Santoh International Child Development Center - Tha Ma Ka, Kanchanaburi, Thailand

I had a privilege to visit the education center for 4 days recently at Santoh village, Tha Ma Ka, Kanchanaburi city, Thailand

Founded several years ago by Preecha Kirdyoo, the center teaches children from Myanmar, Maths, Thai language, Myanmar language and a little bit of English, 5 days a week (1 day being a sport day).

The reason behind the opening the center, was when the founder saw there were a lot of children wandering around in the area doing nothing because they didn't go to school, for reasons such as poverty and lack of legal family documents. One time they had a service in the area where the children joined and they really enjoyed it. 

The parents came to Thailand to look for work because of poverty and family problems back in their home country.

They are often nomadic, having to move places depending on where the jobs are. As a result, so far, there is only 1 child that continue to study from the beginning of the school. Also, when a child reach the age of 14, they are often forced by their family to work. Santoh village is big on corn and sugar cane, and the children often work in factory. So even though they'd love to go to the center, circumstance allow them otherwise. This is such a pity, because through the short time I was there, I can see that these children are very well mannered, polite, intelligent and are very talented in art.

Preecha's wife, Yuka, told me that academically, they actually fare better than the local children who go to public school, because they actually learn in the center. Unfortunately, at the moment the center does not have accredition to issue certificate. They do however encourage children who can continue to the public school system to enrol and they will help the process too.

Play time after lunch

Soccer time

Currently, there are 13 teachers and volunteers, come from Myanmar and Thailand. There are around 120 registered students, but most days only 90 students come (based on when I was there). Some children can only come on Saturdays because they are working on the weekday.
The age ranges between 5 to 18 years old. 

Teachers and volunteer

Students

The school fee is 5 baht per day, which include a lunch, that is cooked on the center. We have tasted the food cooked by the cook of the school  (also the wife of the center's supervisor) during our time there and they were really delicious (Ours is different as in ours were not as spicy as what the children had).

The children also are provided with uniforms, study materials and school supplies. 

Where do the center get the funds? They mostly come from donations and financial supporters from overseas. If you would like to help, even just a little bit, please do not hesitate to contact the founder at preechakirdyoo@gmail.com or yuka_n8@hotmail.com

Preparation for lunch

Lunch time

I joined a church group that went there to do a volunteer program. There were 7 of us, one being a Thai speaker and we were assisted by the interpreter from Myanmar. There were also special guests from Bangkok to visit the children and interact with them.

We did big group and small group activities such as English class, drawing time, song and art session (for the little ones) and games time.

The older group had extensive English classes at a separate site within the center, while the younger ones engaged in games, art session or song session and short English sessions.

Play dough time

We also held a friendly competition for the best drawing of Sydney's harbour bridge of the different age group and category. Some hand drawn the bridge, some colored a print out drawing of the bridge.
We couldn't really pick out only a few winners, they were so good.

The class starts at 9 and finish at 3 or 3.30. The classes are held in the big open hall. The center also have about 2 small classrooms and at the moment they are building a bigger classroom building on the empty land next to the hall.

The children are also encouraged to take care of the center, they are proactive in cleaning the hall, distributing lunch, helping with the dishes, watering the plants and garden.
In the future, the center has plan to raise some chickens and duck at the center.

School ground

The hall slash classroom

Teacher's room, classrooms and toilet

Building new classrooms and toilets

Because the center is founded on Christian principles, they start with prayer and worship songs before they began their classes. Not all of them are Christian and there is no forcing of the children to take the faith.
Sometimes, the little ones also have a brief nap or quiet time before going home.

Nap time

Prayer time before going home

The founder of Santoh International Child Development Center is Preecha Kirdyo.
He and his family have been living in Thailand for 8 years now.

Preecha is also the pastor at Kanchanaburi City Church, which has been established for 25 years in a once (and in some part still) a slump area in Kanchanaburi city.

Preecha, Yuka and sons

Please drop an email to Preecha and Yuka at preechakirdyoo@gmail.com or yuka_n8@hotmail.com to say hi or for more information on the center.
They are friendly people who would love to hear from you and they speak English and Japanese