July 21, 1998
Joe (left) works as a volunteer with some of the street kids at Tha Pae Gate in Chiang Mai. He says that because he has firsthand experience of many of the dangers these youngsters face, he is more able to connect with them. The Volunteers Group for Children's Development aims to teach life skills to the youngsters, many of whom become involved in drugs and prostitution, so they are better able to take care of themselves. Surviving the streets A group of social workers are encouraging young runaways in Chiang Mai to be streetwise and escape the dangerous path that leads to drugs and prostitution Karnjariya Sukrung After his parents' divorce, Joe, then 14, ran away from home in Chiang Rai and with only 200 baht in his pocket went to live on the streets of Chiang Mai. All alone Joe had to fend for himself. He lived off left-over food in trash bins and braved Chiang Mai's cold nights all the time watching over his shoulder for street bullies and the police. Then, other street children introduced him into a sex service ring. Working with a few customers a night, he made enough money to rent an apartment, buy food and clothes and hang out with friends. He had no savings though, as most of his money was spend on drugs - glue, amphetamines and heroin - which he used to escape the harsh reality of his lonely life. Joe's experience is typical of street children in Chiang Mai. With their drug problems and frequent risk of exposure to the deadly HIV virus, many die young. "That is why we want to help them break the vicious cycle of street life and, hopefully, to return them to a normal life," said Anuchon Huansong, coordinator of the Volunteers Group for Children's Development. This team of social workers work with Chiang Mai's street kids. With funding from UNICEF, the workers who call themselves "street teachers", aim to instill more rational thinking in the youngsters and encourage them to make long-term goals to counter their impulsiveness. According to Mr Anuchon, or Kru Ek as the children refer to him, street kids are used to living independently and it is difficult to impose adults' rules and regulations on them. Sending them home is not a solution because, more often than not, the children run away again because the problems they initially fled from still exist. Thus the street teacher group's aim is to help the youngsters stay safe while they live on the streets and to help them plan for their future. "Many children enjoy their freedom and do not think much of the danger of their lifestyle. What we're doing is to tell them how they can live safely if this is the lifestyle they have chosen. And if they want to develop themselves or need some help, they know there is someone they can turn to for help." Using what is called Life Skills techniques - the skills to help the children live a safe and meaningful life - the group works with between 20 to 40 youngsters aged between 12 and 18. Most come from northern provinces, but some come from Bangkok. Nearly all are from poor and broken-home families. Many have been physically or sexually abused by family members. To encourage them to join the life skills programme, teachers and volunteers visit the children at their various hangouts and befriend them. It usually takes a long time to gain the children's trust, but with the help of former street children-turn-volunteers, such as Joe, the task is easier. "I know what street life is like and I don't want anyone to have to live like that," said Joe, now 19. "I can get to the heart of the children and earn their trust more easily because we share the same experiences. They tell me their problems because they know I'll understand. And they can look at me and see it is possible to change their lives," he said. The group meets regularly with the youngsters at Tha Pae Gate, a favourite hangout of the youngsters - and a place where they also seek out customers. There, on Friday nights between 8 and 10 p.m., the teachers and volunteers organise plays, games, and video presentations with the aim of disseminating information about the dangers of drugs and Aids. Normally, the event attracts between 15 and 20 youngsters. They can bee seen sitting in a circle, with eyes fixed on the TV watching stories about drugs. A question-and-answer session always follows. On a recent Friday night one volunteer asked: "Why do people get hooked on drugs? What can you do to get away from drugs? How do you say no when your friends try to persuade you to use drugs?" One youngster answered: "We use them because we're depressed and stressed - and because all our friends use drugs." Another young voice joined in: "But if a friend asked us to use drugs, we can always say we have tried it before and don't like it." This is the kind of discussion the street teachers want to hear. "We don't want to impose our own thinking on the children. We want to give them information and let them work out for themselves what they should or should not do," said Mr Anuchon. "It's better they learn from their own experiences. That is much more effective then having someone else's thinking imposed upon them." After the games are over the youngsters are given snacks, cans of fruit juice, and gifts like tooth brushes to reward them for their participation. To encourage them to come again those who come five times get a free T-shirt. Before the gathering ends, social workers and youngsters sit together and enjoy snacks, watch videos and sing songs. Or the social workers may simply lend an attentive ear to youngsters who want to talk about their problems. The word has spread on the street and an increasing number of children are gathering for the Friday night's feast and fun with the teachers. Sometimes, however, children leave in the middle of the activities if they see potential customers. Since safe sex is one of the group's messages, they also give away condoms to the sexually active youngsters. "We don't encourage them into this activity. But we know we can't stop them so it's better to at least give them some protection," said Mr Anuchon. Now many children are aware of HIV and Aids and know how to protect themselves. One boy said:"I won't have sex with my customers if he doesn't agree to wear condom." However, some stopped using condoms because of the police. "If the police catch us and find condoms in our pockets, we will be sent to jail. So it's safer and better not to have condoms, then there can be no charge against us." said 16-year-old Tum. Despite the odds, teenagers like Joe who quit life on the streets are the reason why the group is determined to continue its work. Apart from meeting street children and organising Friday night events, Joe is also writing play scripts. "I write the story and plot of the play," said Joe. "The stories come from my own experiences which I think all the street children share." The plot of the story always touches on the lives of young runaways and the dilemmas and problems they face. Joe is also working on the project "Aids Knowledge For The Community" to be proposed to AIDSnet, a non-profit making organisation which disseminates knowledge about HIV and Aids to youngsters in hilltribe communities. "I don't picture my life as a street wanderer anymore. There're so many things in life to do. I want to teach children in the mountains how to escape drugs and avoid Aids," he said. Now he is preparing to continue his studies through non-formal education and vocational studies in Lampang. He says many street children tell him they want to quit their dangerous and hopeless lives on the streets, but changing is not easy. Apart from the temptations to fall on old ways, society does not help with its prejudices of the youngsters as bad people and trouble-makers. "Such distrust has forced many street children to give up on their intentions of starting life anew," said Mr Anuchon. Often, officialdom prevents street children from going back to school. Many youngsters do not have the necessary documents such as previous school certificates and home registration. "Children should have the right to study unconditionally no matter what. Documents or rules for education should not rob them of their chance of education," said street teacher Nuchanart Boonkhon, 30, or Kru Nam. While some street children give up on studying, others opt for vocational training with organisations which the Volunteers Group for Children's Development has contact with. Another problem the youngsters face is finding work. Apart from prostitution, most jobs open to these children are poorly paid such as gas station boys and waiters. "For myself, I don't mind now how much I get. I want only to survive on my own, have a decent job and study," said Joe. "But I don't understand why, when we want to change our lives, it's so hard. There are not many helping hands. There are always problems. Many of my friends have given up." Determined people like Joe, can stay at the group's home and office, supported by the Department of Public Welfare. At the home, the youngsters learn to live with rules and to compromise. "They have to learn to live with others in a social setting, to comply with rules, to help one another and to share responsibilities," said Mr Anuchon. Like a big family, up to 10 children share rooms with teachers. They share chores and take it in turns cooking, cleaning and washing. In their free time, they learn to make the Thai dessert, Khanom Kreeb Lamduan and batik painting so they can earn some extra income. Desserts are sold to the supermarkets and the batik to other outlets. On average they earn about 600 baht a month from selling desserts, and this is shared among children. "These career lessons or hobbies are psychological therapy," said Mr Nuchanart who is charge of the street children's job development. "Although it's only a meagre sum, they learn to take pride in themselves and appreciate their hard-earned money." Within a few months, Joe will leave the group's home and live by himself again. Though he exudes confidence that life from now on will be full of promises, inside he is nervous and doubts whether he will be warmly welcomed by society. "But I don't think there'll be any hardships I can't endure," he said. "I have lived in a very dark and difficult way and still survived. There can't be anything worse than some of the things I've experienced." Info for donations : Name of organisation : The Volunteers Group for Children's Development Address : 127/8 Moo 2 Chang Pheuk, Muang, Chiang Mai 50300 Founder : Anuchon Huansong Tel/fax : (053) 213-192 Savings Bank account name : The Volunteers Group for Children's Development Bank account number: 415-2-06677-0 Bank name and branch : Thai Farmers' Bank, Chiang Mai-Mae Jo branch Please send or fax a copy of the deposit slip to the above address so the foundation can issue every donor a receipt.		Classifieds Jobs Property Entertainment Investment Education Travel Sales Learn English Weekly Database Horizons NiteOwl Student Weekly Real Time Special We Care Street Art Back Issues Last Month Archive Company Servcies Subscriptions Advertising Annual Report
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