Thailand – Orphanage for 85 children
The H2O orphanage in Thailand was started in January 2008 by Esther Yi, a young lady from Burma and by H2O-Help to Orphans ry, a charity based in Finland. In the beginning the orphanage took in 30 orphan children and supported 30 other children in the surrounding villages. After February, 1st 2021, this number has been growing steadily, up to 85 children in 2025.
We now have 85 children!
The orphanage was open to children from any ethnic background, however, the first 30 children were all Karen children whose parents had fled into Thailand to escape the brutalities of the Burmese military. In August 2008 Esther married Gum San a pastor from Burma and he then became the house-father of the orphanage.
In October 2009 the Um-phang Orphanage and its associated children’s work became a registered Thai foundation. The official name of the foundation was HELP TO ORPHANS FOUNDATION and its registration number was 44 / 2552.
The aims of the foundation were to help all orphan children regardless of race, colour, religion, national origin, status or economic condition. It is a non-political organisation.
The building of our orphanage in Um-Phang
The orphanage is presently in a property which is 1.5 km from the centre of Um-phang village.
All of the children in our care receive an education. Most of our H2O children attend the state primary school in Um-phang and a small number are home-schooled at the orphanage. We also provide education for village children.
H2O orphans holding up their Bears donated by Linda Dimichele.