Taladnoi Community Center - Bangkok, Thailand

We are now entering our 2nd year of the Taladnoi Community Center named "Library31" which opened on March 19, 2024 to provide a safe and relaxing place for kids age 3 to 103 that live in the Taladnoi neighborhood of Bangkok in a rented space on the street where my wife and I live. We live in Central Bangkok near Chinatown.

Library31 is open from 12 noon to 7 pm on weekdays and 11 to 7 on weekends and holidays/school breaks. The center provides activities for children including free computer use (Roblox), educational games like Bingo and jigsaw puzzles, and other age appropriate games. Drawing and crafts materials are also provided. For adults, an air conditioned place to sit and relax and read the newspaper or a Thai book and a scale to weight themselves - which has been an favorite!

Over the past year, our daily usage has grown to about 20-25 regular kids most aged 10 to 14 with a few younger and some older. It is also become a refuge for several young boys who are having difficulties at home and are not working yet or no longer go to school who are still 16 or 17 years old.

We are also happy that Library31 has become a place that some of the young girls in the neighborhood feel comfortable to come with their friends to play games and talk or eat some noodles together.

All services continue to be free of charge to kids and adults. Families in Thailand normally have no extra money for children to have a computer at home. Most lower income families live in one rented room and do not have comfortable chairs or a sofa to sit on since the family room serves as living room, bedroom, kitchen, and storage. Most Thailand families in Bangkok make only $12 to $18 dollars per day per working adult.

We hope you will continue to support our efforts. We raised about $5,000 US during the first year (170,000 Thai Baht) which helped pay for extra computers and basic expenses like rent, utilities and AC. Our monthy expenses are typically $1,000+ per month with Dr. Ullman and his wife providing the balance of the financial needs.

The Taladnoi Community Center also raises funds to help mothers with children often without fathers with household purchases like clothing iron, refrigerators, microwave, water filter, washing machine, shelving and tables. These are families that have a long relationship with the Taladnoi Community Center.

We thank you again as donors and always welcome people to come to Bangkok and see Library31 themselves.

Songkran - the Thai new year - is coming on April 13 to 15. It will be the year 5768!