Eli and Helle Wallin, after
donating to the Pattaya Orphanage, enjoy the company of Father Brennan and
some of the children they have helped.
Eli Wallin, Managing Director of Pharma Nord in Denmark,
and his wife Helle have always had an open ear for the problems of other
people. (Helle has been involved with the SOS Orphanage in Nong Khai for
some time now, and is one of its biggest sponsors).
About six months ago, the Wallins went to a birthday party in Copenhagen
where they met Bjorn Falkenbrink, a man who not only takes care of his
family of five and takes foster children into his home, but is also one of
the greatest sponsors of the Pattaya Orphanage, run by Father Brennan. Bjorn
spends a lot of his free time collecting wheelchairs, toys, clothes, music
instruments and whatever is needed to brings to Pattaya.
At the birthday party, Bjorn and Eli became involved in a deep conversation
about charity with Bjorn, during which time Bjorn asked Eli if he would be
interested in sponsoring a child at Pattaya Orphanage. Eli responded to the
request in a big way. He induced his company to donate 200,000 baht, and,
after attending a cardiologist conference in Phuket, flew to Pattaya to
bring Father Brennan the money.
After his visit to the orphanage, Eli promised that he would not only
continue to send money from his company, but he would also try to convince
other big companies to do the same. “Looking into the eyes of those children
and knowing that with a little money one cane do so much to give them a
better life, makes you feel like a million dollars,” Eli told Pattaya Mail.
“I regret not having visited this place earlier, even though my wife and I
have been coming to Pattaya for the past ten years.”
Eli went on to say that because of high taxes, the social security system in
Scandinavian countries is much more benevolent than in Thailand, and that he
wouldn’t like it if the same system were be set up here, for, “this type of
system, with so much being taken care of by the government, is killing the
initiative for people to solve their own problems. The survival instinct
amongst Thai people is much more developed because they have to fight for a
better life. It would be a shame to destroy it. Too much has already been
destroyed by Western influence. It would be better if we could find a
balance between these two systems. The best way to help people is to let
them help themselves.” Of course, he knows that this wouldn’t be possible
without people like him to donate money to charitable organisations.
Being asked what he thinks of Thai people, he answered, “We adore their
politeness and humbleness. Even very poor people have this happiness and
life in their eyes”. Eli and Helle are also fascinated by the culture and
traditional way of life in Thailand. They both know what they are talking
about since they don’t only spend their holidays in Pattaya, but travel
around up-country as well.
The Wallins have seen a lot of changes within their ten years of travelling,
especially in Pattaya. “People, and even the government, are more aware of
the environment. It is still not enough, but the number of
environmentalist’s is growing,” Eli said.
But he also has his doubts. Eli is afraid the powerful industrial changes
might harm the culture and the attitude. “I hope this will never happen, for
it would be to great a loss. My wife and I plan to retire in Pattaya. We
love this country and it’s people”.
Thank you, Eli and Helle, we need more people like you here in Pattaya, and
a belated Happy Birthday to Father Brennan.
