About the Human Development Foundation
How We Help The Human Development Foundation, a non-denominational, community-based organization, began in 1974 with…
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Enjoy our latest charity news and blog where we discuss all things Mercy Centre, The Klong Toey Slum, Corporate Social Responsibility and Thailand Charity News.
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Father Joe’s Articles
The latest articles and letters written by Father Joe, from 50 years of life and work with children and communities in Bangkok.
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The Importance of Reading: How Books Can Change a Child’s Future
A book can be many things. It can be a story, a lesson, an adventure or a window into another world. For a child, a book can also be the beginning of a lifelong relationship with learning. Reading helps children develop language, imagination and confidence. It can introduce them to new ideas and help them...
Why Nutrition Matters: How Healthy Food Supports Children’s Learning and Development
Food is one of the most basic needs of every child. But nutrition is about much more than simply having enough food to eat. Children need nutritious meals to grow, stay active, concentrate at school and develop properly. When children do not have reliable access to healthy food, it can affect many parts of their...
From Childhood to Independence: Preparing Young People for Life Beyond School
Finishing school is an important achievement, but it is not the end of a young person’s journey. It is the beginning of a new chapter. Young people leave school and face decisions about further education, employment, relationships, finances and their future. For some, this transition can be exciting. For others, it can be overwhelming. Young...
Growing Up in Bangkok: Understanding the Challenges Facing Vulnerable Children
Bangkok is a city of opportunity. It is a place where people come to study, work, build businesses and create better lives for their families. The city is home to modern buildings, busy shopping centres, universities, hospitals and thriving communities. But behind the bright lights and busy streets, some families face a very different reality....
The First 1,000 Days: Why Early Childhood Development Matters for Every Child
The first few years of a child’s life can shape so much of what comes later. Before a child starts primary school, they are already learning how to communicate, build relationships, understand emotions and explore the world around them. These early experiences can influence how children learn, behave and develop throughout childhood and beyond. That...
Escape
Her name was Janchira. She was fifteen when she drowned in the Chao Phraya River near the Dao Kannong Temple early one morning. She had jumped off a sand barge that was moored for the night until tomorrow’s high tide when it would be towed to the sand pier just past the Slaughterhouse. She jumped...
Children’s Day
Miss Naree is the oldest of the Gang of Four. She’s eight plus a bunch of weeks. Her nickname is Jit. She doesn’t read or write very well yet but when it comes to arithmetic, double wow! When you’re eight, reading is for cartoon books and something barely required to play computer games. Arithmetic, on...
Slipping Through the Cracks
Her mother was from one of the old Catholic families in Ayutthaya and was born and raised in the water buffalo section of the Slaughterhouse. The second time she was released from jail, she decided she wanted a child. So she found a man for that temporary union and Tik was born. Just two weeks...
A Ride on the Wild Side of Mercy
Up until two months ago, a few mornings each week, just before his kindergarten class, Master Note, a nine-year-old boy in our care, rode his imaginary broomstick horse around our Mercy Centre compound. Note always rode behind his partner, Master Galong, who has a faster make-believe vehicle—an imaginary motorcycle. Sometimes, Galong has make-believe trouble starting...
Welcome to the Bangkok Slaughterhouse
We’re talking about street crime here: the violent, bloody stuff you can see. Not the uptown kind, like fiscal years and large purchases being timed according to retirement dates. Unsolved crime is fashionable in the Slaughterhouse, or Rong Mu. The rape of a thirteen-year-old girl a few months back, for example. They haven’t found the...
Fr. Joe’s Letters
The Rev. Joseph Maier took a seat at the table across from me and as I ordered two mugs of Heineken draft, he took a call on his cell phone. Father Joe, as he’s known, is an American Catholic priest who’s lived in the Bangkok slums for more than thirty years—despised by some in both...
August Newsletter
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of our amazing volunteers Thank you for dedicating your time, energy, kindness, and support to helping our foundation and the children at Mercy Centre. Your willingness to give, learn, and serve has truly touched all of our hearts. Throughout the time we spent together, we...
July: Mercy Newsletter
We are delighted to share with you some of the latest charity news and joyful moments from the Mercy Centre. In recent weeks, we have celebrated important milestones, including our students’ graduations: marking a meaningful new step in their lives as they move forward with confidence and hope. Alongside these achievements, we enjoyed special occasions...
How Your Donation Helps Provide Education, Care and Opportunity for Vulnerable Children in Bangkok
When you make a donation to a charity, it is natural to wonder how your contribution will be used. Will it really make a difference? Can one donation change a child’s life? The answer is yes. Every donation, regardless of its size, helps create opportunities for children who need them most. Whether it provides school...
Corporate Social Responsibility in Action: How Businesses Can Support Children’s Education and Community Development
Businesses have the power to do more than generate profits. They can also create meaningful and lasting change in the communities where they operate. Today, customers, employees and investors increasingly expect businesses to demonstrate a genuine commitment to social responsibility. They want to see organisations that not only succeed commercially but also make a positive...
The Importance of Early Childhood Education in Creating Brighter Futures for Thailand’s Children
The first few years of a child’s life are some of the most important. During this time, children develop the skills, confidence and curiosity that shape the way they learn and grow throughout their lives. Early childhood education is about much more than learning the alphabet or counting numbers. It helps children develop language, social...