School Supplies for Orphans

[PK]

Now that the school construction project is nearly complete its time to focus on next weeks \"Day at the Movies\" and \"Back to School\" projects for the orphans.

Got the silkscreen materials today and, just now, started practicing applying the logo to the backpacks. After only doing about 10 my room smells of paint thinner and my hands are blue. Once again, I should probably leave this stuff to the professionals.


That determined look on my face is actually confusion. I've never silkscreened before.


Here's a close-up of the silkscreen and logo.


And the final product. Just used the little blue man, with no name or web address. Didn't think the project should be about advertising Isara or anything else other than getting the kids excited about learning. This way, it just looks like an abstract design.


And here's most of the stuff we'll be donating. Some of the backpacks are on the left. Books and school supplies are on the right. And the four bicycles (one had to be repaired).

This weekend I will try and recruit some Thai students to help prepare the school supplies to place inside the backpacks. Will upload more photos on Sunday.

[Ginafish]

Look at all the progress!! Wow! I'm very impressed with your silk screen skills. I'm sooo excited for the kids!!! :lol:

[thartley]

Looks like PK's One Stop Shop!  Great work there, friend!  

[thartley]

Oh hey!!!!  When Isara starts selling t-shirts, does this mean we get one custom printed by our very own YOU???  :woohoo:

[KitKat]

Great job on your logo silk screening.  I like your idea of not advertising on the backpacks.  Your logo will get alot of attention and they will ask about it.  I think curiousity works in this case.
You have bicycles for some of the students.  What determines who gets the bikes? Do you have a list of the children who need them?

Thanks for the update and keeping us posted with the photos.  

[PK]

The orphanage has 4 buildings. About 25-30 children live in each building. Each building will get a bike. If there's enough money leftover we'll buy four more bikes. At this time its not possible to give each child a bike and, even if we could, its not a good use of money.

Before you all think I'm cruel and a scrooge, let me explain; Buying things like bikes and computers or anythng that is a major expense is a VERY risky move here. Almost all products are of bad quality. Everything breaks within a VERY short time and is sometimes broken before you even buy it. Of the four bikes one of them was broken (it was completely unusable).

Yesterday we bought a remote control car for a young boy who lives near the school (he has a rare disease and can not walk). The toy was broken. We also bought our carpenter a new wheelbarrow. It broke within five days. I once bought a box of \"Chocolate Choco Treats\". The box was covered in images of chocolate cookies but inside was vanilla treats. Even something as simple as exterior paint is of poor quality. For the school building we had to buy many different buckets of paint before finding one that was \"real\" paint. Last year we donated two computers to a school. Within a week one of the monitors was broken and I'm fairly certain, when we go back next month to check, we'll find both computers are broken.  Yes, products are cheap here but there is no quality of manufacturing so we're forced to buy really bad products. Most likely the bicycles will be broken within a few months so its best not to buy a lot of them. If they do last a long time then we'll buy more.

It's very frustrating and, along with communication, is the most difficult part of every project.

Aren't you glad you read the forum? You get all the unsweetened, behind the scenes stuff, that doesn't make it to the sugar-coated frontpage articles.

[KitKat]

Thanks, Isara
This info really helps us to understand what your dealing with in Thailand.  And, we don't think you're a scrooge!  We know you know how to handle things there.

[Ginafish]

Pretty sure you are neither cruel or a scrooge on a daily basis. Maybe once every two weeks when you don't get the chocolate shake you wanted quickly enough, but hey, you are human too.

As for the quality of products, I'm sure it's more difficult for you or other farang, since I understand that in another country you might appear gullible. Plus the general product quality is about what you'd expect if no one was held accountable, and with all the government corruption, and business corruption...well, I'm just grateful that... well... just grateful that you get stuff down anyway.

[PK]

UPDATE:  It's the night before the big \"Day at the Movies/Back to School\" event. Always the procrastinator (we'll talk about that later) I had some students come by today and pack all the backpacks. We also confirmed all the plans with the orphanage, movie theater, and our friend with the truck who will deliver all the goods.

The new layout for the forum helps display bigger photos so here are some that were taken today.









The two volunteers (Nakon and Jitara) are students from the local JBAC college. They did a great job getting everything organized so the younger kids get what they want and the older kids get what they need.

Tommorow's the big day. Stay tuned.

[Ginafish]

Agh!! The squirrel's are EVERYWHERE!!

That's a lot of work for those helpers! I hope you treated them to dinner! Oreo's go over big in Nong Khai, I think.

[thartley]

My room looks like that all the time!  If it didnt, I couldnt find anything at all!  

Those kids are in for the best day in a long long time!  :woohoo:

[thartley]

I just have to ask....dont you feel just a little like Santa Claus?  

[PK]

Although that would be fun, I'm trying to avoid being Santa Claus. The last thing we want to do is make the Thai children feel as though foreigners have everything (and can afford to give much more) and Thai people are still poor.  That's why we're having Thai people donate everything. Also, it is being mentioned that Thai businesses donated much of the school supplies. Locals helping locals. I'm just along for the ride to enjoy the movie and take some pictures.

Speaking of, it's time to get moving! Wish all of you could be here. There will be plenty of photos uploaded by the time you wake up so please check back.

Ok, now let's all goto the movies!

[thartley]

woohoo!!!  I wanna go!

[PK]

Well, it's over. The dust has settled from two projects in one day and its now time to share the joy. Until I get the article created here are some photos to hold you over.

[img size=450]http://www.isara.com/components/com_joomlaboard/uploaded/images/bts1.jpg[/img]

[thartley]

Oh My!  What an adorable shot!!!  Pk, thanks for helping us to be a part of all this!  My day is starting out on the fabulous side!

[PK]

Yea, the kid above looks like he's modeling the backpack. He'll be a male supermodel when he grows up.  Here's another.

 [img size=600]http://www.isara.com/components/com_joomlaboard/uploaded/images/bts2.jpg[/img]

[Ginafish]

Already coloring. I'm glad to see them all enjoying themselves. I'm just curious, are there any girls at this orphanage?

[PK]

This was the boys orphanage. The girls orphanage is about an hour drive, near Udon Thani. We'll hopefully be able to do something for them in the future.

[ianh68]

This business of quality control of purchases is common and widespread. For that reason there must be individuals/agencies in Thailand that have experience of circumventing these problems. Any ideas anyone? 

[thartley]

Ianh68---are you referring to this previous post in this thread?

The orphanage has 4 buildings. About 25-30 children live in each building. Each building will get a bike. If there's enough money leftover we'll buy four more bikes. At this time its not possible to give each child a bike and, even if we could, its not a good use of money.

Before you all think I'm cruel and a scrooge, let me explain; Buying things like bikes and computers or anythng that is a major expense is a VERY risky move here. Almost all products are of bad quality. Everything breaks within a VERY short time and is sometimes broken before you even buy it. Of the four bikes one of them was broken (it was completely unusable).

Yesterday we bought a remote control car for a young boy who lives near the school (he has a rare disease and can not walk). The toy was broken. We also bought our carpenter a new wheelbarrow. It broke within five days. I once bought a box of \"Chocolate Choco Treats\". The box was covered in images of chocolate cookies but inside was vanilla treats. Even something as simple as exterior paint is of poor quality. For the school building we had to buy many different buckets of paint before finding one that was \"real\" paint. Last year we donated two computers to a school. Within a week one of the monitors was broken and I'm fairly certain, when we go back next month to check, we'll find both computers are broken.  Yes, products are cheap here but there is no quality of manufacturing so we're forced to buy really bad products. Most likely the bicycles will be broken within a few months so its best not to buy a lot of them. If they do last a long time then we'll buy more.

It's very frustrating and, along with communication, is the most difficult part of every project.

Aren't you glad you read the forum? You get all the unsweetened, behind the scenes stuff, that doesn't make it to the sugar-coated frontpage articles.