An old dilapidated shack, situated on a small piece of land in Rayong Province, Thailand, is home to a young boy and his maternal grandmother. It is the only home Piyaraj has ever known in his ten years of life. Few people would describe it as homelike. It is not decorated with nice furniture, and no pictures hang on the walls. However, it is their only refuge, a place for sleeping and shelter from the searing midday sun and pelting rains. The home is adorned by piles of bottles, used irons, paper boxes, and other things scattered about. Piyaraj and his grandmother wake up each day at 5 a.m., gather their plastic bags, and journey along the roads to town and the adjoining villages collecting old and used materials from smelly and dirty garbage tanks. The scrap is then sold to a vender. They must move quickly on their collection rounds because if they arrive late and find only empty bins, they will have nothing to exchange for money. So every morning they hurry to the various locations to gather their only potential source of income. In Thailand, Piyaraj's name means "one who has the most persistence and effort," and it shows in his work ethic. He was born on Piya Maharart Day ( Chulalongkorn Memorial Day), an important day of celebration for Thai people. He is a healthy and strong boy, growing up under the care of his grandmother since AIDS took his mother away. His grandmother is old but teaches him what she can with weak and weary hands. She is poor and has no permanent job, so he must assist with making their living. Unfortunately, this responsibility has reduced his study time, and his grades in school were very poor. As a Sponsored child in Thailand, Piyaraj now receives assistance with his education. He also has access to social and medical benefits from the health department through the local hospital. He and his grandmother also receive rice and other food staples to ease their burden. As a result, Piyaraj is now spending more time on school work and less time fighting for their daily survival. Piyaraj and his grandmother also participate in camp activities organized by PSBI. They recently took part in a camp at the Cha-mao Chalet Resort, where aside from spending some rare leisure time with each other, they attended classes on nutrition, child development and other important topics. They enjoyed participating in the programs and experiencing a sense of community with other families participating in activities supported by Sponsors and Champions. No one knows for sure what the future of Piyaraj or his grandmother will be... Who can honestly predict how two lives, two generations, and two inspired hearts will be able to face the challenges ahead? But Piyaraj and his grandmother do know that they are better prepared to live now, and they no longer have to face the future uncertainties alone.
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