Nestled in the hills near Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, the Kirsten Jade Rescue Centre (KJRC) is a haven for orphaned, abandoned and destitute children.
Operating for more than 25 years, the centre provides a nurturing Christian environment where children can thrive physically, emotionally and spiritually. Named in memory of Kirsten Jade, a young Australian girl who tragically died in a farming accident, the centre operates under the banner of Adventist Rescued Children’s Care (ARCC) in Thailand. In Australia ARCC sits under the banner of Projects of Promise (PoP), which is a voluntary organisation providing a support network to Adventist charities. ARCC also oversees a children’s home at the Berklo refugee camp on the Thailand/Myanmar border. It houses 13 children who attend Eden Valley School run by Helen Hall.
Australian Althea Thomson, KJRC’s administrator, first visited in 2009 on a medical building trip and fell in love with the children. “By the grace of God, we are still here,” she shared during a visit by members of the Division Executive Committee attending the recent year-end meetings.
Currently home to 42 children, the youngest just eight years old, KJRC cares for those from heartbreaking backgrounds—whether through illness, family breakdown or abandonment.
The children attend nearby Chiangmai Adventist Academy and continue to be supported through vocational training, college and university education. “We sponsor them right through until they join the workforce,” Mrs Thomson said. “Other orphanages stop at the age of 18, which is when many children are most vulnerable. We choose to sponsor them until they gain employment and can be self-sufficient.”
Currently nine former KJRC children are attending university—seven of them are enrolled at Asia-Pacific International University (APIU), an Adventist tertiary institution. “I love our children going to APIU because if they go there, it is so much easier for their Christian growth,” Mrs Thomson explained. “If they leave here and go out into the big world, there’s not much Christianity out there. This is a Buddhist country. It’s very difficult to hold onto God—we pray hard for them.”
At KJRC, daily life fosters independence and responsibility. Children rise at 5am, rotating through chores such as cooking, cleaning and tending to gardens. “It is lovely to hear the singing, laughter and chatter as they make chores fun,” Mrs Thomson said. They also lead out in daily worships.
“Seeing them achieve, knowing where they’ve come from—that’s what keeps us going. We are introducing them to Jesus and are helping to change lives.”
Despite ongoing financial challenges, the centre remains operational through donations and sponsorships. It costs approximately A$2400 annually per child to cover food, education and living expenses. The $2400 is split into four affordable sponsorship opportunities, where each sponsor pays $600 per annum or $50 per month.
For those seeking to make a difference, the centre welcomes volunteers including school groups and church groups. “Anyone who comes here to help says they take away more than they bring,” Mrs Thomson shared. “It’s rewarding for everyone involved.”
To learn more about the centre and support its life-changing work, visit projectsofpromise.org and click on the country, Thailand, email althea@arccthailand.com or phone 0475 908 221.
