[Editor: Another wonderful article from the classroom in International School, Bangkok. It is great to see Saira step in and help her community as much as she can]

Imagine your home, completely immersed in water. Imagine all your belongings soaked and of no more use. Imagine your necessities – food, water, clothes – gone. Thailand has been hit badly by floods and about 60 of the 70 provinces have been targets of the raging waters. I chose this topic because Thailand is my home and I want people to be aware of what is happening so that they can perhaps find some ways to help. 

When I read that our temples are being submerged it saddened me because it is a big part of our heritage. Plus, knowing that they are in danger scares me because it makes me wonder about the fate of our next generation. What if they don’t get to see the heart of Thailand, and the heart of the Thai people? What if my own children are only educated about our history and culture through books but never get to experience the real thing? Further, to hear that so many people are suffering, breaks my heart because I hate to see others suffering, especially looking at the amazing life I have and live.

I believe that we must try to make a bigger effort help the people who have been affected by the floods, even if it is just a small effort in a humongous disaster. For example, I have been thinking for a while now that ISB (my school) could open up a gymnasium for all our school-bus monitors and drivers that have been forced to live on the roofs of their houses due to the flooding.

My mother and I have decided that we should try to help and make a difference in someone else’s life. We have been collecting things like mama noodles, water, tinned fish, toilet roll packs, blankets and milk cartons for four weeks now. We have helped spread the word, collect and distribute the provisions to people stranded on the second levels of their homes in the villages.

I even put up a poster in school… and people donated! I just wish that there was more that I could do to help. ‘Water water everywhere and not a drop to drink’; even a small bottle of water can mean life or death for many of these victims. You would try to help if it was your home, or your friend’s home that was flooded wouldn’t you? So why not help them?