We were thrilled to receive a letter from the Janusz Korczak School in Bangkok. We hope to keep in touch! Please see the copy of the letter below:
Dear Jerry & everyone: disciples of “Uncle Janusz,”
That’s what our slum shanty town children call him – his picture – greet his picture – with great respect each morning as they begin their lessons. His picture is above the door and greets you as you walk in the door of our slum wooden frame – South East Asian School of Dr. Janusz Korczak.
It’s a glorious school, with glorious kids. A wooden frame building – 40 plus years old it isn’t much to look at, but inside it’s ‘joy and action as kids learn how to read and write and cook and English but most of all… how to live…
Uncle Janusz? We have translated a bit of his life into Thai, and our kids know his legend and lore. A few months ago, we celebrated 10 years of our school and their Excellences’ the Israeli and Polish Ambassador attended, and also we asked them to Bless our school and the children. So the Israeli Ambassador blessed them and the building in Hebrew, and the Polish Ambassador blessed the children and the building in Polish. Wow!
Please do offer our congratulations to Ms. Melanie, and of course, your own good self, and everyone. We do wish that you could fly to Bangkok and come and visit our school. It’s easy. All you do is get on the airplane!!! We and all our 41 “Uncle Janusz” children and teachers will meet you at the airport and we have a place for you to stay, so you don’t need a hotel.
In “our” Janusz Korczak vocational school of Southeast Asia we have all kinds of kids; different ages, different nationalities, different backgrounds – it is truly a school in the spirit of Uncle Janusz.
In total over 40 children study with us every day – we have street kids, migrant kids (from Cambodian and Burma); grannies who want to read and write but never had the opportunity before; HIV/AIDS positive kids; kids/adults with learning disabilities and mental disorders. We take great pride in being an open and including school, doing our best to truly protect and follow the rights of the child. I believe we do so since the Mercy Centre Janusz Korczak School of Southeast Asia adapts to the needs of the children, the children DO NOT have to adapt to the school. This is one of the core principles in the Rights of the Child and we do our utmost to follow this.
The school is safe and “home” every day to our 35+ students. Many of the children are ‘undocumented’ but the authorities know us and our children, so they are safe. Also some of our HIV/AIDS kids attend, but they are okay for now, as they eat their antivirals….
All for now. Hope to hear from you soon and once again congratulations to Ms Melanie and to everyone there.
Blessings and respect from we, your brothers and sisters: members of the family of Uncle Janusz from all of us here in Klong Toey Slums of Bangkok
Fr joe