Bikes for the boys.

When San Francisco based sponsor Rodney asked us to organise a birthday gift for two of his three sponsored students the request was for a bike each as they has outgrown the ones that they had.
So it was left to Suky to organise delivery of their bikes in time for their birthdays.
 

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 

Rice for the disabled families

As part of our food programme we work with Sam of Helping Hand in Pattaya who makes deliveries of rice to the families in the slums where either a child or the parent is disabled.

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

An Ice-Cream treat for three brothers.

Today Suky took three of our younger students who are brothers to Svensons for an ice-cream treat, the boys first time in Svensons. The boys are from a desperately poor family so this kind of day out was just a dream. The boys were also able to choose a new school bag each.

Mother and father had a motorcycle accident and mother was paralyzed as a result. Father could not cope with taking care of her and the children and took off. He is not in contact with them and does not support them.

Thanayot is apparently blind in one eye, although we will need to take him to the doctor to see if this is a permanent disability or if anything can be done to improve/restore the sight. This came about after a football hit him in the eye some years ago and appears to have subsequently become infected as he, childlike, continually rubbed it with grubby fingers.
Grandma is also blind in one eye - the result of a gunshot during a fight with her husband, now dead.

Grandma is the sole supporter. She grows vegetables and fruit. If there is any extra after they have eaten, she sells it.

All the boys have free lunch at school and grandma tries to give them 10 B per day for a snack. This is not always possible.

Because they are required to help in taking care of their mother, they are often late for school. Grandma takes them by motorcycle. They are described as "good students, but not terribly academic."

Although they do not pay rent, the cost of the land is 700 B per month £14) and the cost of utilities is a horrendous 1,500 B. (£30) The only regular income is the 500 B (£10) per month given for grandma (old age pension), mother (medical) and Thanayot (medical)

 

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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French sponsors visit to Pattaya

As these students' sponsors were visiting Pattaya from France they took the opportunity to take their students for lunch and shopping.

After the sponsors were picked up from their condo, and the boys from school at 3.30pm,  everyone enjoyed a delicious Swensons ice cream treat  before heading off into Tesco Lotus to allow the boys to choose some clothes for themselves and some supplies for their families.

Of course no visit could be complete without taking home a treat to share with the family, and so Dunkin' Donuts rounded off the day.

Bruno and Dominic were pleased to see the boys again, and were surprised to see how they've grown since their last visit.  Having met their sponsors a number of times now, Narupol and Pongsakorn were quite at ease, but still respectful and appreciative of their generosity.

 

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 shopping treat from UK sponsors.

UK based sponsors Dan and Steve recently asked that we arrange a shopping trip for their sponsored student 12 year old ‘Palm’ and her two younger siblings.

 

So it was a trip to Tesco Lotus with Suky and then on to Svensons for an ice-cream treat. In Teco Lotus the kids were able to shop for whatever the wished (within the budget) and the children bought themselves clothes and shoes.

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 

Birthday treat from student's Polish based sponsor

Suky picked up Suradetch from school and took him to Tesco Lotus for an ice cream treat and then into Tesco Lotus to choose some very nice clothes, thongs, a back pack and a football for himself - and then since there was some money left over, in true Thai style he chose  some Dunkin' Donuts to share with the family.

It seems that Dad has left /been told to leave, and since Suradetch's older sister is working steadily, Mum now stays home and takes care of the baby.  Suky said that she is calmer and more easy to deal with now, which is good to hear.

It also means that there is no 'lean' on the boy to choose things which Dad can readily convert to cash, so we're very glad to hear this. Poor kid, of all the things Walter has enabled, he wasn't able to keep anything, Dad having sold them for a fraction of their worth when he needed alcohol.

Let's hope this is a new beginning for him, he's such a sweet kid.

 

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 report by a Californian sponsor.

An Afternoon at EasyKart, Pattaya with Pat and Chip

While I was visiting Thailand early this year an opportunity arose to not only have some time with "Pat", one of my sponsored students, but also with one who's left the nest ("Chip", now graduated). Chip's now happily working and building a promising future for himself. It was nice, because Pat - the student - got a glimpse of what's possible if you avoid the "Dark Side" and stay on the right path. As of this writing his schooling is finished, too; another feather in the cap of the Pattaya Street Kids Support Project.

Not everyone can make the journey to Thailand to visit their sponsored kids, but don't let that cheat you out of the satisfaction of helping a child help themselves. It takes so little - less than half a dollar a day, I'd wager - to make a world of difference to a kid who can't afford a decent education - or a decent day's nourishment, in some cases. If you DO make a visit, the happiness in your student's eyes will leave no doubt that you've made an unselfish and worthwhile choice.

When I'd seen Chip graduate last year I'd hoped he'd remain in contact so I could at least share in and observe his future from a distant sideline, and, luckily enough, he was able to "stop work" on the day of Pat's scheduled outing and join Boonying and I. My friends at Mercy have often been a help with suggestions on where to go and what to do on these outings, but after enough years it's difficult not to repeat things - and to find places that will entertain teenagers. We still do lunches, grocery runs and other shopping stops (sporting equipment is usually a suggestion well-received by the boys), but I don't know how thrilled I'd have been with "let's go visit some gardens" when I was 16 or 17 years of age, either. The girls are a bit easier, I must admit.

The EasyKart go-kart park in Pattaya was a place I'd never been to myself, but I'd driven past it, and it had looked like fun. It's very close to Walking Street and seemed to be well-run and safe, so off we went to turn two non-driving boys loose on four wheels for the first time. There are two tracks on the grounds - one for slower racing, and one for the bigger boys. Pat and Chip weren't kids, so they could run the adult carts: 160cc on the slower track, and 270cc on the larger and faster course, but as "newbies" I purchased a few runs on the 160cc track for them to try things out first. Although one of them was a little more apprehensive about it than the other they gamely donned hair nets, picked out safety helmets, climbed into their rides and pulled out onto the track.

Many of you know the expression "takes to it like a duck takes to water"? It didn't take either of them much more than a lap of the first eight minute session to get into it, and when those three sessions were over they were both smiling ear to ear and eager to go again. When I asked "do you want to try the faster track now?" they both nodded enthusiastically, so while they took off their helmets and wiped their faces off with cool towelettes I went back to the counter and booked packages for them both: five races, which also qualified them for a track T-shirt to take home. 

The adult track put them in the faster carts, AND out on the track with visiting/tourist farang. Less aggressive than the experienced farang they were left behind during the first couple of races, but soon their youthful sense of invincibility took over.  From then on they held their own and surprised not only Boonying and I but the other adults who couldn't seem to keep up with these Thai Mario Andrettis without spinning themselves out.  I'm sure the boys were quite pleased!

They took a break for cool drinks at one point, but were eager to get back to zipping around the track. When they'd finished their sets they came back upstairs to where Boonying and I were watching. Both were clutching their time/statistic print-outs and T-shirts; sweaty, but almost giddy with excitement at their first taste of speed. "Now," I said via Boonying "when you get licenses you can't drive like this on the streets!" and they laughed.

I suspect we'll be back here again. While Pat is now out of school, I still sponsor his much younger brother. Over the years he's heard about Pat's excursions, and now he's ready for HIS special days. I'm probably looking forward to them almost as much as he is, but I think we'll leave the racing for a few more years.

 

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 shopping treat for 'Tae'

For 13 year old 'Tae' Saturday was a really special day when Suky took him for lunch and shopping  thanks to the generosity of his sponsor.

His grandma brought him to meet them at Tesco Lotus and was very happy to leave him in their care, knowing that he had carte blanche to spent his treat money.

 After lunch at KFC and dessert at Swensons, he had a whale of a time choosing lots of new day wear and sports clothes, personal toiletries, shoes and some leisure items.  After everything had been paid for there was a little over 100 B change, which he was given in cash.  

He's always such a joy to take anywhere - truly respectful and appreciative and thrilled to know that his sponsor cares so much about 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.

 www.slum-kids.org

Meet the kids

Meet the kids on YouTube

Bahrain sponsor's visit to his student's family.

 

After a bit of a confusing start (as Khalid had stayed in Bangkok overnight and was coming through by taxi  which proved rather slower than he’d anticipated) we managed to pick Khalid up and go straight to lunch, since we were all hungry by then.  The ladies (Chompo and, her Mum) chose M.K., which they love and Khalid and I really don’t.  That said, while they and Boonying tucked into very healthy fish, tofu and vegetables, cooked by themselves at the table, Khalid and I decided to share roast duck and rice.  That said, I think the person who enjoyed his food the most was Sunan’s baby, who was a joy to watch and has a very healthy appetite.  He’s nearly three now and into everything and was a little gem, but has very definite opinions of how he should be placed in the supermarket trolley during shopping.  No sitting for him – he would stand up and will the trolley along, and when there was no propulsion he had ways of letting you know.  Actually he was very well behaved, and lots of fun, but it was grandma he wanted to have carry him – Chompoo was no substitute.

 After filling the boot full of ‘goodies’, we went to Art in Paradise, just off Second Road.  It was less expensive than I’d been led to believe (300 B for farang and 180 B for Thais and children under a certain size, free) and I think it was good value.  We could not believe the size of the place, and had no real idea of what to expect, but Khalid thoroughly enjoyed himself, clicking away, or having Boonying click away for him, so he could be in Egypt, painting a masterpiece, putting his head in the alligator’s mouth or sitting under a giant question mark considering the mystery of life. 

  The walls and much of the floor area is murals representing different countries or scenarios and you have various point at which you can ‘enter’ the scene and be photographed.  He took one shot of Boonying ‘painting’ a design on the back of a scantily dressed lady – which we said would be blackmail material!  It’s a good job he has a sense of humour and knows us well.  There were lots of different rooms and part of it was mezzanine style, so you could look over the railings and watch others having fun joining their favourite personality or trying to hide from the dinosaurs.  Definitely a place to bear in  mind for other sponsor visits, I think.

 

Although Boonying and Khalid were happy to be part of the action, it wasn’t easy persuading Chompoo, although she was happy to do it if Mum and nephew were beside her.  She is still so shy, although she’s almost 13 yrs old now and has known us for years.  She’s growing like the proverbial beanpole  though, is still very pretty – and still loves pink.  In fact Khalid had brought her a pink camel – which the baby immediately took a fancy to.  I’ve never seen a pink camel before – pink elephants are more a Western thing, wouldn’t you say?

Anyway, having had fun for several hours, we returned Khalid to his hotel about 6.00 pm to catch up on some sleep and we returned the happy family home again.

I think it was a really enjoyable day for everyone.

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 

American sponsor's visit to Pattaya

Thailand based America teacher Don paid a visit to Pattaya to meet his sponsored student and Suky prior to the start of the new school year.

Suky and Juthathip met him at Tesco Lotus and she brought along her twin sister (her family having been told that this was the only other person permitted to accompany her). However, there was no problem about finance, as we'd assured him that MERCY would pay for any school supplies bought for the sister.

Don bought stationery supplies and basic items of school uniform for Juthathip, but the store didn't have the shoe size she needed, so Don gave her the cash for those to be bought at a later date.

A happy trip for all, we would say

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 

Kids in Pattaya

Visit by three UK sponsors.

Yesterday I met Tom and Tim and Tim’s Mum – a very glamorous lady and very interested in all things Thai.  She is here until a week on Wednesday, and I think the ‘boys’ will be taking her around and showing off ‘their’ homeland. 

Boonying picked ‘Fah up at 11:00am and brought her to me  (where Tuey and Jaay were, of course) and we all bowled along to Maes Y Ruen to meet the sponsors.  It was just as well they’d got there ahead of us and kept a table, as it was so busy and people were queuing up all the time we were there.

Fah seems to have grown up all of a sudden.  She’s always been tall for her age, but she’s filling out now and is far more assured – quite the young lady.  Susan was so thrilled she had come along and was quite emotional.  She gave her 1,000 B note but had Boonying explain that although she could use it for anything she wanted, she didn’t need to spend it if she’d prefer to save it for something later.  Then she gave her a 500 B note to take back to Mum, to buy something for her sisters.  Very sweet of her, I thought.

Fah said she would like to buy some school uniform items and so Boonying went along with she and Susan, to translate, and I went with Tom, Tim, Tuey and Jaay.  Like Susan, they had decided that as the boys were growing up now, they might also like to choose something for themselves, and so each was given a 500 B note to make their choices and they loved going along the shelves at Tesco to pick out various toys (no thoughts of school uniforms for them) – and Tom and Tim bought them books and pencils for school.  They were allowed to keep the change and were delighted with that, of course.

Unfortunately, Fah had wanted a school blouse, but there wasn’t one in her size, however she would be able to buy one in the shop near school no. 8  I was told, and she’d do that later.

Then all the children were invited to choose doughnuts to take home – and you can imagine how that held up the queue, with all our lot!

Tom and Tim had asked if it would be possible to take Susan up to see the Home, so Boonying went over to meet David to get the key for the van, and brought it over so we could all pile in, take Fah home, and then go over to BKP to return our little charges and introduce Susan to Sharon,  and give some of our boys the chance to have a bit of rough and tumble with Tom and Tim.  They just love throwing them selves at them and being swung around etc – and Omsin just attaches himself to Tim whenever he sees him.  That child is just so sweet natured.  Tom had just had a wart removed, and so he had a bandage around his leg – which proved very interesting for everyone, and quite a feat for Tom to keep it away from prying eyes.

When we arrived they were all watching ‘E.T.’ so they made us all feel very welcome as they made room on the couches (because there was no way Susan and I could have sat on the floor – two old ladies with bad knees and arthritis) and Sharon very kindly went to make a coffee for Tom, Tim and Susan – as Tom had forgotten the tea supplies! (They do look forward to a cuppa on their visits.) 

Sharon showed Susan the girls’ rooms and Tim enjoyed taking her to see the rest of the house.  She will be able to envisage everything now when they write to her in future.  This was her first trip.

I think they were all happy with what they’d been able to achieve, and on the way back Tom very kindly gave us 500 B for petrol, which was gratefully received.

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