A new home for a slum family

Suky has been along to see Mai's new home.   It is quite close to the old place but the owner of the land, who doesn't come around very often, has permitted them to build close to his house, and keep an eye on it for him.  

The place is just one room, with a kitchen and shower area off, and a tiny balcony in front.  The land here is higher, so there is less chance of flooding, and Dad (who was sleeping) is working (as before) sporadically.

Ronarong seems happy enough though, so the pressure they've all faced recently seems to have eased considerably. The money they were given by the owner of the land where they were living previously has enabled them to build a sturdy little place, and they've also utilised some of the materials from the old place

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.slum-kids.org

 

Support from the Lady Boys' of Bangkok UK touring show.

We have received another fantastic donation from the money raised by the audiences of the Lady Boys of Bangkok shows, today we received £2910 which brings the total donated by the audiences this year to £6128,50.

We have been receiving more requests for help for food the the kids in the slums as with the rainy season now with us in Pattaya casual labour is scarce so family income is badly affected. some of the money will also be paid to buy replacement bedding for the kids and to help pay the cost of their schooling.

Our thanks to everyone who donated and the the crew of the Lady boys of Bangkok shows for their continuing support of the charity which is helping so many of the really poor kids in Pattaya.

 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.slum-kids.org

Visit to the home of two students - Age 6 & 7 years.

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

 

Gifts for the kids from their Hong Kong sponsors.

These two children ‘Art’ and ‘Ploy’were brought to Baan Khong Por (BKP) children’s home as their Mother and Father didn't want them. They put them in front of 7-11 and the market to beg for their food and couldn’t  be bothered to care for them. The Grandfather couldn’t care for them either so he brought them BKP.

The children’s Hong Kong based sponsors sent the children gifts from Hong Kong and also some money to but themselves something they wanted. The following brief report has been received from Liz in Pattaya:

“You will now have received the photographs of Art and Ploy showing the gifts bought with Tom and Ubie’s kind donation, and the Art supplies from his parcel?

It's good to see the photographs of the sponsors, too. I think it was a lovely idea and certainly received well by the children.

It seems that Art took some time to settle in, and he still looked very overwhelmed when he called into the office after shopping yesterday.  We couldn't get him to smile, but he gave us a quiet "Khun Krap" when we gave him a coffee sweet.

He and his sister are so different. Despite her being the younger of the two she is less shy and seems to have taken to life at BKP more easily.

Who knows what 'emotional baggage' he has brought with him, being the eldest of three children...he surely must have taken the brunt of the rejection, poor little lad.”
 

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

Austrian sponsors' shopping treat for two sisters.

Have you ever seen two such delighted youngsters in your life - such a generous gift, complete freedom from Mums and teachers and lady who loves to shop with and for little girls?

I don't know who had the most fun, the girls or Suky?  They're so dainty and feminine, and I understand they just chatted and laughed the whole time.  However, although they were thrilled to buy all these pretty and stylish outfits, cuddly toys and badminton sets for themselves, they made sure they got groceries for the family and KFC and a birthday cake to have a party when they got home.

Is it any wonder that Melanie and Harry want them to be flower girls when they get married next year? (That has been left with the Social Worker to pursue for the moment.) 

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 

A child in prison

(Edit July 24th.)
July 24th: A few minutes ago we received the following update on this boy from Liz at MERCY in Pattaya:

"Bad news, I'm afraid. we're really upset because we've just heard that 'Dah' has been sentenced, with his grandfather present, to 2 1/2 years imprisonment. We don't have the details except that he was caught in possession of drugs, and has done 'something bad' whilst in custody - whatever that means.

Sudjai is now in Bangkok I understand, and then is going to Cambodia, but according to Suky it means we now can't do anything for 'Dah' except visit him and attend when the community does the Monthly Activities programme at the prison.

I'm so upset - totally frustrated. How can this happen???

Sorry to vent, but the thought of him now being transferred to a place with older, bigger and more hardened kids, really bothers me.

Suky will find out the details as soon as Khun Sudjai is free to talk to her, and maybe we'll be able to throw some more light on a very dark subject.

I think it's time to go home and drown my sorrows..."
-------------

For the purposes of not identifying the boy his name has been changed for this post:

During the school holidays on of our 14 year old students disappeared 'off our radar' and we heard that he had been arrested. The boy who was being cared ...for by his grandmother had never given any indication of being the type of boy to get himself into problems so it was a surprise to us all. Eventually after a month of inquiries and trying to locate the boy he was eventually found in a youth prison where he had been for three months without a visitor.
This report from Liz at MERCY gives an insight into the problems that kids who do get into trouble are faced with:
=======================================

When Suky accompanied the team to the Youth Prison last Friday, she and Sudjai were able to locate 'Dah'. As you can see from the photograph he looks sad and scared. He has been there for three months and had no visitors at all in that time.

We will try to find out what/when the visiting hours are and visit. His case hasn't come to court yet, and we have asked that we be informed when the date is given so that we may have Suky and/or Sudjai there to speak for him - so they know that someone is 'in his corner' and can give any support needed. Currently, he is with the 'youngsters', but if he is sentenced he will go in with older, tougher boys, and we want to prevent that if we can. He's just so vulnerable.

However, we need to know why he did what he did - peer pressure, a dare, financial necessity...we just don't know at this point. When we can find this out it may give us direction to go in to be able to help him, hopefully.

 

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

Birthday visit on behalf of a sponsor

Since Suky had been unable to deliver these gifts previously, I took them on my way home last Wednesday evening.

It was lovely to see everyone again.  Grandma gave me a big hug and we both complained about our aching joints etc and had a laugh as we hauled ourselves to our feet and got the old bones working again to greet this delightful child (now really growing up) as her big brothers brought her home on the motorcycle.

Sompong and Sompot looked well and said they were doing "O.K." in school.  However, I think they'd rather be playing football!

It seems that Sanan is now working at a 711 - and complaining about the long hours.  He was sleeping whilst we were there.

We asked (well Boonying asked) if there was anything they needed help with, and how the children were coping without Mum, but they seem fine now.

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.slum-kids.org 

Shopping trip on behalf of a sponsor.

Suky took Salawut shopping today and had the opportunity to see the home, also.  He is still living with the grandma, who is doing Thai massage . The place was roomy and clean, (You can see that the older boys had come to visit.)

They ate in the food court at Tesco Lotus, and then went downstairs to do the shopping - a Magic Box, T-shirts, shorts and sandals, two extra school uniforms (rainy season) and school shoes.

Although he didn't look wildly enthusiastic at having to leave his brothers, he said to thank his sponsor - and he certainly enjoyed his lunch!

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.

ww.slum-kids.org 

 

A visit to 'Film'.

 

This post refers to ‘Film’ a little nine-year old boy who was recently removed from his home on the notorious KoPai slum as he was considered to be at risk of drugs to a government boys’ home in Pattaya. He was originally taken in by married couple after being abandoned as a baby by his mother but the home has always been in a terrible condition as the ‘mother’ has a mental condition that results in her collecting rubbish and stacking it in the home.  Today Suky from MERCY visited ‘Film’ on behalf of his US based sponsor.

Suky had a wonderful visit with ‘Film’ who immediately he saw her, came running over to hug her and ask "When can I come home?”

You can see by the photographs, how happy he (and his friends) were, to see her. Film was thrilled with all the new clothes, and he and his friends were happy to have "jam butties" (as they used to say in my neck of the woods when I was growing up) immediately - and the promise of snacks later.

Sudjai will try to find a suitable placement for him far away from here, where he can be taken care of and go to school again, but that can't happen before the end of this term, of course.

We are sure that his sponsor will be pleased to see that he looks happy and has friends around him

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.

Birthday treat for Tirapong

Suky had a wonderful time shopping for all these things, and Tirapong was thrilled, having (apparently) been longing for a football strip which he didn't imagine Mum could afford for him.

His eyes lit up when he realized he could have all the new T-shirts and shorts, and Ben 10 is still THE current hero as far as he is concerned.  It was heartening to see him respond to the money box so positively, too.

We were so impressed with the reaction he had to everything, we've decided we should take him for some football boots on his next holiday.  He really is a delightful child and life hasn't been easy, so we want to really surprise him.

Tirapong's sponsor  can only be happy that his gift has brought so much happiness to his sponsored child, and I do hope they will be able to meet on his next trip.

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.slum-kids.org 

Checking up on a rebuilt home

Suky took over the food for the family and had a good check round to see how they were faring.  The inside is actually very dark (windowless) and any light coming in seems to be coming through the holes in the rapidly rusting G I sheets.  Since we're now in the rainy season I think we'd better check out how much it would cost, per sheet, to replace the worst of them.  We have a little money left from that which was sent over.  

We also notice that the sheet of material hung up had a couple of large holes in it, so we think there might be some in the Auction House we can let them have.

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.slum-kids.org  

A visit to student's home

Today Suky  paid a visit to the home of one of our younger students whose family were until a week ago living in a tent and there was  good news - for which we are so grateful. Dad has found some regular work for a construction company and is now being paid 350 B (£7.50.0 per day .  Consequently, they have found a real home which keeps them safe and dry. It's just one room, but concrete built and with electricity and running water, a separate shower/toilet and an outside kitchen area where they cook on a charcoal burner 

They don't have a lot, but they are so happy.  The children sleep on the floor on a thin folding mattress, so if ever there are funds available a more sturdy mattress would be a blessing.   The fan is  broken, which might be as well considering it has no protective cover.

They are so grateful for our help, and the little girl the sister of our student was at home and she gave Suky  a great smile.                                                                                                                                             

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.slum-kids.org 

A French sponsor's birthday treat

This young boys birthday was on Independence day so we tried to organise his birthday treat paid for with money sent by his French sponsor as near to his birthday as possible.

Suky and Boonying picked up Pongsakorn (and a teacher) at school  and they went to the Sukishi restaurant st Tesco Lotus store.  You can see the range of foods, and Suky says that his favourite was the shrimp, and he soon got the idea of the conveyor belt and cooking his own food - quite a novel idea for him.

 

When it came time to do some shopping, it soon became clear that green was his colour this season, as you can clearly see in the T-shirts he chose and the 'chest of drawers' to put them in.  

 

He loved his time upcountry with the family, and even though his sister is now back with them, because she goes to Banglamung, her hours are totally different.  He says he's finding it difficult to get back into the school routine, but he's getting there slowly! 

 

I think his sponsor will be happy to see how thrilled he was with his birthday treat, and the fact that he could choose exactly what he wanted was really special for him.

 

Because the first chest of drawers was cracked when they examined it closely, and there wasn't another of the same size,they had to take a slightly smaller one.  This means I still have the 300 B difference, and Suky will buy him a T-shirt and give it to him the next time she goes to the school .

This is one lucky young man, and he truly appreciates it.

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.slum-kids.org