Children like Lek, who live in Klong Toei, the largest of the slum neighborhoods in Bangkok, Thailand, are learning reading, numbers, music, art, and games at the Klong Toei Community Center's day care school, a program supported by Church World Service. Some 130 children ages 3 to 6 attend the school every day. Their parents live and work in the dock areas of Bangkok.
Educational play is central to the school's curriculum.
The reading and math skills Lek is developing prepare and motivate her for entry into elementary school. And, the better prepared she and her classmates are, the better their prospects for the future. The school also helps the youngsters understand good hygiene and health practices, important lessons because Lek and her classmates have little access to clean water in their homes. The Klong Toei Community Center also offers programs for teens and older adults, providing inter-generational tools for families struggling to bridge the poverty that engulfs their lives. The Center is a program of the Social Development and Service Department of the Church of Christ in Thailand, our Church World Service partner.