An Interview with Kru Noi

Please give us a brief history

Ban Kru Noi was established for the purpose of helping less privileged children such as the poor, handicapped, or children who have been abandoned. This year marks our 23rd year of community service. I was born in a poor family and have struggled to overcome my childhood problems. This understanding has shaped my life and given me determination to help other children.

Tell us about obstacles or difficulties you are encountering

From the start, we only had a small house and all children had to live beneath the raised house. This was in an area filled with farming water since we were in the fruit growing area of Bangkok. I received 20 Baht a day from my husband to pay for all costs. I myself had no income because I was paralyzed after an operation.
Location and expenses were the most serious problems we had at that time. Ten years later, our story went public and we received assistance from many sources. Our home is now much improved but costs have skyrocketed. Not only do we feed the children, we also educate them. The only source of funds is from donations. Expenses outrun income, so we have no choice but to get more and more loans to cover all costs in order to keep the operation going.
Less serious problems involve roads and community. Since there is no main road to where we live, people who come to visit and help us have to park their cars in front of other people's houses and walk here. Some new residents in this community, once occupied only by the poor, are not happy about the inconvenience such as the noise from children playing and talking.
Not all of the children live with us. They come here in the morning and in the evening they return home or go to flats that we provide. Therefore, traveling within the community is necessary.

How many children stay with you?

We now have 123 children and have sponsored over 800 since the beginning. Many are now working.
For the first nine years of operation, no children were allowed to go to school because of the lack of documentation. For seven years until 1991, our effort to put these children in school finally paid off. However, not everyone has succeeded. Some of them have received a diploma while many others can study as far as grade 9. Vocational schools are alternatives to high schools and community colleges are an option, such as the Rajaphat Institutes.

What is the cost of education?

All costs are paid for by donations from people who know about my work.

Can you tell us about your staff?

Some are children we have helped in the past, although they are not obligated to work with us. It's difficult because we do not offer high enough pay. However, some of them have problems working outside so we arrange for them to help us on day-to-day chores. Others work as teachers. We focus on career building such as crafts. The administration takes care of food and housing arrangements. Four of our staff members are teachers and six are support staff who rotate responsibilities between two shifts.

Do you have places for children with no parents?

We share the house between youngsters and teenagers. Boys and girls do not live together. Most boys between 6 and 18 have relatives to live with. We place girls who have no relatives in flats.

How do you arrange classes?

Preschoolers are taught here by us or by teenagers who still live with us. First to ninth graders attend Bangkok district schools. If they finish with a good grade then they can go on to high school, otherwise they opt for vocational schools. Some can go further and finish undergraduate degrees from Rajaphat vocational institutes.

Do you have any activities for students?

Mainly career-oriented activities such as handicrafts, drawing, and art, which are taught by our staff members or outside volunteers.

How can children contact you?

Children or their relatives can come directly to us for help.

Do they know about your life story?

They know because they inquire about it. Staff members here talk to each other quite often.

Do you get assistance from the government or private organizations?

We have registered Ban Kru Noi with the Department of Public Welfare. From time to time we receive supplementary foods such as milk and study aids like books. They do not provide any funds. Some state officers help us out of their own pockets.

What are the approaches to taking care of children who come from various backgrounds?

First things first. That is to open the heart and accept children for who they are. Love, friendliness and understanding from teachers and staff members are the most important factors. After we learn to live together, we can get along and good study will follow. We all need love.

What is your recommendation or information for the web site creation for the purpose of social awareness?

There are so many less privileged people in Thailand who have limited resources to sustain themselves. We can render a helping hand; most of the time we just give them a chance or a head start so they can help themselves. For what we are doing, we believe that it takes a village to raise a child. How can we have a strong society in the future if children still go to bed with empty stomachs? It is our duty to help them when they need it. We do not wait until we are ready to help because in my opinion that time will never come.

Until now, do you think the Ban Kru Noi mission has been fulfilled?

Our accomplishments can be measured through our joy. Although not all children reach the stage we have hoped for, we have helped them pass the most critical points in their lives. Some cannot be changed and continue to behave the way they always have. Many change for the better. We want and we try to bring them back as good people for the society.

If the children who get to know Ban Kru Noi from the web site want to get help from you, how should they start?

We always welcome them but first we need to talk about the nature of their problems. Not all children need to come and stay here. In many situations we only fill the missing pieces of the puzzle. There are a lot of children we are helping now in various ways who need not actually reside here.

Of all resources, which is the most critical?

Money is the most critical matter. We need money for everything such as food and education. We pay a total of 3,010 Baht each day just for school for 98 students. We also pay for their medicine and visits to the doctor. This is why we accept all kinds of donations, food, clothes, books and children's necessities. We give money and stuff to children living in rural areas too.

Besides Bangkok, where can people find the donation centers?

We do not have any donation centers in other provinces. For some donations we give to other foundations such as Kru Ting's Sithasini Foundation for children with HIV and drug abuse. We have donated various items to other schools such as Sinadsiam in Rachaburi Province, Sriwara School in Turakam village, and Huanamsai School.

Besides English, do you teach other subjects?

English, art, music, guitar, and computer are among the subjects taught by volunteers. During school recess, we also provide activities to keep children busy. Some of them have to stay overnight sometimes. However, only boys stay here. Girls must stay at our other locations.

What are the living conditions here?

Generally speaking, the children feel reasonably happy. Nevertheless, there are aggressive and stubborn children. Behavior such as lying and violence are foreseeable. Children who have been abandoned or living with domestic violence or drug addicted parents are very unfortunate. With our understanding, they will adapt and be able to live with other people. Love and time will change them.