The Story: One woman’s strength, Mrs. Prateep (aka The Slum Angel), has inspired and transformed the community in and surrounding Bangkok’s oldest and largest slum, Klong Toey. She has been on a mission to educate the urban poor since she was sixteen and now her organization cares for them beyond the classroom too. The Duang Prateep Foundation (DPF) has over 100 employees who serve the approximately 140,000 squatters in Klong Toey. DPF prides itself in responding to the needs of the urban poor at the grassroots level and focusing on long term, sustainable solutions to poverty. Get the whole story on their website.

Goals & Projects: A wide variety of projects exist to educate, create a stronger community, address health concerns, and provide emergency/disaster relief. This includes kindergarten programs, rehabilitation of at risk teens, a mobile puppet troupe and more! Please see the website for more details.

Need: Financial support. Long term volunteers in Bangkok. Short term (at least a week) or long term volunteers at their New Life Projects in Kanchanaburi and Chumporn provinces.

Final Word: This is the largest foundation ISOS has had the privilege to collaborate with. Their dedication to serve the community has stood the test of tragedy, and political turmoil. In the coming months we hope to invite many of you to join hands with this dynamic organization.

Website: The website is available in four languages (Thai version is the most often updated) and explains the endeavors of this foundation in great detail. You may also use the site to submit an application to volunteer with the organization. http://en.dpf.or.th/