Klong Toey SlumKlong Toey SlumStephanie Everett

Planning Our TripPlanning Our Trip• When:

September 5th, 2008• Where:

Downtown Bangkok• How:

By car, Stephanie’s parents drove• Why:

To observe the Klong Toey Slum, learn about primary issues faced there in daily life, and gather a better understanding of the lifestyle of the people in the are

History of the Klong ToeyHistory of the Klong Toey• Klong Toey means “The Canal of Pandan”, because this kind

of plant grows along the bank of the canal

• 50 years old, one of the oldest and largest slums in Bangkok

• Majority of slum dwellers are or descend for rural migrants from Northeastern Thailand who came to Bangkok in search of work.

• In the 50s, 80 % of the slum dwellers made their money by helping build the port nearby

• The slum dwellers faced numerous problems every day from living in Klong Toey, including having no power, water supply, or waste removal from the government

The Klong Toey Slum todayThe Klong Toey Slum today• Approximate population is 80,000 people.

20% of Bangkok’s population are considered slum dwellers

• Majority of the slum dwellers today make a living as food venders (working in the Klong Toey market) , motorcycle taxi drivers, and even mechanics

• The Duang Prateep Foundation recently helped enable the Klong Toey Slum to have power and water available for its dwellers

• The slum is in much better condition today than in the past, according to several people we interviewed

Problems in the Slum todayProblems in the Slum today• Risk of fires• Drug use and substance abuse among adults and

children• Low income– average income in the slum is 150 baht a day)

• Children addicted to electronic games• Unattended children– Parents in prison– Orphaned

• Criminal and Gang activity

Problems already or currently Problems already or currently being solvedbeing solved

• Education• Recreation• Walk-ways• Electricity and water supply• Waste removal• Teenage pregnancies

Duang Prateep FoundationDuang Prateep Foundation• Means “Flame of Hope”• Established in 1978 by Mrs.

Prateep Undsontham Hata, a slum dweller herself

• Set up the one-baht-a-day school

• Foundation holds campaigns for drug use, community development, education, sex-education and family planning/parenthood

• Foreigners visit and help out by working with the foundation to help solve issues in the slum

InterviewsInterviewsGrandma Lek (Slum dweller):

• From Udon Rachathani• Came with her 2 children, currently lives

alone• Doesn’t feel lonely: many children running

around in the slum• Has a broken hip so she no longer works or

walks around• Wasn’t surprised to see foreigners walking

throughout the slum

Kindergarten Teacher at 1-Baht-a-Day-School• Works there to help poor children

and improve their future• Been working in the slum for 12

years• Teaching there is special: you’re

helping them with family and social problems whilst educating them

• Foundation isn’t government funded– Better: foundations and

government can separately work to improve slum life