
Several years ago I learned from a friend about the enormous amount of selfless, ongoing good work being done by the Pattaya Street Kids Support Project, a charity based in England that indirectly has made futures brighter for hundreds of Thai children. More importantly – looking back at the ripple effect just mentioned – it will most likely make a positive difference not only in their lives, but the lives of their children and their children. If you continue to follow this blog you’ll read more stories about my experiences with them, the students and the other kids they help, but let this serve as an introduction, if you will.

For the relatively small sum of around $100USD per school year (here’s a currency calculator) you provide nearly everything a child needs for school except their lunch. If you stop to think about it, that's about 25 cents a day over a calendar year. Thankfully very few of us can say we couldn't come up with that. Younger children’s fees tend to be a little less than this, high school students can be a little more. You can pay in a lump sum or monthly, either way - either by bank draft or PayPal (which accepts credit cards).

Please take a moment to look at their web site, if you haven't already – and please note the funds many would use for the polish and flash of a “professional” site have been channeled into something more useful! Administrative costs are almost zero…you'll see that your funds truly DO go where you intend them to go (board members pay their own expenses to visit Thailand, for example), there is reliable transparency up front, and it is NOT a religious organization with an agenda.
OK, so why am I posting about this now, you ask? Because it's the middle of April, the new school year will begin in a few weeks and fees are due very soon. There is a year-round need, but if you've ever considered doing this, the time to act truly is NOW.
If you do, when you look back years from now you’ll be able to think warmly of the far-reaching ripples of hope you started with this single act of kindness today.
You won't regret it.
5 comments:
Hey khun Bao Bao,
thanks for this lovely post. I took a look at the website, asked them some questions and just decided to do it.
It's just such a good initiative. So I'm now sponsoring one child, a five year old boy called "Ice".
Thanks for bringing this under our attention.
Kind regards.
Wouter from Belgium
My pleasure, Wouter...thanks for your comment. You won't regret participating.
If there are any questions I can answer for you please feel free to leave your email address here and I'll reply offline. I will NOT publish your address on the blog.
Hello khun Bao Bao,
I don't really have questions about it. I just wish more people would participate. I mean, its 10 USD a month, how many people can't afford that in the US or Europe?
I've posted the charity on buddhaforum as well, a buddhist community online. Hope they will get some help from that link. At least one guy is considering doing it.
Kind regards,
Wouter
Hello again Khun Bao Bao,
I thought you might like to know that you can add another one to the list of those you've inspired. I signed up this week. I am sponsoring an older lad - my thinking being that he has less time to catch up before he leaves school. Hopefully I'll be able to add another before long.
It's true, when you see in the context of a couple of cups of coffee a month from Starbucks, or even a few missed meals out a year, it's quite astonishing to realise what you can do instead.
So thank you for bringing this to my attention and I expect, if he knew, young Khun Athicha would join me in thanking you too.
Thank you, Sam - your comment came at just the right spot in a couple weeks of - let's say - discouraging situations, and is easily the best news I've had in a month. The students I sponsor are all in their teens now, too, and it's easy to become attached after a few years.
I know I'm going to feel a loss when I say goodbye to them for the last time in another few years. I suppose the cure is to sponsor more!
Welcome to the most rewarding club I've ever been a part of.
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