International Contacts - Part 1

I have had the privilege of speaking to a couple of people about poverty in Thailand and how it has affected education there. Nongnuch Sitkongthang is an educator in Thailand at a school for a group of Kindergarteners. She is also a house mother, and has about 50 in children in this house, similar to a boarding school, that she stays in throughout the school year. The children that live there are all ages K through 12^th grade. These children live at this house because their families are rice farmers and live so far away from the schools that they are not able to transport them to and from the school. These children only return home during summers and very long breaks. When I asked about finances and how they were able to support all these children in this house, she shared that most families pay for their children to stay there with rice from their farms because they are so poor. Children all have chores to do and have an inspection daily. This ensures smooth running each day. As I continue to research the issue of poverty, I am amazed at how different countries respond to their own situations. I could not imagine sending my five year old child off to live, some eight hours away, especially when most of these children will return to their parents homes after completing their education, to become rice farmers as well.

When talking with Amy Cate Campbell, missionary working in education in Thailand, shared how these children compare to the children living in poverty here in the United States. She said that children there only know life in Thailand so even though they seem to have so little, they are very happy with what they have and life as they know it.