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Thailand Knowledge Centre, Bangkok, Thailand

Rattana Sae-Lao

“What is the most important thing in your life?” Family, money or Ph.D? All of the above? Or none of it above? This is a simple question with a million answers; depending on our age, status, experiences and the list goes. Would the blank slate, children of 6-10 years old think anything differently from us? We wonder.

From London to Bangkok, this puzzle was brought across the continent to find out what the Thai children think. Thanks to Thailand Knowledge Centre, or TK Park, we were able to embark the KEEPS project in Bangkok new learning centre. Given its perfect location in the
middle of downtown Bangkok and its fashionable learning facility, we were able to welcome as many as 30 children on board with the three of us, Eye, Orm and Amp as their facilitators.

I did a little introduction of what ‘KEEPS’ is, but I knew I should cut myself short because the kids were all enthusiastic to get their hands on the canvases! When the ice began to break, the fun smoothly introduced itself to the event. Hands were up here and there, while some wanted more colours, others wanted more snack. Three of us were just running around the place filling in yellow, red and green, changed the water and interviewed all the kids. Time flew so quickly, by the time we realized, they already filled those 30 canvases with all the colours and what mattered to them. We displayed painting around the room. Most of them painted family, daddy and mummy. Some of them painted trees, flowers and the beach. Some painted more constructed idea of knowledge, education and future. And do you know what Lemming is, if not, ask Nett and he will tell you it is an animal that looks like a snail on the North Pole. Why this matters? I still try to
figure it out as well.

As little as 6-10 years old, they’re thinking of something so uniquely their own. While we were waiting for the certificates ceremony, I decided to get the kids to do a little game show by asking them to come out and speak of their paintings to their peers. Although it was a bit rusty in the beginning, but thanks for Ning high enthusiasm, she showed her peers that being shy wasn’t her thing. By the end of the activity, many hands were up to come out and they were all excited to share with the rest why they painted what they did.

The certificates were handed out. The pictures were taken and the party came to an end. When I saw those kids, I began to question what I was like what I was at 6 or at 10 years old. I look at all their parents who were looking after them and smiling for their children little
achievement, I realize, how much afford, love and care our parents took in raising us up. When I was working with them, I realize, we didn’t want that much more from lives when we were younger. We just wanted to have some fun and some snack. It wasn’t the end or the certificate that made the kids happy; it was the actual painting time that they were enjoying and having fun with it. Seeing the way they enjoyed the moment of painting, a great lesson was learnt.

From Bangkok to London, the answers from the Thai children were brought back to display amongst the reflections of their peers from around the world. “What is the most important thing in your life?” The kids already answered.

What is yours?

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