Doing Something Nice And Good

[corkscrew]

And, I don't mean just dropping a few coins in a beggar's cup.

What can we do to make life a little more comfortable or pleasant for those people in our neighborhood? Most of us are guests in Thailand and rather than just take (and pay for) what little things can we do to say that we care?

If we go out of our way to do something every day...any small thing...we will make that person feel better and we also will feel better. Just being polite and smiling goes a long way.

Post your ideas of what would help.

[colinscarr]

You probably throw away a number of empty cans, glass & plastic bottles every day. If you see someone scavenging for them near your home, you could give them to him and (admittedly slightly) increase his income while ensuring the empties get recycled.

[ThaiBasil]

I'd say if you are living here: simply start with the family of your thai wife/gf. If you're single: talk to the nearby schools or temples. You could donate something there. I myself donate from time to time to the school and temples as I believe you'll have to take care a bit of the community one lives in. I also send my daughter, cousin and two of their friends to an English teacher on Saturdays and Sundays.

[Dakhar]

Take the toilete paper off of the dining table, and place it in the bathroom, but this may cause mass condfusion.

[G54]

Donate a small plot of land to the community for them to play those small games on - can't remember the name - where they throw the balls at the stick or the rings over the stick.

I have seen many small communities gather at these places and play happily during the evening, socialising and having the odd beer together.

[bojo]

Go and visit the poor and aged in your neighbourhood and take them some food or snacks or maybe some blankets in colder regions of Thailand in the winter.

As a Scottish customer of mine used to repeat over and over again in early stages of inebriation .....

it's nice to be nice. I don't know if he was having a pop at me or wanted free drinks!!

Regards Bojo

[IanForbes]

You probably throw away a number of empty cans, glass & plastic bottles every day. If you see someone scavenging for them near your home, you could give them to him and (admittedly slightly) increase his income while ensuring the empties get recycled.

I do just that. There is a man who shuffles through our big, hotel garbage cans every day, looking for plastic bottles and pop cans. I clean and save mine in a separate plastic bag and give them to him when he comes around.

There is a Thai kid who looks after a few stray dogs in our neighbourhood and he spends hours petting and cleaning them. I give him my extra change to buy a treat for himself and the dog.

I take a lot of photos of the locals and always get prints made for them later. Most don't have the money for pictures and I know my photos are appreciated. I've known a few for about 5 years and have seen their children grow up. They all have an album of the pictures I've taken of them.

I don't usually give to beggers in cities because many are put there by the mafia. But, in the smaller Thai towns the poor DO need some financial help. I help where I can. I don't often give to the flower children in the bars because I don't like that system, but I've helped a couple of the older girls with their schooling and paid for a hair dressing course for two of them.

I do it for selfish reasons. It makes ME feel good that I actually helped someone help themselves. Thailand is a place where you can truly help people without it costing too much.

I've befriended many bar girls without asking for anything in return. If they truly need help they know that can come to me and I'll do what I can. I just make sure they understand that I'm not an ATM machine. But, in return though, I do get invited to their private parties when they occur. I know I've been played for a sucker a few times, but it's nothing I can't afford and it is their problem and not mine.

[IanForbes]

Donate a small plot of land to the community for them to play those small games on - can't remember the name - where they throw the balls at the stick or the rings over the stick.

I have seen many small communities gather at these places and play happily during the evening, socialising and having the odd beer together.

That is a great idea, G54. But whose name would be on the ownership paper? It would have to be in the communities name so it didn't get stolen at a later date.

[G54]

Donate a small plot of land to the community for them to play those small games on - can't remember the name - where they throw the balls at the stick or the rings over the stick.

I have seen many small communities gather at these places and play happily during the evening, socialising and having the odd beer together.

That is a great idea, G54. But whose name would be on the ownership paper? It would have to be in the communities name so it didn't get stolen at a later date.

Thanks

I have seen it done but not exactly sure how. In the main I have seen some people build large houses and heard they donated a small strip of land for this type of purpose.

I would presume they donate the land to the community via the Amphur or similar.

I'll add it is great to see small projects like this that add to the community and you often see young and old participating in these games. A couple of benches and a few plastic chairs dotted about, people having food and drinks and you have a great atmosphere for little cost.

I cannot see a small patch of land 5 metres wide * 10 metres long costing a great amount of money either.

[chiangmaibruce]

One way is to regular make time to act as a volunteer english teacher. You sometimes see ads for these online or elsewhere. Often NGO's, charities or neighbourhood centres etc. Just an hour once a week or something, and maybe you could buy a few childrens english books as well. It will be appreciated I am sure

[mahtin]

Redistribution of wealth.

Start by selling your avatar.

[ThaiBasil]

Donate a small plot of land to the community for them to play those small games on - can't remember the name - where they throw the balls at the stick or the rings over the stick.

I have seen many small communities gather at these places and play happily during the evening, socialising and having the odd beer together.

That is a great idea, G54. But whose name would be on the ownership paper? It would have to be in the communities name so it didn't get stolen at a later date.

Thanks

I have seen it done but not exactly sure how. In the main I have seen some people build large houses and heard they donated a small strip of land for this type of purpose.

I would presume they donate the land to the community via the Amphur or similar.

I'll add it is great to see small projects like this that add to the community and you often see young and old participating in these games. A couple of benches and a few plastic chairs dotted about, people having food and drinks and you have a great atmosphere for little cost.

I cannot see a small patch of land 5 metres wide * 10 metres long costing a great amount of money either.

Check a hot spot like Phuket or Samui and ask that same question. Only add the word "beachfront" to your sentence thats all, hahaha ......

[IanForbes]

Check a hot spot like Phuket or Samui and ask that same question. Only add the word "beachfront" to your sentence thats all, hahaha ......

That is true of course, but we really aren't talking of prime real estate taken up by wealthy Thais and rich farangs. The idea was for small Thai villages or the outskirts of bigger cities where the poorer people make their homes. The families I take care of live in Luk Kae in the province of Kanchanaburi, and the outskirts of Ubon Ratchathani. There are NO farangs within 10 kilometers of either area.

[corkscrew]

I think a lot of us drink beer. Well, there is a Thai charity that uses the pull tabs on cans to make or buy artificial limbs for people. I don't know how it is done (can company sponsors it?) but it is done. We used to take our pull tabs to the 7/11 where there was a pick up place....but, now I think the pick up spots are in big centers like Lotus. We have been doing this for a number of years. After saving up for several months (days? ) we would leave a bag like this at the pick up spot.

If anyone knows more about this charity please make a post.

As to the empty cans themselves we give them to people in the building who sell them to be recycled.

[yabaaaa]

And, I don't mean just dropping a few coins in a beggar's cup.

What can we do to make life a little more comfortable or pleasant for those people in our neighborhood? Most of us are guests in Thailand and rather than just take (and pay for) what little things can we do to say that we care?

If we go out of our way to do something every day...any small thing...we will make that person feel better and we also will feel better. Just being polite and smiling goes a long way.

Post your ideas of what would help.

What u see and they see as "helpful" will be two completely different things.

[yabaaaa]

I think a lot of us drink beer. Well, there is a Thai charity that uses the pull tabs on cans to make or buy artificial limbs for people. I don't know how it is done (can company sponsors it?) but it is done. We used to take our pull tabs to the 7/11 where there was a pick up place....but, now I think the pick up spots are in big centers like Lotus. We have been doing this for a number of years. After saving up for several months (days? ) we would leave a bag like this at the pick up spot.

If anyone knows more about this charity please make a post.

As to the empty cans themselves we give them to people in the building who sell them to be recycled.

never understand this , so the ring pulls are made of platinum or something but the rest of the can is aluminium?

[krading]

They contain titanium which is recycled and used to make prosthetic limbs

[corkscrew]

They contain titanium which is recycled and used to make prosthetic limbs

Thank you! But, who would have thought. I thought every bit of the can including the pull tab was aluminum. Titanium! Wow.

[yabaaaa]

learn something new everyday I just assumed it was aluminium.

Oh dear a qucik check shows their is NO Titanium in ring pulls its all an urban myth

http://www.wheelchairsforkids.org/help.htm

Edited July 19, 2009 by yabaaaa

[beerchang]

I show the rubbish collectors that if they actually take the lid off the plastic (empty) water bottle and crush it then replace the lid while crushed, they get about 10 times more scrap value weight in their 'mode of transport' due to the size of the area taken up is considerably smaller. It amazes me that they haven't worked that one out for themselves yet. Not a heck of a lot but I showed some really old guy with a seriously decrepit tuk tuk full of full sized bottles and he did a Homer Simpson type 'DOH!' when I showed him how much more he could fit in. Wish I had money spare to buy him a new tuk tuk. Anyway, gotta go, the Rolls needs a wash (joke).

[Crossy]

They contain titanium which is recycled and used to make prosthetic limbs

Thank you! But, who would have thought. I thought every bit of the can including the pull tab was aluminum. Titanium! Wow.

Nope, they are Aluminium (or possibly Aluminum).

There's a short 'interlude' film on Discovery (or one of the similar channels) about this company, apparently the rings are easier to collect and take less space than the equivalent weight of cans.

[IanForbes]

I show the rubbish collectors that if they actually take the lid off the plastic (empty) water bottle and crush it then replace the lid while crushed, they get about 10 times more scrap value weight in their 'mode of transport' due to the size of the area taken up is considerably smaller. It amazes me that they haven't worked that one out for themselves yet. Not a heck of a lot but I showed some really old guy with a seriously decrepit tuk tuk full of full sized bottles and he did a Homer Simpson type 'DOH!' when I showed him how much more he could fit in. Wish I had money spare to buy him a new tuk tuk. Anyway, gotta go, the Rolls needs a wash (joke).

I have to laugh because I did exactly the same thing...

Here is your new fleece jacket before manufacture...

[corkscrew]

They contain titanium which is recycled and used to make prosthetic limbs

Thank you! But, who would have thought. I thought every bit of the can including the pull tab was aluminum. Titanium! Wow.

Nope, they are Aluminium (or possibly Aluminum).

There's a short 'interlude' film on Discovery (or one of the similar channels) about this company, apparently the rings are easier to collect and take less space than the equivalent weight of cans.

That sounds like the better explanation.

[ThaiBasil]

Check a hot spot like Phuket or Samui and ask that same question. Only add the word "beachfront" to your sentence thats all, hahaha ......

That is true of course, but we really aren't talking of prime real estate taken up by wealthy Thais and rich farangs. The idea was for small Thai villages or the outskirts of bigger cities where the poorer people make their homes. The families I take care of live in Luk Kae in the province of Kanchanaburi, and the outskirts of Ubon Ratchathani. There are NO farangs within 10 kilometers of either area.

Yes, I was just joking a bit (hence the "hahaha" at the end). Don't get me wrong I am doing a similar thing, but than with freinds and family of my gf.

[walt]

And, I don't mean just dropping a few coins in a beggar's cup.

What can we do to make life a little more comfortable or pleasant for those people in our neighborhood? Most of us are guests in Thailand and rather than just take (and pay for) what little things can we do to say that we care?

If we go out of our way to do something every day...any small thing...we will make that person feel better and we also will feel better. Just being polite and smiling goes a long way.

Post your ideas of what would help.

Hey Corkscrew, have you ever been walking in a park and come across a band consisting of all blind musicians? I have seen such groups numerous times in the early evening in Suan Romaninat (sp?) Park located on Thanon Mahachai right near one end of China Town. They probably play in Lumpini as well, though I don't walk there often enough to know for sure. They are pretty good musicians. They don't do hard rock or anything like that, but instead stick to more traditional Thai music, and they don't set their speakers to maximum volume either. In other words, it's pleasant to hear them and nice to see them.

They never ask for money, but it seems to me they could use it. Sometimes I walk up to them, thank them for the music, and give the leader, or maybe the nice girl singer, a few hundred baht. They seem surprised every time, they smile, and I get a good feeling from it.

I think you would get a good feeling from that too!

Walt

[Maizefarmer]

And, I don't mean just dropping a few coins in a beggar's cup.

What can we do to make life a little more comfortable or pleasant for those people in our neighborhood? Most of us are guests in Thailand and rather than just take (and pay for) what little things can we do to say that we care?

If we go out of our way to do something every day...any small thing...we will make that person feel better and we also will feel better. Just being polite and smiling goes a long way.

Post your ideas of what would help.

Nice idea corkscrew ... let me ask you this: why don't you share with us what it is you used to do back home along these lines?

[IanForbes]

Nice idea corkscrew ... let me ask you this: why don't you share with us what it is you used to do back home along these lines?

He doesn't say where he is originally from. Maybe he is native Thai. I do know that I stopped giving to charities in Canada and started giving to Thai people where the amount of funds I can afford will go a lot further and do more good. In most western countries there is some degree of socialism that takes care of the poor. In the British Commonwealth there is welfare for the poor and free medical. In Thailand only the immediate families take care of their own. In some cases the young women are sent off to prostitute themselves somewhere the family will not lose face by having it done at home.

[corkscrew]

And, I don't mean just dropping a few coins in a beggar's cup.

What can we do to make life a little more comfortable or pleasant for those people in our neighborhood? Most of us are guests in Thailand and rather than just take (and pay for) what little things can we do to say that we care?

If we go out of our way to do something every day...any small thing...we will make that person feel better and we also will feel better. Just being polite and smiling goes a long way.

Post your ideas of what would help.

Nice idea corkscrew ... let me ask you this: why don't you share with us what it is you used to do back home along these lines?

It has been pretty much limited to here in Thailand and in Nepal. Building schools for children.

[corkscrew]

And, I don't mean just dropping a few coins in a beggar's cup.

What can we do to make life a little more comfortable or pleasant for those people in our neighborhood? Most of us are guests in Thailand and rather than just take (and pay for) what little things can we do to say that we care?

If we go out of our way to do something every day...any small thing...we will make that person feel better and we also will feel better. Just being polite and smiling goes a long way.

Post your ideas of what would help.

Hey Corkscrew, have you ever been walking in a park and come across a band consisting of all blind musicians? I have seen such groups numerous times in the early evening in Suan Romaninat (sp?) Park located on Thanon Mahachai right near one end of China Town. They probably play in Lumpini as well, though I don't walk there often enough to know for sure. They are pretty good musicians. They don't do hard rock or anything like that, but instead stick to more traditional Thai music, and they don't set their speakers to maximum volume either. In other words, it's pleasant to hear them and nice to see them.

They never ask for money, but it seems to me they could use it. Sometimes I walk up to them, thank them for the music, and give the leader, or maybe the nice girl singer, a few hundred baht. They seem surprised every time, they smile, and I get a good feeling from it.

I think you would get a good feeling from that too!

Walt

You sound like a good man, Walt.

[corkscrew]

learn something new everyday I just assumed it was aluminium.

Oh dear a qucik check shows their is NO Titanium in ring pulls its all an urban myth

http://www.wheelchairsforkids.org/help.htm

Wow....it takes 270,000 pull tabs to build one wheel chair. At 4 beers a day that is 67,500 days or about 185 years of beer. But, maybe our expat community could do a wheelchair an hour.