German MPs Reiner Calmund and Wolfgang Bosbach paid a visit to the Child Protection and Development Center and Pattaya Orphanage, pursing their mutual interest in charity work.
The trip had its origins at November’s Cologne Charity Sports Night, which was organized by several charitable organizations including Calmund’s “Stiftung Tapfere Kinder” (Brave Children Foundation).
(Right to left) Wolfgang Bosbach with his daughter and wife visit the Orphanage.
That night, there had been a big raffle and an auction in order to raise money for children in need. More than 100,000 euros – about 4 million baht – was collected by auctioning many things in high demand, including a trip to Thailand. The highest bidder was Wolfgang Bosbach, a member of the German Parliament.
Reiner Calmund loves children with all his heart.
Bosbach and his family flew to Thailand and had Calmund to show them around, as he has been to Thailand many times.
Bosbach, his wife, his daughter and Calmund started their journey through Thailand in Bangkok. There, Bosbach was invited to the German ambassador’s residence for dinner because a politician is a rare guest since May’s military coup.
So the German ambassador Rolf Schulze invited Bosbach, Calmund and a couple of other guests, including Radchada Chomjinda, director of the Human Help Network Thailand, and one of the HHN volunteers.
Bosbach, his family and Calmund then visited the CPDC.
Calmund has visited the CPDC before. In fact, he donated one of the houses for boys. So the children gathered round him to welcome their friend and could not wait to show their new guests around.
The VIPs sit with some children at the CPDC center.
The guided tour was a good opportunity for CPDC staff to share the center’s goals and vision towards self-sufficiency and sustainability.
Girls at CPDC prepared a dance performance for the guests and the boys played football with the visitors.
The entourage then moved on to the Pattaya Orphanage.
As Christmas had just finished a few days earlier, the children had prepared a little surprise for the Germans. The children’s choir sang a couple of Christmas carols to welcome Bosbach, his family and Calmund.
Later on, Calmund seized the moment to talk with his godson, Lor, who he has sponsored for many years, before all the guests spent some time with the babies and toddlers.
HHN thanked Bosbach for his donation in the Cologne Charity Sports Night and his great interest in its work and children. They also thanked Calmund for his continued support.
