor in Mae Sariang.  Sponsors are welcome to do this.  To arrange a visit, please contact David Venning at david@rusticpathways.com.

What is the application process to become a sponsor?
To sponsor a child through the Rustic Pathways Foundation, please complete the Sponsorship Application Form. You can submit your donation on-line via credit card or send a check to: The Rustic Pathways Foundation, PO Box PO Box 445, Willoughby, Ohio  44096

You must be at least 18 years old to sponsor a child, and be willing to sponsor that child for a period of at least one year.  If you are under 18 years of age, your parent or guardian must approve your sponsorship and co-sign your sponsorship application.  If you are a club, community service organization, or other group that wishes to sponsor a child, please ensure that one contact person is nominated to receive correspondence for your organization.  The Rustic Pathways Foundation reserves the right to reject any person or organization as a sponsor for any reason at our discretion at any time. 

Want to learn more? Contact us at foundation@rusticpathways.org