Thai poverty teenager’s resilience shines in faced hardships: Peddling to provide for family after eviction from home

[webfact]

 

A 15 year old Thai poverty girl finds herself in the challenging role of becoming the breadwinner of a family of three, following a family accident that resulted in their dwelling at a temple’s land. The girl, her grandmother, and her 8 year old sister, who is suffering from anaemia, are now living in a makeshift home in the temple premises, where the structure is on the verge of falling apart, and they’re obliged to shower out in the open.

 

Yesterday reporters were alerted to the situation of the schoolgirl and her family living in destitution on the land of Ang Sila Temple in Nong Ya Plong district, Phetchaburi. The girl, known as Gib, has displayed incredible determination amid her hardship, working as a boat peddler selling items to support her grandmother and sister.

 

The makeshift home in which they reside is an elevated little shack constructed with bamboo and galvanised tin sheets. Rather alarmingly, their bathing area is just a partially-covered open spot, and for using the toilet, they are required to walk approximately 200 metres away from their dwelling place.

The young girl, along with her sister, were left with their grandmother at the age of three months after their parents separated leaving them in the care of their 50 year old grandmother. Their troubled family history grew even more convoluted when their grandmother remarried and moved the family to her new husband’s house in front of Ang Sila Temple.

 

by Nattapong Westwood

PHOTO: KhaoSod

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thai-teenagers-resilience-shines-in-faced-hardships-peddling-to-provide-for-family-after-eviction-from-home

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-06-24

 

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[brianthainess]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

working as a boat peddler selling items to support her grandmother and sister.

Can anyone explain what a "boat peddler" actually is,

Surely not a Pedalo boat.  lets hope they all get the help that is needed.

[Purdey]

Wondering if a 'poverty girl' is English or not.

[BritManToo]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The makeshift home in which they reside is an elevated little shack constructed with bamboo and galvanised tin sheets. Rather alarmingly, their bathing area is just a partially-covered open spot, and for using the toilet, they are required to walk approximately 200 metres away from their dwelling place.

Same as my woman's family home in Petchabun.

Entirely normal in Thailand, what's special about this family?

 

If you live in Chiang Mai there's 100s of these makeshift dwellings all along either side of the Ping River.

Edited June 24, 2023 by BritManToo

[stoner]

i heard a rumor that a certain huge food company here in thailand  was so touched by this girls story that they want to build her family a house.

[kidneyw]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Same as my woman's family home in Petchabun.

Entirely normal in Thailand, what's special about this family?

 

If you live in Chiang Mai there's 100s of these makeshift dwellings all along either side of the Ping River.

Of course, you are 100% correct, but it is nice when someone catches a break for whatever reason.

[StayinThailand2much]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Their troubled family history grew even more convoluted when their grandmother remarried and moved the family to her new husband’s house in front of Ang Sila Temple.

So, what kind of ... did granny marry, if the relocation made the family's situation so much worse? And what happened to the house and gran's husband? 

Edited June 24, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[StayinThailand2much]

2 hours ago, stoner said:

i heard a rumor that a certain huge food company here in thailand  was so touched by this girls story that they want to build her family a house.

CP now building houses?

[StayinThailand2much]

3 hours ago, brianthainess said:

Can anyone explain what a "boat peddler" actually is (...)

I imagine, something like at Damnoen Saduak, minus the tour groups...

Edited June 24, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[swm59nj]

Yes stories like this are not uncommon unfortunately.  Praise to the young lady trying to help her family. 
At least she is trying to do something.  Not whining about how bad she has it. Or blaming society and everything else for the misfortunes.  As some adults on a particular platform do.