Sponsoring Some Kids Through School

[H2oDunc]

Just before Mrs H2O passed away suddenly she was taking her TEFL course so she could help out at one of the local schools and give something back to the community we lived in and loved. It wasn't about the money as we didn't need it. She did a lot of volunteer work and charity work in the USA when she lived there. I would like to set up a trust fund to sponsor an underprivileged male and a female child through their schooling. The trust fund would cover all their expenses like books, uniforms, lunch etc.

Setting up the trust I can do no problem. Its how to choose the kids to sponsor ???????????

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I was not sure whether to post this in the teaching forum or not ? I just thought that maybe some non teachers may have some good ideas on how to do this.

If the mods feel that this would be better off in that forum please feel free to move it.

As said people any ideas would be great. Cheers Dunc

[toptuan]

A caveat...

IMHO Thailand is not a good place to set up these kinds of funds and expect them to be administered faithfully, ethically, and in perpetuity. Too much corruption from top politicians all the way down to the local school administrative level.

One former American teacher in our university, before she left our school 7-8 years ago, set up a scholarship fund for worthy students to borrow from. The fund operated one year following her leave-taking, and then it disappeared forever, and no one seems to know its whereabouts. Worse, no one seems accountable for the lapse in its administration. I get angry every time I think about some fat-cat administrator making off with funds earmarked to help needy students. Unfortunately, school administrators getting rich off the backs of poor students is pandemic in the academic arena.

My experience...

In Thailand, I have personally funded two students all the way through vocational college, university, and on to their master's degrees. As a teacher I had natural in-class contact with hundreds of students and it was easy to spot promising, yet needy students. For example, I spotted one of my brightest students never eating lunch with the others. He was always in a quiet corner of campus at lunch time, engrossed in a book. I found out later that his family didn't have enough money to supply him with daily lunch funds, and skipping lunch was simply a financial necessity, not a choice. Every day, he endured at least a half-day of classes with significant hunger competing for his attention and energy. Heart-wrenching.

After I identified several good candidates, I then got involved outside the classroom: met their families, visited their homes, learned about their academic histories since grade school, talked to their other teachers, and spent hours in individual conversations with the students themselves. After I was satisfied that they were worthy recipients of financial help, I simply paid their school bills anonymously, after setting up a checks and balances system to make sure the funds, indeed, went to those students' accounts.

Adapting to your situation...

Perhaps you could borrow from these ideas to work out your own program. If I were in your shoes, I would personally get involved with a school. Volunteer to teach a specialty you may have, read stories to primary children, act as an assistant to a teacher, etc. There are many ways to help in local schools, even if you don't speak Thai fluently. This will give you a natural opportunity to observe students close-up and begin sorting and sifting the possibilities for recipients of financial help. You could work closely with their teachers to find out further information which would help your decision-making. As you get to know teachers on a personal level, you might quite possibly find a teacher whom you would trust implicitly to help you work out the details of your charitable activities.

Closing observations...

Going through the official "system" (setting up a trust and thus exposing your good intentions to ethical abuse) is much riskier than working out private arrangements on your own, hopefully with a trusted professional (e.g. teacher). Of course, it's a lot more trouble this way, and demands more of your personal time and attention, but it's worth it. One of my beneficiaries, an orphan from a remote rice village, went on to win several national awards in his area of expertise, and I can't describe the thrill of knowing I had a part in contributing to his very bright future. This kind of giving even means more when you personally know the students. I hope you can experience the same!

Good luck!

Edited December 12, 2008 by toptuan

[H2oDunc]

The trust fund will have no input to the students so no corruption or otherwise. All it will do is provide an income for me to spend on sending a couple of kids through school. Its just how to choose 2 from so many worthwile causes.

As much as Id like to help out at a school I dont have the time nor think Id be very good at it. Plus I may be spending some time away from thailand so it would just be financial at the moment. Maybe when I return ??????

[toptuan]

Ah, your further clarification regarding the type of trust fund sounds like a good plan. I believe you need a good, dedicated teacher in your local area with whom you can develop a friendship in order to assist in carrying out your wishes. Yes, it will take time to develop such a contact. Meanwhile your trust fund can grow!

Edited December 12, 2008 by toptuan

[h90]

I have no idea about such things, but what about to meet with similar organizations for a chat, maybe they have some good ideas or know some candidates who need help but failed due to something in their policy???

And as for Toptuans imput: If I were you I would do as much as possible yourself, there are at least 2 zillion methods to cut a share of the money for some fat cat between. (I am the owner of a company here, and saw a lot corruption).

[sassienie]

Why dont you contact a well established certified charity, such as the, Save The Children fund.

I am sure they can point you in the right direction and maybe even work as part of their group.

[chiangmaibruce]

Great idea - if you can get around the mis-administration issue.

The head monk at one of our local temples has a program of support for local kids who need help. I am not sure if many temples provide the same type of program or not. Donations can be given on a year by year basis and based on however much you can afford to provide.

At this stage I am not sure exactly how/how well he screens the kids who are given help. And of course monks have been known to be a bit bent also. But it might just be another way for you to identify worthy kids/families in need.

[brackmagic]

There is a Brit that is a former Buddhist monk that runs an organization that does what you are talking about. Their website is thaistudentcharity.org . You might be able to get some ides from them.

[G54]

A lady I was with 2 years ago had an adopted child, whom she could no longer care for, sent to school and also cared for by a charitable Thai organisation. I looked over the accomodation and the school he was sent to. Both looked very good. The children seemed happy too.

Great shame I cannot remember the name but maybe someone might be able to help there. Seemed akin to Barnardos.

Maybe something along those lines might seem a good idea? Or maybe you just want to fund education alone? But it is an idea

[BarryM]

http://ritinjali.org/RITINJALI%20IN%20THAI...20-%20Final.pdf

http://ritinjali.org

The director of the project can probably sort this for you - PM me for contact details