Suky and I have just come back from
very enjoyable lunch, shopping trip and catch up with David and the two
very nice young boys whom he sponsors.
As he was in town for only a very short
time (our first communication was Friday last) it was a bit of a hassle to get
something organised, but you know us - like terriers with a bone. We
finally called at the home last evening and were told that Sompot was at
Bansaen at a sporting event, but that Sompong would be happy to come to lunch
and meet his sponsor again.
Communication wasn't as easy as usual as
David wasn't staying at his usual place and therefore had no access to a
telephone number we could use. Then, having communicated that Sompot
wouldn't be available, Grandma called Boonying and said that he hadn't gone to
school and therefore both boys were looking forward to meeting
their sponsor!
David (dicing with death on a motorcycle
taxi) arrived at the office just as we were all about to set off to meet him at
Starbucks (I did tell you that communication wasn't easy) and we set off for
Thai food at Maes Y Ruen, where David happily tried the pork in black bean
sauce. Apart from KFC he's game to try anything, and since he'd come from
breakfast, he was quite happy to share with yours truly. The boys (as you can
see from the photographs, are Khao Phad and chocolate ice cream fans.
At first when he asked if the boys needed
anything they just said socks and underwear, but as we passed the racks of
clothing and with a little push from David, they chose T-shirts, shorts,
flipflops and lightweight jackets - all of which they clearly needed. Then they
were allowed to choose groceries to take back with them.
We learned that Sompong is now at technique
Pattaya (which seems to have been the old Banglamung Vocational
School) doing an initial 3 year course in
business - specifically geared to the 7/11 franchise system. After three
years, if he does well, he can continue for another two years, coming out with
a qualification a little lower than a degree. It sounds as if this is a course
sponsored by 7/11 and is aimed at producing managerial level staff for 711s
around the world (part of the course is English and Korean). It sounds a
great idea to me - guaranteed employment, and (in the second year) when he's
doing his practicum, he will be paid 40 B per hour and a working day of 6 hours
only. He has to open a bank account in his own name and the money will be sent
direct into his account.
Sompot wants to do the same thing when he
finishes grade 9, and neither of them wants to end up like big brother,
also working in 711 humping heavy boxes around, stacking shelves, and working
all hours. They really seem to want to do well for themselves and I think
big brother serves as an incentive.
David was asking about the amount of
English spoken in school generally, but it seems to be very little and not as
good as one might hope.
After the trip was over Boonying took the boys home and dropped David off near his hotel, and I think I can truthfully say that everyone had a good time
100 Years From Today
It will not matter how big your bank account
was, the sort of house you lived in, or the kind of car you drove. But the
world may be a little better because your help touched the life of one child.
www,slum-kids.org
No comments:
Post a Comment