This project has been completed.

Im Jai House was founded by Ladda Tipkunta for orphans and abandoned children whose parents have suffered from AIDS related deaths, which is a greatly increasing threat to the children of Chiang Mai, Thailand. The children of Im Jai House are made to feel part of a family and raised in a Christ-centered environment; they are protected and given a quality life so that they might become productive members of society. The four objectives of the ministry include the spiritual and social development of the children as well as a focus on education and health. Spiritual growth is fostered through daily worship services and through the teaching and practice of the disciplines of the Christian faith. Socially, the kids are given opportunities to reach out to the elderly and less fortunate outside the orphanage as well as inside among their peers. They are provided with a good education and are enrolled in English, computer and music classes. Regular medical exams, counseling, and meals are provided to meet their health needs. Fifty-one children and twelve staff members reside at Im Jai House, and a great need exists for additional means of transportation to school, church, and various activities. Wellspring was able to participate in purchasing a van for the children last year. In August of 2005, Wellspring co-sponsored a dinner in Chiang Mai, Thailand to benefit Im Jai House’s building project. Over two hundred people were present, including the Governor of Chiang Mai, the American Consulate, and a princess from the Chiang Mai Royal Family. Due to an increasing number of children, the current housing facility, which was originally used as a factory, is no longer adequate and does not provide a comfortable living space for the children. A new building project is underway, and the hope in 2006 is to have several housing units for the children and staff. A crucial need exists for a Canteen Building which will include a fully equipped kitchen and dining room, a worship center for prayer and meetings, administrative offices, and an education center with a library, computer, and music room. Wellspring’s goal is to raise enough funds to assist with this crucial need.

View Photos from this project.