- ATD Fourth World

A cultural activity in Bangkok

In the slum behind Suksanaree school, near Saphan Phut

Today, in the shanty town ‘Saphan Phut’ in the Thonburi district, near the bridge of the same name, live some 80 families, most of them in rooms just 3 by 2 metres, made of corrugated iron, planks of wood and other reclaimed materials. The most destitute families get electricity and water from others not quite so badly off. They all live on what they manage to get from various little jobs.

The cultural activities organised for the children in this slum by the ATD Fourth World team in Bangkok allow them to practise reading and to develop their imagination, as well as to develop their natural creativity. These activities take place once a week, on Sunday afternoons, outdoors on the concrete slab built by twelve of the fathers last year. The full-time volunteers bring mats, books and arts and crafts materials. More than twenty children of various ages take part.

So what happens in a typical session? On arriving at the slum the volunteers go to greet the parents, unroll the mats and invite the children to come and join in. Once the children have all gathered together, they look at the books that the volunteers have brought with them or listen to the stories they have to tell them. Then an artistic or cultural activity is organised for them – drawing, painting, sewing, model-making, theatre, music… depending on the theme that has been chosen that month. During the first half of 2007 these themes were: puppet-making in January, learning English through games in February and March, an intensive programme of activities for the school holidays in April and May and, in June, a project about an important period in the history of Thailand – the period of the Ayutthaya Kingdom (Siam). During the school holidays an intensive programme of activities is organised, to which the children’s parents are invited and in which they are encouraged to take part. This is also a time in which parents and children can share their knowledge and skills with each other.

In the community of Bangkok Noï

The situation of the dozen families who still live under the bridge remains extremely delicate. Faced with an eviction order, some have sought refuge with families living on the other side of the canal. However, those who have stayed under the bridge have received no new threats of eviction from the officials of the railway company. After consultation with the adults in this community, the ATD Fourth World team decided to change the day of their activities so that more children would be able to take part. Since May 2007, therefore, these activities take place every Saturday afternoon, always outdoors, under the bridge, near the south door of the temple, Seated on mats, the children can read, flip through books or listen to stories. In the second part of the session, the children take part in a creative activity, such as drawing, painting or model-making, related to a particular theme and using a variety of different materials (including puppet-making, learning English through games, an intensive programme of activities during the April-May school holidays and activities related to a project about the Ayutthaya period of Thai history).

At Bangkok Noï , not only do these activities bring the children together, but also the teenagers and adults, with around 20 or 30 participants in each session, 15 of whom are children. For these people, often looked down upon by society, their everyday difficulties oblige them to live from day to day. For them, this cultural activity is a means of encouraging their personal expressions, of expanding their horizons, of developing the potential of their imagination and creativity.

Activities bringing together the children and parents from both of these two communities: During the first half of 2007, the following activities have made it possible for the children and parents of these two poor communities in Bangkok to meet up. National Children’s Day: Every year, the second Saturday in January is National Children’s Day. In its honour, the ATD Fourth World team organise a special day of games for the children who live behind Suksanaree school, with a tug of war, a sack race, musical chairs, a competition to see who can suck lemons without cringing, race, blind man game and fishing. There is another celebration in Bangkok Noï the following Wednesday. At Saphan Put, 65 children take part and around 25 take part in Bangkok Noï . On this day the families from the slum get together to prepare various Thai dishes, desserts and drinks for around 100 people (children and parents). This day of celebration and fun is one of the most important moments in the year for these families. The other important moment is the ritual in honour of the house of the spirits in the slum in February, which also brings together a large number of families.

Family outings during the school holidays: : On 2 April 2007 the annual family outing was organised. In consultation with the families from the community of Saphan Phut, the ATD Fourth World team chose the seaside at Ao Manao in the province of Prachuap as this year’s destination and more than 250 people (100 adults and 150 children) took part. The annual outing of the community of Bangkok Noï took place on 10 April. At the request of the families, there was a visit to Ao Kiaw zoo, followed by a very sociable time by the seaside, all along the beaches of Bang Sen. 40 children and 45 families were able to take part in the outing, which is always a time of fun and celebration for all the families. For the majority of them it is also the only moment of the year when they can have a relaxing time together, away from their everyday environment. On this occasion, the families get together to prepare enough food for their families, their close friends and the ATD volunteers and helpers.

As one mother recounts, ‘It’s a great pleasure to be able to spend time with your family in such a paradise, with its white sandy beach and such clear blue water. We really are in a wonderful place. It’s like being in a dream. All of us have to work so hard every day just to have enough to live on and to be able to send our children to school and it’s like a dream come true just for once being able to have such a happy time with our children for a whole day.’

Cultural excursions during the summer holidays in April and May 2007:  : At the request of the parents, during the school holidays the ATD Fourth World team organised a more intensive programme of activities for the children of the community of Saphan Phut behind Suksanree School and for the children living under Amarin Bridge at Bangkok Noï. This included opportunities for the children to discover the culture and life of Bangkok and its suburbs.

On 19 and 25 April there was a visit to the Museum of Children and Discovery. The children were able to learn about science, nature, culture and society by carrying out different experiments for themselves while they were there. On 29 April there was a bike ride to the park by the railway at Chatutchak and a visit of the Butterfly Museum.

On 19 and 25 April there was a visit to the Museum of Children and Discovery. The children were able to learn about science, nature, culture and society by carrying out different experiments for themselves while they were there. On 29 April there was a bike ride to the park by the railway at Chatutchak and a visit of the Butterfly Museum. On 3 May and 9 June the children were able to realise a dream that they had been talking about for months – to go to the Siam Ocean World Aquarium in Bangkok. For them, it was the first time that they were able to see fish of many colours in real life. They were amazed by the impressively big sharks in huge aquaria. In total, 25 children from Bangkok Noï and 65 from Saphan Phut, aged from 3 to 15, went on this outing. For all of them it was an unforgettable experience.

Finally, on 19 and 26 May, as part of the activities organised for the children’s project on the historical period of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, a visit was organised to this ancient capital of Thailand.