Duang Prateep Foundation

 

The Duang Prateep Foundation is officially registered as a charity in Thailand and was founded in 1978. It grew out of the efforts of slum people to address the problems that confronted them; problems that have their roots in poverty and deprivation.

 

The name 'Duang Prateep' means 'flame of hope' and this flame is the Foundation's symbol. It offers a promise that we try hard to live up to with the help of our many friends and supporters in Thailand and overseas.

 

 

The Origins of the Duang Prateep Foundation

 

Prateep Ungsongtham Hata spent only four years at primary school but this was enough to show her that education could transform lives. As a 12-year-old worker she began to save from her meagre wages to pay for secondary education at night school. She was awarded a place at a college of education and, since there were no schools for slum children, she decided to open one herself at her home in the slum. . She soon found that much of her time was spent helping the children and their families cope with the conditions of slum life rather than formal teaching. Her prime educational concern was giving these deprived families some belief in themselves and hope for the future.

 

When they were threatened with eviction, Prateep's neighbours asked her to put their case to the landowner, the government and the news media. This was to be the first unexpected step in a career of public service on behalf of the urban poor. It was to bring Prateep the Magsaysay and Rockefeller Youth awards that enabled her to establish the Duang Prateep Foundation and the Foundation for Slum Child Care. Her work has gained her the trust of both the slum people and the government.

 

 

PROJECTS

 

 

The New Life Project

 

The Duang Prateep Foundation's New Life Project helps children who have problems with Bangkok slum life. The children, many of whom have a background of drug abuse, go to a rural centre where they are kept active with a mixture of conventional schooling, vocational training and agriculture work.

                The foundation has two centres: At Chumphon, in the South of Thailand, there is a centre for 90 boys and young men. At Kanchanaburi, West of Bangkok, there is a similar centre for girls. The hope is that young people will go to the project for a period of at least three years. The project has successfully transformed the lives of many youngsters who were facing a life without hope before their stay at the New Life Project.

 

 

Community Kindergartens Project

 

Kindergartens lie at the heart of Duang Prateep Foundation activities. They began as a form of refuge from slum conditions and slum values for young children. Kindergartens also became informal community centres, where problems could be discussed with teachers and neighbours. The DPF has assisted in setting up 15 kindergartens in Bangkok slum communities and has also helped start up kindergartens in poor villages in Northeast Thailand. The kindergartens are administered by the local elected community councils and the foundation's role is a supportive and advisory one. Once the community structure is well established, the kindergartens become totally independent of the DPF. There are presently 9 kindergartens under the auspices of the foundation. Good health and nutrition are important aspects of the work at all Duang Prateep Foundation affiliated kindergartens. Nutritious lunches are served at all the children's centres.

 

Educational Sponsorship Programme

 

Compulsory education is free in Thailand but, paradoxically, it is also too expensive for many slum dwellers. There are many compulsory items such as books, uniforms and shoes, which makes the financing of a child's schooling a burden for poor families. The Educational Sponsorship Programme of the Duang Prateep Foundation is presently helping the families of over 2,500 children with some of the costs of education. Children in the sponsorship programme are studying at all levels from kindergarten to university. Sponsors are assigned a child to support and are sent school reports and letters from the child. There is also an emergency fund to assist children confronted with unexpected emergencies, such as a fire or ill-health or bereavement in the family which has affected the family finances. The Duang Prateep Foundation has now helped many slum children complete higher tertiary level education. With university degrees, youngsters from the slum are able to give more financial support to their families.  

 

Slum Children's Art Project

 

Realizing the importance of developing a child's imagination and creativity, the DPF has created a Children's Art Project. The essence of this project is to provide a friendly 'drop-in' centre. The children meet with the foundation's art teachers every afternoon when school has finished. The children have access to materials and equipment and the teachers provide guidance in a variety of techniques. 

 

 

Toy Library

 

In the past slum children have lacked places where they could meet their friends for play and recreation outside school hours. Too many slum children hang around on the streets and alleyways where they are exposed to vice and are vulnerable to being led into bad behaviour. At home living conditions are cramped and the children have few toys to play with. Therefore, in 1999 the Duang Prateep Foundation started a toy library for children from the slum communities surrounding the foundation centre. The library is open to children after school on weekdays, at the weekend and during the school holidays. It provides a safe haven where children can enjoy being children away from the threats and dangers of the world outside.  

 

 

Senior Citizens and Help for the Disabled Project  

 

The DPF is a welfare organisation which provides advice and assistance to the elderly in the community. This programme helps senior citizens in their dealings with the bureaucracy, with medical services or with any other problems which might occur. The foundation also has a social club for senior citizens which meets once a week. The foundation also hosts a self-help group for disabled citizens. The foundation helps disabled slum dwellers register with the appropriate government agencies, so that they can get the assistance from the state to which they are entitled.

               

 

Aids Project

 

The Aids Protection Project was established in 1988 to educate slum dwellers in Aids prevention and care. Through regular meetings and outreach programmes, and with the assistance of many volunteers, the foundation has been able to increase the communities awareness about Aids. The foundation believes in home care for people who are suffering from the effects of Aids. The foundation gives training to family members and community volunteers so that they can effectively care for people with Aids related ailments.

 

 

Special education Programme for the Hearing Impaired

 

The Duang Prateep Foundation opened a school for the hearing impaired in 1986 to ensure that hearing impaired children are not excluded from the national school system. Each child is fitted with a hearing aid tailored to his or her needs. These hearing aids then remain the child's property for life. In this programme, children learn the essential skills of communication and listening as well as following a normal kindergarten syllabus. As often as possible they are integrated with their non-hearing impaired peers in the Duang Prateep Kindergarten.

 

Community development activities

 

The Duang Prateep Foundation supports several community activities in Bangkok slum communities. The Klong Toey Anti Drugs Volunteer Association works closely with the Duang Prateep Foundation in campaigning for a drugs free environment in Bangkok slums. The Garbage for Eggs environmental group has introduced an eggs-for-refuse exchange scheme in more than twenty Bangkok communities. Refuse is collected for recycling and Bangkok slums are cleaner more hygienic places with greater environmental awareness amongst the residents. The foundation has started a credit union, the Klong Toey Cooperative for Community Service, which is administered by a community committee. The community bank encourages a culture of saving among slum residents and can provide low cost loans for housing improvements, income generation activities or to help with emergency situations. The foundation also works closely with youth groups in Bangkok slum communities. The foundation can coordinate activities among different youth groups and can occasionally provide some financial support for certain events.   

 

 

Fire Project

 

Fire is a serious hazard for Bangkok slum dwellers. The wooden houses built closely together and the narrow walkways mean that once a fire starts it can spread with great rapidity. It is not possible for slum dwellers to rely on outside professional fire-fighting services as by the time they arrive any fire would already be well established. Slum dwellers must look after their own safety and the Duang Prateep Foundation assists slum communities in reducing the risk of fire. Volunteer fire-fighters are always on standby at the Duang Prateep Foundation, equipped with fire-engines which were donated after previously being used in Japan. In addition the Duang Prateep Foundation helps in the training of volunteer fire-fighter groups in many slum communities. The volunteers can speedily be at the site of any fire and hopefully put the blaze out before it has time to spread.