Kru Prateep Ungsongtham was born and raised in Bangkok’s Klong Toey slums. While a student she realised that many other children were not going to school.  So in 1968 at the age of only 16, she turned the open ground beneath her small wooden home into a classroom, known as the “one baht a day school”. As a teacher concerned with the welfare of her students, she became more and more involved in the problems of her community, and came to act as its spokesperson when dealing with the local authorities. Her work has been recognised both nationally and internationally.  Among the numerous awards was the John D. Rockefeller Youth Award for Outstanding Contribution to Mankind, which she received in 1981.

Although the “one baht a day school” grew in size, it was discovered that many children often missed school because they had to be home to look after their younger siblings.  The need for daycare facilities was apparent. 

In 1981, with funds from the Rockefeller award and with the support of other founding members, the Foundation for Slum Child Care (FSCC) was established.  We started by providing healthcare to young children, and were soon running daycare facilities for babies and small infants.

	The other founding members of the Foundation for Slum Child Care were: Mrs Nongyao Narumitrekakarn Mr Narrat Tungprakorn Mr Shuzuki Iwazgi Mrs Tongsuk Ungsongtham

The Foundation also owes a great deal to the work of Dr. Anne-Mie Van den Bossche, who set up two health clinics in the communities around the garbage dumps of Bangkok.  These clinics then became daycare centres, serving the need of parents who have to leave their children while earning a living rummaging through the garbage.

In 1995 these daycare centres joined forces with the Foundation.  The combined skills and experience have led to the service standards and success that we have today.