by Dhina Mutiara on assignment from ChildFund Indonesia

Over the course of January’s 31 days, we’re making a blog stop in each country where we serve children, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and donors. In the urban slums of Thailand, we meet an aspiring dancer.

“I want to be a dancer,” says Poon, a cheery and energetic 10-year-old Thai girl, responding to the question of what she wants to do when she grows up. “But, I miss my mother,” she adds wistfully.

For more than a year Poon’s grandmother, Kruewan, has been taking care of Poon and other family members. They live in a slum area located in central Bangkok, where ChildFund is working to improve conditions for children. It is a dense packed neighborhood with more than 400 families residing above a garbage dump.