Helping Kids Learn

Two weeks ago, Kat, I and friends Miho and Police met a wonderful young lady (nicknamed Bang ["Powder"]) who is studying to be a teacher. She and her extended family live in a poor community near a major klong (canal) in Bangkok not far from our home. As of this writing, every one of their homes has taken on flood water. Despite this, every weekend, twenty children gather on a raised dirt platform with no roof, sit at rickety tables and study Thai language, math, history and English. They cross the water on planks to get to the "school."

We joined them yesterday and had a wonderful time, although the excitement of foreigners showing up pretty much killed the math problem-solving momentum, and created an ongoing distraction during the English lesson. We have offered to help with their English learning each week. Miho also teaches them a bit of Japanese. If you would like to volunteer an hour a week teaching English, just let me know and we will make a rotating schedule.

Bang and one of the future students!

A fund raiser has been started to build a small, simple enclosed building that will house a library for the children (They have no books). Books in English and Thai may be donated, along with notebooks, calculators and pencils. We are also seeking cash donations to build the library. For those in Thailand, donations may be made to us at school, or by other means, such as bank fund transfer. If from North America or other regions, you may send donations to me. If you would like to donate funds, contact me at drjrstiles@yahoo.com or by Facebook message and I will send you the address.