Streetkids! Program

Bin moved to Chiang Mai at a tender age of 24 and fell in love with a young 22 year-old Thai man. Like every couple in love, they got married, but things took a horrid turn after marriage. Bin got pregnant at 28 but her husband refused to take responsibility for the child. Instead of contributing to the family’s finances, he started stealing Bin’s hard-earned money to indulge himself in gaming. Bin returned home one day from work only to find that her husband had abandoned the family, and the entire house was emptied to the bone — there was nothing left, not even clothes.

Saksichar with her daughter Nong Fan

Left to single-handedly raise her daughter, Nong Fan, Bin made a living by washing clothes for the neighbours. Each day, she would be able to save 20bht (SGD80cents). Things took a turn for the worse when her husband returned and raided the house again, robbing her of all her hard-earned money to purchase a new motorcycle.

Bin has to rely on medication everyday for her heart problems, so much so that when Nong Fan was an infant, Bin was unable to breast-feed her. However, she also had no money to buy milk. Bin had to resort to feeding Nong Fan with rehydration fluids to keep her daughter alive. Now, this mother and child can only afford 2 meals a day, made up of just chili and rice.

Nong Fan (left) with Nong Nuu, who's already on the StreetKids! program

Nong Fan is now 6 years old and ready to head into Primary 1. Bin is a clerical staff with RADION in Chiang Mai. We are looking for a sponsor to help us put Nong Fan through school and provide for her daily needs. To support this child for just SGD96/month, please contact minwei@radion-international.org

7 disadvantaged children have joined us for our STREETKIDS! Songkran outing in Chiang Mai. We are also using this opportunity to assess the needs of these 7 children and determine their suitability to join the streetkids! programme.

Left to Right (Mean, Nung, Wan, Yong,  Jer,  Kig, Kuak)

Nong Mean – 6 year old girl – Mother is suffering a terminal brain infection and cannot afford to take care of her children anymore. Family relies on alms to get by day to day

Nong Nung – 9 year old girl – Father died in a car crash last year and her family cannot afford to raise their children. Nung hangs around with street gangs and the mother has problems controlling her.

Nong Wan – 7 year old girl – Younger sister of Nung. Same problems.

Nong Yong – 9 year old boy – Suffered family neglect and his father remarried. Known for petty theft within the village. Family does not have enough to make ends meet.

Nong Jer – 8 year old boy – Was beaten and suffered a head injury when he was sent to a monastery as such his responses are slower than most. Jer is also involved in substance abuse.

Nong Kig – 12 year old boy – Involved in street gangs and has a history of vice and glue sniffing. Little interest in studies.

Nong Kuak – 13 year old boy – Current Glue gang leader and serious history of street vice. Was brought in by another child on our streetkids programme.

If the children are assessed to be suitable for the programme,  child sponsors will needed quickly to enrol these children to school and stay on our STREETKIDS! programme. Each sponsorship covers full board for the child at  SGD98/month with a minimum commitment for 1 year.

We’d like to invite our readers and potential children sponsors to  indicate their interest in supporting and making a difference in the lives of these children. To indicate your interest and receive more details, please email Ms Minwei at minwei@radion-international.org

Notes : UN Department Of Economic and Social Affairs defines disadvantaged youth as : “[young people] without adequate access to education and health services; adolescents who have dropped out of school; pregnant adolescents; young single parents; young people who are HIV positive or at particular risk of HIV/AIDS; young refugees or displaced persons; racial, linguistic and ethnic minorities; homeless youth; young people with disabilities; girls and young women affected by gender inequalities”.

20 roaring kids arrived in our Chiang Mai’s office at 3.30pm local time.

Amongst this group 13 of the kids are already on the STREETKIDS! programme, while the remaining 7 are from problematic backgrounds and we are extending this trip to reach out to them.

Of note is a rosy cheeked 13 year old boy, Kuak. Behind the smile is a boy who has problems with his family and headed to the streets. He rose up the street ranks quickly and now leads a juvenile street gang that sniffs glue. Kuak is just one of the 7 children who we hope to reach and hopefully through this trip they can find themselves a family that cares for them.

p/s : Children who have joined this programme will be assessed for suitablity to join the STREETKIDS rehablitation programme.
Stay tuned !