This is Aek. He is now 5 years old. Aek has been coming to the Taladnoi Community Center nearly every day since we opened 2 years ago. You see, his mom who is from Laos is a street vendor right outside the door in the alley street. His dad who is also Lao is a motorcycle delivery driver. Before the Center opened, young Aek had to take naps and play outside next to his mom while she cooked and sold food until 6 pm. His parents both work and they do not have the money to pay for daycare for him. Many Lao families send their young children back to Lao to be raised by grandparents or family so they can work and send money home. Since Aek is an only child, the parents wanted to keep him with them in Bangkok.

Aek loves the center because he can play games and draw pictures - or just rest and watch videos like all kids. He gets very creative combining different games together. This year he started school and we helped his parents register him including getting his documents translated from Lao to Thai and helping to pay for the small tuition fees ($100) and uniform ($50) . Now Aek does his homework at the Center when he gets home from school - currently practicing his Thai alphabet - all 44 letters - it is not an easy language.

Aek's mom Nuan also loves the center because her son can play or sleep or now do his homework while she is finishing up work. It is also helpful because she can use the bathroom instead of having to run down the street or even take a short nap in the afternoon in the AC when business is slow. We also had made an outside faucet for water for her and the community with a sink outside that many adults use to wash their hands and Nuan uses to wash her dishes. A small but helpful addition to the community.

Aek is a very smart boy. I noticed that early on and as you can see by the picture he already learned that if he folds the paper it can support a lot more weight. I don't think I knew that until college!

In March 2026, we will celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the Taladnoi Community Center (aka Library31, or in Thai "Hong S'mud). We have served well over 150 children with about 30 boys and girls that come in every day - and I mean every day. We have taken children on field trips to local museums. Last year during summer (April/May) break, we took a group of 13 boys fishing to a local pond. We took 5 girls to a trampoline park in a local mall. Both thanks to extra donations. This mid-term break we are planning some events and also scheduling some free English classes with a teacher from Myanmar.

Many of the boys do not have fathers due to early deaths and broken marriages. Several boys have dropped out of school after the required minimum at age 16. Many kids like to rush to the Center after school to catch an hour of playing Roblox and making ramen noodles (called Mama, due to the popular brand). Some come here to sleep for a bit before going back home. For most, home is a one room area about 12 x 12 with an adjacent small kitchen area and a single basic or shared bathroom (about 250 sq ft total). Typically, 3 to 6 people sleep on the floor together on thin mattresses with 2 or 3 fans running to keep the room cool.

We thank the donors from the last 2 years with many giving multiple donations when I have asked. I continue to provide core monetary support for this project. The monthly expenses are typically $1,000+ per month for rent, staff, utilities and supplies including computers supplies. Often additional donations help mothers and families with emergency needs like a new fan, refrigerator, iron, kitchen pots/pans, or bicycle repair. Any large donations only go to families that I know very well. We also celebrate birthdays especially with the younger children with a Dairy Queen ice cream cake at the Center.

I really appreciate the support in the past 2 years and again request support for our third year of operation. I have not yet set up any formal organization because it is a lot of extra work without much gain right now. But I may in the future.

Kapkhun mak ley -

Thank you very much -

Michael

Please note this fundraiser is for Bangkok, Thailand, but I list my US home address for business purposes.

FACEBOOK for more pictures and contact information

What do donations support:

$30 - Refresh of games, puzzles, art and drawing supplies

$50 - Three months of internet cost (only $17/month!)

$100 - Utility bills for one month

$250 - Monthly rent

$500 - Monthly cost labor for Thai/Lao women who supervise the room

$1000 - One month's cost of operations

Donations used for Families:

$25 - Rice Cooker or Steam Iron

$30 - Diapers for new babies (especially Lao mothers)

$40 - Large Home Cooling Fan (or 2 smaller fans)

$50 - Microwave

$100 - School tuition and uniform

$250 - Refrigerator for one family

Special Requests:

$150 - Boy's Fishing Trip (12-14 boys aged 9 to 17)

$100 - Girl's Nail Salon Trip (6 to 8 girls age 10-14)

$200 - Summer English Program (April - 4 weeks - 3x per week)