WE CARE:

On shaky ground

Tortured by the constant rattle of their homes and coping with dire living conditions and uncertain futures, the bridge people are among the poorest of slum dwellers

By CHOMPOO TRAKULLERTSATHIEN
Picture by SOMKID CHAIJITVANIT

Caravans of heavy trucks roar over the roof of Kung's home every night shaking the shabby dwelling to the core.

"I have not had a good night's sleep since my family came here seven years ago," complained the skinny 15-year-old.

Kung lives with his family in a tiny room under the Ram 43 Bridge in Hua Mark district. The bridge is the roof of his home - and living under the same roof are 10 other families who, like Kung's, are too poor to afford a space in the conventional slums.

In addition to the trucks, Kung complains of the dare-devil motorcyclists and the ear-piercing noise from their bikes which starve him of sleeping.

"All I can do is cover my ears with a blanket and a pillow. But it doesn't help much," said Kung who left his home village in Buri Ram when he was eight.

Kung and the other Ram 43 Bridge dwellers are simply too poor to move away from the nightly torture.

Hieng Burtsri, 30, a migrant worker from Nakhon Ratchasima, said she used to live the dangerous life as a vagrant. "Now, at least I have a place where my two children and I can sleep safely," she said.

"The bridge also serves as roof to protect us from the sun and the rain."

Intensive land development in Bangkok over the past decade has made it difficult for new rural migrants to find a space to live.

At the same time severe rural poverty has meant the number of bridge dwellers has increased - currently there are about 75 bridge slums across the capital.

In 1996 the YMCA started working in the bridge slums at Makkasan, North Na Na, Phra Ram IX, Bang Bua, Saphan Mai, Sri Nakharin, and Ram 43.

In addition to basic health care, the organisation offered bridge dwellers occupational training, non-formal education for children, student scholarships, Aids education and medication as well as camp and sports activities for youngsters.

This year YMCA will extend its help to communities in Thon Buri including those at Arun Amarin, Ko Bor, Ratburana, and Dao Kanong bridges.

"With budget constraints and a lack of volunteers, we cannot help much. But we hope to give the children some basics to help them develop mentally and physically," said Jittakorn Pilukna, 27, a YMCA volunteer.

Plagued by the fear of persecution and eviction, the bridge dwellers are generally hostile to outsiders. Another volunteer Sudjai Daoruang, 25, said it took her several months before she could win their trust when the project started two years ago.

"When I first stepped into the Makasan community, the adults were very hostile. The children cursed and poked fun at me. I felt very disheartened. But I kept trying and it worked," said Ms Sudjai.

At Phra Ram IX bridge, it took Ms Sudjai and Mr Jittakorn nearly a year to win bridge dwellers' trust.

Children who grow up in under-the-bridge slums live very stressful lives. Sleepless nights, cramped living conditions, nowhere to play, the fear of eviction and often having to quit school to help their families make ends meet, their future looks bleak. But a YMCA project offers them a little relief and a look at the outside world

Mr Jittakorn explained: "People in the community had been evicted from several other slums before taking refuge at Phra Ram IX Bridge. Their experiences made them wary of strangers. They believe outsiders are their enemies."

To try to win their trust, the YMCA volunteers approached community leaders to talk to them about their organisation's good intentions. But it was the English teaching programme for the children which helped break the ice.

"The parents wanted their children to have a better education. So, they allowed us to spend time with their kids," said Mr Jittakorn.

The children served as a link to the parents and with the other assistance on offer the bridge dwellers finally started to accept the volunteers were there to help.

Apart from English classes, the bridge children also a trip every month and drawing, painting, and story-telling classes. The activities are aimed at opening the children's world and developing their learning and communication skills.

"Every month, we take the children to places like Pattaya, Suan Luang Rama IX or Dusit Zoo. The outside world helps widen their horizons and broaden their mind," said Mr Jittakorn.

"I'd never seen the sea until the volunteers took us to Pattaya," said four-year-old Joy of the Ram 43 Bridge community.

Pong, 13, beamed when recalling his day at the Suang Luang Rama IX Park. "The place is so vast, so beautiful. Our bridge community has nowhere for us to play. I enjoyed running with my friends and sleeping on the grass. It was the happiest moment for me."

The volunteers say, over the two years they have been working in the communities, they have seen many positive changes particularly among the children.

"Previously they were aggressive and violent and often used bad language. They did not know how to greet people. They have softened with their interaction with the outside world," said Ms Sudjai."They've also learned to trust others."

Youngsters from the various bridge communities have the chance to meet each other at the YMCA's monthly sports programme. "We hoped they would become friends and help one another when they grow up," said Ms Sudjai.

Such friendships are important as many of the bridge children are treated as outcasts in school. "I feel inferior to my friends," said Pong. "They often tease me about my under-the-bridge house," he said.

According to Mr Jittakorn, the bridge communities are in better shape now they are willing to open themselves to outside assistance.

For example, hospitals are now sending health care volunteers into the slum and offering advice on caring for Aids patients.

And the YMCA is offering handicraft training to give people a chance to earn extra income.

The bridge dwellers are mostly hawkers, street vendors, labourers, garbage collectors, and garland makers. The present economic crisis has hit them hard. Many have lost their jobs and food is scarce. Those who are really hard up ask for leftovers from nearby temple.

The knock-on effects touch everyone in the community - many youngsters have had to quit school because their parents can no longer afford the fees.

"Life is harsher for them than ever before," said Ms Sudjai.

The 75 bridge communities are similar in their shabbiness. Generally, the space under the bridge is divided into two zones. Between the two zones is a narrow walkway.

One each side of the walkway small rooms are separated off with walls made from planks, paper boxes, and plastic bags. Each household has only a tiny space for cooking, eating, and sleeping. Everyone shares the same roof - the bridge.

Large bridges such as Bang Bua accommodate 35 households. The Phra Ram IX is crowded with 74 families.

Without official house registrations, the bridge people cannot use public utilities directly. Instead they use electricity and tap water from nearby houses and for this they pay a higher price - up to 500 baht a month.

Space under the bridge is not always free. At Saphan Mai, new dwellers pay a rental fee to the former resident of about 500-600 baht for a two square-metre room.

"The environment is poor," said Mr Jittakorn. "The air is polluted and filled with the foul smell from the canals. The communities are full of mosquitoes and poisonous insects. Children are often bitten by centipedes and scorpions," he said.

Ms Sudjai said most of the bridge people are landless farmers, from the Central Plain and the Northeast.

At Saphan Mai bridge, for example, residents are landless farmers from Nakhon Nayok. Many have been living there for 15 years. Most are relatives and friends working together as junk collectors. They also sell fish caught in the Rangsit canals.

The Phra Ram IX Bridge dwellers are mostly from the Central Plain. They were evicted from slum after slum until they had nowhere else to go but under the bridge. Many work as refuse collectors.

Landless peasants from Isan live under Bang Bua Bridge. About a half came from Buri Ram, one of the poorest provinces in Thailand. Most sell garlands. Recently many of the children in this community have been forced to quit school to work.

"It was a painful decision," said Daeng Manadee, 52, who is a hired hand. "I know my children cannot get good job without education. But I have no choice."

Apart from money concerns, the fear of eviction is a constant worry.

"We cannot think much about tomorrow because it's hard enough struggling each day," sighed Buatong Kham-Im, 42, who has been living at Saphan Mai for 10 years.

Living under a bridge, as bad as it seems, at least gives her place to rest so she can fight deal with tomorrow.

"We have no future. Soon we might not have a place to live. It's the children who will suffer most if we are evicted."

We Care is a weekly series honouring people who believe in giving. You can show you care by supporting the projects featured here each week. You can also let us know about people who selflessly help others so we can honour them in these pages. Fax We Care on 240-3666, or call 240-3700 ext 3208 or 3212. Or email sanitsuda@bangkokpost.net .

Information for donations :

Name of organisation : YMCA

Address : 27 South Sathorn Road, Yanawa district, Bangkok, 10120

Contact person : Sudjai Daoruang and Jittakorn Pilukna.

Tel : 287-1900 ext Development Department

Fax: 287-1996.

Savings Bank account name: Gongtun Pattana Pua Dek Tai Saphan (The Fund for the Development of Children Living Under Bridges.

Bank account number: 117-4-20228-1

Bank name and branch : Bangkok Bank, Kluay Nam Thai branch

Please send or fax a copy of the deposit slip to the above address so the foundation can issue every donor a receipt.