So Much Work to Do: Dr. Arlin Ness Visits Sanphasit Koomprahant in Thailand
Dr. Arlin Ness, Chairman Emeritus of World of Children, recently took a trip to Thailand with his wife, Barb. During their visit, they met with 2001 Honoree Sanphasit Koomprahant. In March, World of Children Founders, Harry Leibowitz and Kay Isaacson-Leibowitz, will be traveling to Southeast Asia to visit three past Honorees, including Mr. Koomprahant.
We asked Dr. Ness to share a few brief words about his visit. Here’s what he had to say:
Last month my wife, Barb, and I had the opportunity to visit 2001 World Children Award Honoree, Mr. Sanphasit Koomprahant, in Bangkok, Thailand. During the years since 2001 Mr. Koomprahant has continued to be very active in his country and internationally for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
While now retired as the Executive Director of the Thailand Center for the Protection of Children’s Rights, as a Board Member, he continues to work tirelessly to change the infrastructure and facilities that the passage of the Child Protection Act of 2003 was to have addressed.
Mr. Koomprahant spoke with the determination of a younger man when he said he and others continue to build a protection network of psychologists, social workers, lawyers and teachers to identify and treat traumatized, sexually abused children. He said the challenge is to find the professionals with the right attitude and love for the children. He said that he has implemented many of the principals and the approach that he observed in a program that I was responsible for while he was being hosted in 2001, and taught others.
When I asked about retirement, Mr. Koomprahant smiled and said “one can not retire when there is so much to do.”
Thank you, Dr. Ness, for sharing about your visit with Mr. Koomprahant!