Shop 'till you drop.

Today Suky took two of our scholarship students for birthday shopping trips which were kindly paid for by the boys' sponsors.

After lunch and a visit to Tesco it seemed that morning school and shopping had caught up with them as they dozed off in the car on the way back to school.

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.

 

Lunch for the kids

You can see from the photographs that the children had a VERY satisfying lunch at Kiss on Siam Country Club Road. It seems that when they chose from the pictures on the menu, the portions seemed very much smaller than they actually were. When the food appeared in front of them their eyes were so large, and they were clearly astonished. (I confess that it looks a lot, even for me.) Despite thinking they'd never manage to eat so much, you can see that they made a very good effort, although I understand that they were walking much slower afterwards than when they were picked up!

Songwut is looking very slim these days (not that he was ever fat) but when Suky commented on it he said it's because he plays a lot of basketball. Who knows, maybe he'll end up in the national team. Intira is enjoying Maths. and Art at school, so perhaps she's destined for one of the many art galleries hereabouts.

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.

 

A sponsor from Australia visits Pattaya

We had a great visit with Perrie today, despite starting the day off somewhat haphazardly as the vehicle we'd hoped to have need a clutch repair and the very tight (but just do-able) travel schedule organized by our new Volunteer Co-ordinator (whom you met on your last visit) Dave , fell through because the volunteers didn't have a phone and hadn't returned from going to do their washing at the local launderette!  Still - never daunted, your intrepid team sorted it, so I think it's worth another chunk on the chocolate account, don't you?   Actually, we were fortunate as Tom was in the office today and we asked him to fill in for Boonying, and he was delighted - plus his car seats far more than my car. (Whatever would we do without him?)

Our first little snag was that when we went to pick Pangpon up he wasn't around and the teacher said she knew nothing about his going out.  Again, Tom to the rescue, as he has several teachers in school 8, so he was able to call them for assistance.  Pangpon arrived soon after, smiling, so I guess the thought of a meal out overcame any shyness in meeting a new sponsor - whom we then collected from his hotel in South Pattaya (gosh that soi is so congested).

Having found out that Pangpon preferred Thai food, off we went to Maes Y Ruen, and since Perrie was used to Thai food the menu wasn't a problem.  Pangpon cleared every bit off his plate his plate he enjoyed it so much.  Unfortunately, Suky got an emergency call from the office and had to dash off to do some interpreting at a meeting for Dianne and so I don't think she managed to finish her lunch.  However, she did have the opportunity to meet Perrie and, like me, found him very likeable and easy to communicate with.  He's the kind of chap you think you've known for ages, just fitted right in. 

After lunch we raided our favourite store, and although we walked by the toy area Pangpon showed no interest, but was thrilled to get new school supplies - coloured pencils, a pencil box, pens, ruler and liquid paper.  Then we went to try and get him some new soft brown school shoes, which they didn't have in his size.  However, he found some Ben 10 and superhero tops, shorts and thongs, plus some jeans, a warm jacket with a hood, socks and underwear and some more formal sandals.  He was so happy - and having Tom to chat with and advise him was a big plus.  He gets on so well with the students, especially the boys, they really relate to him.

We ran out of time at that point, but Pangpon said he didn't need anything else.  Perrie suggested he might need a bicycle, but he said his existing one was O.K. and when Perrie asked about groceries, I thought not.  I think his Mum is OK for food.  However, I did explain that perhaps at the beginning of the new school year, when extra items might need to be bought, that might not be the case.  So, since we had to take him back to school and he thought he wouldn't be able to manage all his bags on the school bus, after we dropped him off we went to Nakluam, where Perrie bought his school trousers and shoes, and after we got back to the office Suky rang his Mum who said she'd come and collect them.

I know you'll find it as gratifying as we did to hear Perrie say that it was the response he'd had from you, the way we work together (not in exactly those words), and that his visit went just as he'd hoped, that has convinced him he's made a good decision in deciding to sponsor though PSK. It was also helpful having someone working in Mental Health in Australia and understanding some of the difficulties in working with bureaucracy and red tape.  He is a good conversationalist and loves his job, as shows in his enthusiasm. 

I can honestly say, hand on heart, that he had a very good first visit.

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.

www.slumkids.org



Hauy Phong Children's Home New Year Party December 2011

Clips from the December 20111 Hauy Phong Children's Home New Year / Pizza Party.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s2SKCJS_Nc&feature=youtu.be


If you wish to sponsor a child for this year's party please follow this link:
http://pattayastreetkids.homestead.com/Party_appeal_elec..pdf

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.

An appeal for a sponsor

Nonthacha   DOB 19.09.2002

 This delightful and very brave little boy lives at home with his parents and two sisters.  Father works as unskilled labour in the construction business earning 200 B per day when there’s work for him.  Nonthacha's previous sponsor has withdrawn from the scholarship scheme

A couple of years ago  Nonthacha was badly burned from the waist down in a boiling water accident.  The water and rice pots were on the counter, and he tried to haul himself up by putting his weight on it.  The surrounding ‘bar’ gave way and it all came down on top of him.  As can be seen in the photographs, he still needs hospital treatment on a regular basis – but it will be until his late teens when his body is able to withstand Laser treatment that anything can be done for him. Even so, he has a beautiful smile  They are a very happy family, and although they have little by comparison to most of us,

Mum is very aware of the necessity of keeping everything as clean as possible because of the risk of infection. Nonthacha has to apply a special cream to his burns twice a day and as this is expensive we fund the cost of the creams for him. Home is one large concrete room in a block of two.  There is one family room, and they all sleep on one mattress.  It has a good sized refrigerator and T.V. and it is kept very tidy and scrubbed so well the ‘patchwork’ lino is almost worn through in some places.  In addition there is a kitchen area and toilet/shower area.  They are connected to city water.

Income is 4,800 B a month if Dad is working regularly. 
Expenses are Rent 1,200 B; Food 4,200 B; school lunches for 2 children 1,200 B; school bus for 3 children 900 B and Hospital visits once a month 500B per visit. Total 8,000 B  If there is no money they don’t go to school or eat properly.

These are obviously hard working people who have fallen on hard times, and are trying desperately to ‘keep it all together’.
For further information please contact us at: streetkids@ntlworld.com
(update) A sponsor has now been found for this child)

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.