- ATD Fourth World

In Bangkok, the Friends of ATD Foundation mainly organized an essay and drawing contest. About 40 schools around Bangkok participated in it. The students were from elementary and secondary levels and there were 2 communities who joined the contest too including Saphan Phut community. It was really impressive to discover what the students think of on how the people in the society can contribute to overcome extreme poverty. The drawings are beautiful and the essays were moving too. Their expressions are all remarkable! The awarding ceremony was one of the highlight of the event yesterday.

What made this day more colorful and created a friendly atmosphere ? The Friendship Trains made by the children from different places in Thailand, and trains from Poland, and Africa plus the drawings of the children were all exhibited.
Khun Yurin, a famous storybook writer for children facilitated a discussion wherein the children were able to express their thoughts, feelings and opinions about life. We were glad to see that the children from Saphan Phut actively participated in the activity.
These children who also read the collective messages written in the Friendship trains are the kids who will take part in the Children’s Summit next month in Manila.

 

Except from their message: " We give value to our education and society. Everyone should be able to go to school in order to acquire knowledge. We would like to go to school everyday. Some of us could become nurses, doctors and soldiers to protect our country. We would like that everyone could live happily in this world with our families."

The event this year to commemorate October 17 th was a good means to create awareness about the significance of the day. It was a school break in Thailand, but he presence of the students, teachers, parents and members of ATD Fourth World in Thailand made this October 16 program a succesful one.