The Candlelight center was established by Pahk 16 in 1986, in response to the needs of the handicapped in the community. A day center for children with learning difficulties was set up near the Kwai River Christian Hospital. This day center has faithfully served varying numbers of children over the years. Soon after opening the project it became clear that there were children in the community who could not attend Candlelight (too far away or too severe disability) but who still needed support. The manager began a programme of weekly home visitation. This too has continued over the years but with limited resources, meaning that patients may have only got visited two or three times a year.

Since early 2001 the project has been without a manager. The committee felt that with the combination of a financial deficit and the lack of manager, it was appropriate to move Candlelight in a different direction in order to better serve the needs of the handicapped in the community. The committee proposed that Candlelight move towards a Community Based Rehabilitation Programme for the Disabled, rather than a Day Centre. The Day centre therefore closed in March 2002.

Click here to see details of the present project

Joanna Cunningham moved to Sangklaburi in May 2002 with her husband Tony and son Daniel. Joanna is an occupational therapist from New Zealand who already has experience working with community based rehabilitation in Thailand. Since her arrival she has sorted out all the various cupboards in the Candlelight building, established an office, got a much appreciated toy library up and running and visited all of the disabled people on Candlelight's books. The initial plan was to work with previous patients only - and survey the needs of the community before expanding. However there seem to be people approaching her every day! She has therefore already taken on several new children and has been able to start an early intervention group for disabled toddlers which is very exciting. She is also working with the Christian School and hostel to try to integrate a little boy with learning difficulties into the school system.

Tony is home schooling their 5 year old son Daniel, and it has been great to have them sharing the classroom with Rachel and Jane. Tony and Joanna are expecting their second child in January 2003.

Candlelight Team with new motorbike donated by the International Church of Bangkok