Â鶹´«Ã½AV

New Hope Child Development Center is located in the remote Maecharim district of northern Thailand. When AMG first began the outreach, development in the area lagged significantly behind the rest of the country. Even today, conditions are primitive; many families have crude plumbing and get their water from hand-dug open wells. Because the families have little or no land and use rudimentary agricultural techniques, the crops are too meager to support the families. At the end of the year, just before the harvest, the children are often hungry and eat only what the parents can find or catch in the forest. Progress is slow, and good teachers, medical staff, and government officials are reluctant to transfer to such a place. To meet the needs of these families, AMG began operating a child and youth development center in December, 1981. During the first few months of operation the children were dirty, sickly, and frightened. But after a few months of nourishing food and with emphasis on hand washing, clean clothes, and better hygiene they became much healthier. Their parents were impressed and other families wanted to have their children enrolled too! Today this program supports By Grace School, a fully recognized Christian school, operated by dedicated Christian teachers. Older students attend a government school and benefit from AMG’s hot lunch program, book fees, uniforms, tutoring and Bible instruction, which they receive during after-school and Saturday programs. Some students have the opportunity to live in a Christian environment provided at AMG dormitories. The local church, which was started by AMG workers, helps the Christian dorm parents provide a Christian atmosphere for the children at each phase of the program. In this way, AMG is reaching out to this Buddhist community. When AMG first arrived there were no known Christians in the district. Today the members of some families have trusted in Christ and are joining with the local church and AMG to win others for Him.