November 4, 1997

We care Weaving a future THE DISABLED: A self-help group set up by a crippled man in Buri Ram is returning pride and hope to handicapped villagers

Somyod Pattaisong, a member of the Handicapped People's Group in Buri Ram, concentrates on weaving a basket. The group provides handicapped people with a means to earn a living and improve their self-esteem. SOMKID CHAIJITVANIT

CHOMPOO TRAKULLERTSATHIEN Born crippled, Sanom Letaisong, a Buri Ram native, has known a lot of pain in his life - a source of shame for his parents, a "freak" among his childhood peers, an outcast in his community, and a pest to the authorities. But for a group of handicapped people at Na Pho district in Buri Ram province, Sanom is their hero. Like many disabled people in rural Thailand, life for them is full of bitterness from discrimination and a sense of hopelessness. Sanom, they said, has brought them the light of hope and returned their pride to them. Dubbed by group members as "Por Phra" - meaning a selfless, ever-giving man - Sanom, 40, provides the handicapped people under his care not only with tangible assistance such as work and opportunities to better their lives. His never-say-no optimism also serves as an inspiration for the disabled to overcome their limitations. "I don't like it when people say handicapped people are burdens on society. I'm determined to change such attitudes. Although we're disabled, we can help ourselves and at the same time help society," said Sanom, his conviction clear in his firm voice. Honoured by Buri Ram province as the 1996 Outstanding Handicapped Person, Sanom has won recognition for his self-imposed mission to help the handicapped in Buri Ram, one of the poorest provinces in northeastern Thailand. "I was born crippled, so I had to learn to overcome my physical shortcomings. I've learned to look deep within myself for some abilities which would help free me from my handicap and to develop my potential to the fullest," smiled Sanom who, unlike many handicapped people, looks confident and full of energy. In 1993, with only seven members, Sanom set up the Handicapped People's Group, a simple self-help centre in the grounds of Wat Baan Song Daeng in Buri Ram province. Here the handicapped learn how to weave baskets, bags and food covers. Members take turns selling the finished products in nearby markets. Group leader Sanom Letaisong brings hope into the gloomy lives of many handicapped people who used to believe they were "good for nothing''. The centre also offers occupational training in radio repairs and picture-frame making for those who prefer more technical work. "I'm determined to help the handicapped reach their full potential. By doing so, they can retain their pride by working and helping themselves. They're no longer a burden on the family. Better yet, they can support their families with their income," Sanom explained. Most of the handicapped, he said, are made to feel small and unwanted. "So much so that they've lost their sense of self-worth. Many are drowning in self-pity and constantly contemplating suicide. "This is such a waste. It's time for the handicapped to change this losers' attitude and get on with life," he said. To recruit members, Sanom visited remote villages in Buri Ram province. But he said his work was often obstructed by village headmen. Most of them refused to give him names and addresses of handicapped villagers. It might have been a matter of distrust, but their common refrain was that there were no handicapped in their village, no problems and no need for help. But Sanom didn't give up. He went back to the villages again, this time to get information from the villagers themselves. "That was how I found that there were still many poor disabled who were being neglected in the villages. Being handicapped myself, I understand their innermost feelings, how they have to struggle with loneliness and hardship," said Sanom. The Handicapped People's Group now has over 200 members from 65 villages in Buri Ram province. Most of them are crippled. Many are blind. And about 20 of them are mentally handicapped children who are in need of physical therapy and mental development. Recently, Sanom established the second branch of the group at Baan Nong Wang with 108 members. Among his duties as the group leader is to take members to register at the provincial office of the government's disabled welfare scheme so they can get free medical services. For example, the physically handicapped are entitled to receive a monthly therapy session at state hospitals, while mentally handicapped children can seek help in mental development. Acting as a bridge between the ill-informed disabled and welfare authorities, Sanom also handles procedures for getting artificial limbs and hand-operated tricycles for group members. Sanom said that he stopped seeking help from district officials long ago after many bitter experiences. "All they could give us were biting words of contempt. Most of them consider me a pest for asking for the help to which we are entitled. I came to the conclusion that they prefer to serve the rich, not the poor, especially not the poor disabled. "The crippled are not second-class citizens. It's unfair to treat us so poorly. But I'm not disheartened. I've learned one important truth; that is, we must help ourselves," he said matter-of-factly. Apart from providing basic assistance, Sanom also encourages group members to enroll in the Education Ministry's adult education programme which offers the equivalent of official school certificates. "The disabled must open ourselves to the outside world where we can learn more about ourselves and others. It's important to keep abreast of the modern world where knowledge is a life-time asset and power," he said. He is very concerned for the future of handicapped children because they badly need love and care, without which they cannot grow up to be well-adjusted. Sadly, he said, many parents blame their handicapped children for being born "defected". Maybe it's guilt, or perhaps shame, but these parents cannot give love and their kids are badly neglected. Sanom is one of them. Recalling his childhood, he said he never experienced parental care and love. "All I can remember of my childhood is loneliness and bitterness from discrimination. "My parents often left me at home. When anyone visited, I had to hide myself in dark corners of the house. I was afraid to go out because children would call me a freak. I was friendless. I was an outcast," he reminisced. Fortunately, Sanom was also born with a strong will. He was determined since childhood that he would not succumb to his physical limitations. "I told myself I must overcome my own self and help others when I could," he said. "I want to prove that being disabled does not mean we cannot be useful to the society." Although he never attended school, Sanom taught himself to read and write. Books and radio were his companions and source of knowledge, he said. At 17, he was already financially independent. Apart from selling balloons at temple fairs, he raised poultry and collected steel fragments and plastic materials for recycling. His earnings did not only support his poor parents, they also went towards his six siblings' education. The only thing he bought for himself was a tricycle wheelchair to make his trips to nearby villages a bit easier. Before that, he moved by dragging his crippled legs behind him as he slowly crawled along the dirt roads, "which was quite painful physically," he said. The idea of start a self-help group occurred to him after learning from the news that many poor handicapped people opted to earn easy money by becoming street beggars in the cities. "I was saddened by such news," he said. Easy money from trading one's human dignity does not last long. "Some of my handicapped friends came back with big sums of money. But they quickly lost it in gambling and drinking. Their money didn't help them or their communities in any way," he said. Somnuk then began to try to persuade them to stop posing as beggars. "Most of them told me they needed money. So I told them we could do it by working instead. Work would not only bring us cash, but also joy, creativity, independence, calmness and, most importantly, pride." Sommai Puttaisong, a former beggar, is among those who chose to listen to Sanom. "He has given me a chance to be proud of myself again. I also feel more in control of my life now that I've chosen to fight against fate, to be a giver rather than a taker." On a typical morning at the centre, about 20 disabled people gather at Wat Baan Song Daeng to make handicrafts. The others, who live too far away to come in daily, work at home. Humpbacked Somyod Pattaisong, 29, is a regular at the centre. "Before I met Sanom, I was mostly left alone at home. I believed I was good for nothing. That I was my family's burden. Now I've found that I love basket weaving. And that I can help myself and my family," he said. Like many disabled people, Somyod said he used to be obsessed with suicidal thoughts. "I felt inferior to others. I felt the world was unjust for making me a cripple. Now I have a new attitude to life - that determination will prevail." Viroj Kanha, 19, born with a lame leg, feels the same. "Previously, I was angry with my fate. I had to gulp down my sorrow when I saw my friends playing football. I was haunted by the urge to commit suicide. But Sanom found me and brought me a new life. I feel grateful to him," said Viroj who is being trained as a radio technician. Viroj also takes classes with the Non-Formal Education Department to further his studies. "I have many important things to do right now. I have plans for the future. Suicide thoughts never enters my head any more." Group members meet once a month at the temple to share their problems. Sanom notes them down and tries to find solutions. Poverty and debt are the most pressing problems, forcing many children to quit school. To ease this problem, a small part of the profits from the sale of handicrafts is set aside as an emergency fund. Apart from work and income, Sanom said the handicapped are still in need of counselling assistance. Even though they earn some money through their work, many still find life too hard to cope with. "I must always be on hand for talks and moral support. I must constantly remind them that life is a precious gift, and that we can make our life meaningful by helping others," said Sanom. Sanom leads by example, giving time and energy to better the lives of the rural handicapped. Apart from running the Handicapped People's Group, he plans to raise funds for handicapped children's education. "These are only the first steps in helping other people like me. The road is still very long ahead of me," he said, while slowly pushing the wheels of his tricycle wheelchair along the village's dirt road. "But I'm ready to move ahead, obstacles or not, because I believe in giving to make the world a better place." The Handicapped People's Group is located at Wat Baan Song Daeng, Baan Song Daeng, Na Pho district, Buri Ram. Tel (044) 629-243. Money can be transferred direct to the group's bank account: Handicapped People's Fund of Na Pho district, Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives, Phut Thai Song branch. Savings account number 240-2-30025-4. Return to front page