During February 2005 UK children's entertainer Brian Eames (1937-2009) - see photos took time out from his holiday in Thailand to visit the slums of Pattaya with the Mercy Project workers on the weekly food run.
For Sussex based Brian, who appears on British TV and stage and has supported the Pattaya Street Kids' Support Project since the early days, it was his first visit to the slums and he was so impressed with the slum dwellers that he made further visits to the slums during his stay in Pattaya and as can be seen from the photos met many of the kids and saw the terrible conditions in which they live.
Brian Eames writes: The one thing that impressed me was the happiness these poor people radiated, they have nothing, but they seem on the face of it happy and as usual with the Thai people always had a smile on their faces. When I think of the lovely homes we live in, and I see the terrible shacks they call home, believe me it makes you feel very humble. I made up some goody bags for the children and the look on their faces when I gave them out bought tears to my eyes, some had never had toys before. There is no social security or pension or National Health Service in Thailand so if they have no work or they are ill they get no money or medical help. All I ask now is that you give as much or as little as you can afford to help make life more bearable for these wonderful people. I am sure you will agree the faces on the children says it all. We are very lucky, so let's try to make them lucky as well.
(Photos courtesy of Brian Eames)
