The Human Development Foundation (HDF) began its operations in 1972 reaching out to the people of the Klong Toey Slum area (then the largest in Bangkok).

The Mercy Centre (HDF) works to help the children and communities of the many slums of Bangkok. They build and operate schools, improve family health and welfare, protect street children’s rights, combat the AIDS crisis, respond to daily emergencies and offer shelter to orphans and street children, and to children and adults with AIDS. During 1998, QCCT began its affiliation with the Mercy Centre.

Since our partnership with Mercy Centre, QCCT has been hands on with renovating the complex from painting and decorating facilities, building pathways and ramps for disabled access, tiling old flooring and cleaning up the garden areas.

On the outskirts of Bangkok Mercy Centre’s farm is located where youth are trained in farming and aquaculture skills with a focus on environmental and self-sustainable practices. QCCT help with instruction in farming skills and the installation of an organic, hydroponic system for growing a variety of mushrooms and various crops to feed the Mercy Centre children with excess sold to the local community.

Janusz Korczak of South East Asia School supports the orphans and street children of Thailand who have no place to learn, play and grow intellectually and emotionally. It seeks to educate illiterate adults and gives the children in its care the opportunity to explore music, dancing and drawing. QCCT assists through funding the school with teacher training, tutoring facilities, the reintegration of children into formal education, reuniting children with their families and providing vocational and life skills training.

Together QCCT and QF engineering supported the expansion of the sewing room to assist with income generating and skills development through excess Qantas aircraft seat cover material and leather sewn into bags, aprons and furnishings with the merchandise sold to QF staff, friends and visitors to Mercy Centre.

For QCCT members involved in the Thailand project, it is a rewarding and heartfelt experience. Over the years we have seen many of the children grow up and move on to either university or into jobs which allows them to support themselves and gives them a sense of pride.