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Father’s Children’s Day Plea to Help 10 Year-Old Boy Who Lives in a Tuk-Tuk in Southern Thailand

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His father said he was sorry that his son had to live in the tuk-tuk and had no opportunity to play like other children.

SONGKHLA – For other children, National Children’s Day in Thailand this Saturday will be a time for celebration, but for 10 year-old Kampanart “Parn” Tipparat, in Songkhla province, it will be just another day for him and his father, who lived in a tuk-tuk because they can’t even afford to rent a room.

Parn’s mother left him when he was three, leaving Rungroj Tipparat, 62, alone with their only child.

Rungroj provides a tuk-tuk service in downtown Hat Yai, but he earns only Bt100-200 a day, a sum that has to be divided up for daily expenses as well as education fees for Parn. Leaving them with no choice other than to use the tiny tuk-tuk for home and shelter.

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Daily life for the father and son starts with the son having to wake up early to act as an assistant to monks from Mahattamangkalaram Temple in their morning alms walk.

After the round, the monks share their food with the boy and sometimes give him money. When the boy goes to school, his father drives the vehicle around to find passengers.

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Rungroj picks up Parn from school daily at around 4pm and then makes another round in the evening to find potential passengers.

They earn extra money from Wednesday to Sunday when there is a night market and vendors hire him to transport their goods. But the work finishes late at night, meaning Parn has little time to do his homework and rest.

“My son and I have taken shelter in my rented tuk-tuk for about four months, because I cannot afford to rent a room. I can earn about Bt300 a day from driving the tuk-tuk but have to pay Bt120 to rent it. Sometimes I have to spend all the leftover money to fix the vehicle,” Rungroj said.

The father said he was sorry that his son had to live in the tuk-tuk and had no opportunity to play like other children. “Sometimes, my son is disappointed as I have no money to buy him new clothes or toys. However, I will fight with all my best efforts so that he can continue his studies,” he said.

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Rungroj said the thing he most wanted now was a proper roof over their heads.

Although Parn said he felt troubled that he had to live in a tuk-tuk, he will try to endure.

“I wish I could become a policeman. What I want for the National Children’s Day is a bicycle and a Superman costume. I will study hard so that I can take care of my father,” the boy said.

A Malaysian monk at Mahattamangkalaram Temple said Parn helped the monks almost every day before he went to school in exchange for food. “He is a good boy,” the monk said.

Anyone who wants to help the father and son can donate to Rungroj’s Krung Thai Bank account of 9300348094; call him on 080 902 6285, or contact a charity coordinator on 089 462 4912 or 089 733 8868.

 

 

By Santiparb Ramasutra
The Nation

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