Library offers street kids a future

The IDEACUBE is an artistic project aimed at getting public attention and interest in social responsibility and trigger awareness and commitment.
It’s the part of ‘The World First Citywide Ideas Exhibition’ to be showcased in different iconic locations in Bangkok in May.
With a slogan 'Supporting one child's education', UNESCO transformed the 1.5 metre cube frame into a library with young children’s books given to the foundation recently.
"We turned the cubes into the library because we want it to be used, not just to showcase an idea," said Dieter Schlenker of UNESCO Bangkok.
"We see that education is not only necessarily happening in the classroom. It can be anywhere, and books are tools to gain knowledge," he said.
Partnering with Nanmeebooks, a major book publisher in Thailand, UNESCO is able to fill the library cube house with books at special rates. Nanmeebooks also organised book readings and recycling craft activities for children at the foundation.
It is a home for street and abandoned children from 2 to over 20 years old. All kids there are supported in school up to bachelor degree level if they wish.
The foundation also offers a nursery centre for underprivileged children aged 2 to 6, living in its nearby communities. This library house will be used for both children at the nursery centre and the foundation.
"Ban Nok Kamin is not just a foundation. It is my family. And if I were not with this family, I'm sure I would have been ending up in jail like my other street friends and also friends in my community," said Lek (his nickname), who was taken to the foundation 19 years ago.
Now, he is now 27 and graduated with a diploma doing administrative work and coaching football skills to his young siblings at Ban Nok Kamin.
To donate books to the library house or any necessities to the foundation, contact Surachai Sukkhiawon at 081 889 1501, 02 375 6497 or [email protected].