Suky took this student out for his ice cream treat, as
requested, and you can see from the photo's how delighted he was.
Looking at the pictures, you can be fooled into thinking
that the family is well off and that he maybe doesn't need financial help, but
although they live in a big house there is no water or electricity and the
very minimum of furniture. Mum has mental problems she is unable to hold down a
job and they manage on something like 300 B per week from a son who lives on
his own and makes living of sorts, painting/sketching portraits of tourists on
the beach, mainly during high season and a government disability pension of 500
B per month. They can't afford a regular electricity supply, but cook
with gas and use candles at night time.
The boy also displays 'strange' (immature bordering on
abnormal) behaviour, according to Suky and the school has trouble dealing with
him.
Apparently, when he got his ice cream he was so excited
he was shouting to passersby to see what he had and you can see how every time
she took a photo he was making a face of some kind. (Mind you, his Mum
used to be a fortune teller dabbling in the occult, so perhaps he thinks he's
frightening spirits away.)
Seriously, I find myself wondering if this might be the
result of having so little food, possibly. 300 B per week is a very tiny
amount to feed them both.
I should think it was overwhelming for them to receive
such a generous gift of groceries. I can't imagine what Mum felt when she
returned home.
I'm sure your sponsor will have been happy to know that
his wishes had been carried out - especially as the boy was able to buy some
shoes/slippers. He wasn't wearing any shoes, and when he was taken
home Suky saw that the only shoes he had were so small he couldn't get
them on his feet - heartbreaking. It's a long time since we saw a kid
without any shoes - they may have been ragged, old and ill fitting, but they
usually have something on their feet.
This sponsor did a great thing and we can't thank him
enough.
Registered Charity No. 1104335
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.
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