School costs for the children here at TOLO have continued to rise drastically and with fuel prices at their highest levels ever (increased to 45 baht per litter for diesel --- now costing us 12,000 baht per month for fuel, up from 6,000 baht per month in January). A few years ago it cost less than half of what it does today for tuitions, books, uniforms, required fees for programs, after school mandated programs per child and we have added considerably more kids here at TOLO. The uniforms now cost an average of 1,600 baht per child and books are hovering at 1,000 baht per child per year. Tuitions have risen sharply. The cost of transporting the children to and from school has become an enormous financial burden. University tuitions at Buriram Rajabhat University have doubled, from 5,000 baht per term to 10,000 baht per term per child. We currently have 3 of the older children at Rajabhat, one is second year and two are fourth year. Fortunately the two eldest, Pak and Warporn are scheduled to finish in March 2009 (one more term to pay)but another (Somsak) will be entering the program in June 2009. We need potential donors to specify assistance for schools. Thus a need for sponsorships. Currently Thienchai (2nd year student) received 13,000 baht per term from his sponsor in France. The other two college students have no sponsors at all at this point and could use a bit of help either in offsetting tuitions, fees, uniforms, books and mandatory excursions required per term by the school. High school tuitions and fees are likewise up. For Narumol, grade 10 she has a sponsor (Danny Clearman and family from Arkansas) who covers 100 percent of her needs. Eileen in grade KG-3 at Marie Anusorn School is also fully sponsored by Michael Burns and his wife Waruporn who currently reside in Kosovo. Eileen will move hopefully to Anubol Buriram Elementary School along with Fil, Fern and Sam, and also hopefully with Dtoy and Taan next year if a vacancy occurs. Michael also sends enough funds to cover cost of housemaid service. We are so grateful for their help! From Tawnee and Nam we currently have no sponsors at all and could sure use some help here. (They are in grades 10, 7). Fern (grade 4) is now sponsored by Jason Gundlach, a college student from Sydney Australia but Fil her twin brother (grade 4) , Sam (grade 2), Pak (uni-year 4) and Somsak (grade 12) and the two younger girls Dtoy and Taan (KG1 and KG2) have no sponsors at this point. Amanda, the youngest member of our brood also has a full sponsor Sameeha in Dubai, UAE but at 8 months she is a far cry from going to school. We suggest full sponsorship at 120 dollars per month, or partial sponsorships if the donors cannot afford the full status of 60 dollars per month or any amount which is affordable. We have 6 additional weekend resident children from one parent families (indigent) between the ages of 6 and 15: Fiew, Fa-1, Foern, Fa-2, Fon-1 anf Fon-2 plus a seventh child who does not reside with us but for whom we cover school costs--Sa (who is 10 years old and requires special schooling as she is a special education child with indigent parents ). Any amount will help as school costs are currently standing at 200,000, baht per year ($6,450 USD per year at 31 baht per dollar curent rates)

We need someone permanently to help out here at TreeHouse--- a housemaid if possible as the amount of work at the center is growing. The minimum salary range for a housemaid is 4,000 baht per month--- a bit over 120 US dollars per month. Michael Burns has graciously provided funds for the 2007-2008 time period to cover this cost of a housemaid. Wanee, the older sister of my wife Phongsri is now on staff and doing a mighty fine job of helping keep the house in tip-top shape. Thanks Michael and wife Waraporn (Kosovo) for making Phongsri's job a bit easier.

In order to have enough beds for children and volunteers we need to add seven sets of bunkbeds with mattresses (14,000 baht per set---98,000 baht), also we are required to install A-B-C fire extinguishers mounted on the wall in each of 12 rooms-- to be located in each of the 9 bedrooms, the kitchen, the laundry room and the dining room respectively-- at 2,000 baht each (24,000 baht), and 12 bed quilts and blankets are needed for the children's beds, at 900 baht per set (10,800 baht), 2 of the clothes wardrobe closets are also in need of replacement. (REPLACED! )

Buriram has over 1,100 schools in the region. TOLO has personally visited and worked with over 500 of them. One wonderful way you or your group can help is to send English childrens books to TOLO and we will distribute them among all the schools. Our goal is to give at least 50 children's books to the 1,100 schools in the province. Please go to the FAQ page to find out the best way to send these gifts and where to send them. Mbail bag rate surface rate has been discontinued by the post office. They now offer only air mail rate which is 3 times more expensive. 20 pounds weight for 70 dollars!