My friend Bill and I were walking down the streets of Mae Sot in northern Thailand. We would only
be staying for one night so we were trying to see everything we could in our short time there. We had just
Passed a movie store when we saw a little boy, maybe seven or eight. He was washing his hands and feet
After just digging through the trash sitting in front of a store. He looked at me, I smiled and just kept
Walking, it didn’t take long until he was right behind us saying what sounded like money. Knowing that
Street kids around here are part of gangs, so what ever money we would have given him would have only
Gone to who leads the gang. Instead we decide to just buy him some food, we knew this wouldn’t make it
back to the leader. Bill asked him “pad Thai”? and he shook his head and smiled. We pointed one
Direction he shook his head no, and began to lead us in the other direction, Right to the KFC we had
Passed earlier. Bill and I walked inside, he just stood there and would not come with us. So we grabbed a
Menu and took it out to him, he picked what he wanted and we sat outside with him and waited for his
Food to come. Bill and I tried to figure out his name, but any time we looked, or tried to talk to him he
Just covered his face. After a few minutes he let me take his picture.
His food came and after we gave it to
Him he went and sat down next to a trashcan and ate. By this now it was time for Bill and I to go meet the
rest of the guys for diner. On the way we began to talk about the way he was acting towards us when we
tried to speak to him, and that he didn’t look Thai either. This was written in the menu at the restaurant
we ate at.
“Beginning….
What do you want to be? I asked this question to street kids who were sitting in front of my shop
Silent….
I thought maybe they didn’t understand my question, then I asked again, what do you want to be, a
Doctor, a teacher, a soldier ect…?
Silent for a while, and one of them said “I don’t want to be anything”. I asked why? They just shook
there heads. This answer and children’s feedback annoyed my mind. Because if someone had asked me
the same question of course I have answered. But these children could not give me an answer because…
Everyday when they wake up. The first thing they think of is how or where they can find a trace of money
Or food for there hardship lives. Begging for money, looking for rubbish that can be changed for money,
Daily life is hard enough for them.
No future dreams….
Dreaming in the inspiration.
Their childhood was stolen by the injustice regime in b/u/r/m/a . the poverty and poor drive them to
be here, facing another hardship life.”
After reading that it all made sense. That boys only view of himself is the kid digging through the
Garbage for a meal. he doesn’t have anyone to take care of him, to love him, to tell him he can dream, and
Be more than what he is now. And the worst part about it, is that where he is now, a kid on the streets of
Mae Sat Thailand, is so much better than where he came from. I pray they don’t send him back there.
