Project Overview

During our first Child-TRAC field research project in 2005 tracking Tsunami orphans, we used the Speak Out Kit (SOK) to interview children in the six Tsunami-affected Provinces in Southern Thailand. The Kit consisted of several dolls, which were then used as part of the interview process to safely gain an insight in to a child's living conditions and well-being. 

 

After completing our interviews we would often notice that we were missing several dolls from our Kits.  We discovered that a lot of children had enjoyed playing with the dolls so much that they had decided to sneak one away to play with again alone later.  In response to this we created little dolls for them to keep, which we could then hand out to the children after the interviews.

These dolls were the inspiration for the Happy Dolls Project, which was designed by our Thailand project coordinator Nongluk 'Lak' Pituktammanat. The Happy Dolls soon gained momentum and became a symbol of comfort to children in need.  

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Volunteers

Nongluk proceeded to organise and lead workshops, teaching volunteers how to sew and create these special dolls in a uniform way. Together locals villagers, Child-TRAC staff and volunteers from all walks of life would assemble to make Happy Dolls for children in need all over the world.   

 

Even now, the Happy Dolls Project continues - with the help from wonderful volunteers and Nongluk at the helm, it is still bringing smiles to children where and when it is most needed.

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Corona Virus Support

During the Corona Virus outbreak in 2019 / 2020 Happy Dolls were able to provide comfort and companionship to sick children in hospitals who have been affected by COVID-19.

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