Plea to Help Poverty Stricken Children

Geraldton business Midwest Electrical Service is urging residents to help change the lives of people in the poverty-stricken village of Nong Nuo in the Khon Kaen Province of North East Thailand.

Mid West Electrical managing director Mark Cocking aims to send a sea container of goods to the village to help improve education for its residents. The goods will go to a small school at the local temple, called Wat Sawan Nong Kung Seon, which is run by monks in the village. The monks will provide the donations to the local school, students and their families.

Mr Cocking is urging anyone to donate goods ranging from classroom materials, children’s books and sporting equipment to baby items, work boots, wet weather gear and adults and children’s shoes and clothing.

Mr Cocking already sponsors two girls in the village to attend English-speaking schools, as there are no educational opportunities there.

“I came across these people while holidaying in Thailand and was struck by their poverty, the way they were getting left behind while surrounding towns prospered.” Mr Cocking said.

“Because of the lack of education, these people have so little. They work very hard to provide for their families. For example, during July and August, they trek up into the mountains to collect bamboo shoots like the ones we buy in tins and receive about $10 a day to divide between about five people.

“Each person carries about 20kg back down the mountain and they do this every day for the season – around two months.

“There are no educational opportunities and these people are getting left behind in the word of employability due to lack of education.

“We want to provide goods that will offer a better chance of them keeping up education-wise.

“Enabling one person the skills and education that can get them through University could help that person to provide for about 20 people in their village each year.”

Mid West Electrical will cover the cost of sending the sea container but is seeking help to fill it with appropriate goods.

Anyone with goods to donate can drop them off at 239 Flores Rd Geraldton or call Mr Cocking on 0428 643 377for more information.

Donors can leave their name at Mid West Electrical reception to receive photos and follow-up information on how the goods were received.