Travellers and expats in Thailand know the scene of child poverty well. A six-year-old girl, sitting neatly on a mat, painted in bright red lipstick, with a woman sitting nearby, begging for money. A 12-year-old boy, selling chewing gum at 11 pm in an adult entertainment area: he impresses you with his cheeky smile and English gift of the gab.

In sticky moments like these you want to help, as feelings of pity and awkwardness tell you that something isn’t right. You might end up handing over some coins. Whatever you do, you are left with an uncomfortable feeling that you have not really made any difference to help the life of this unfortunate child. Now add another dimension to the thought – what if the next person they approach wants something in return for their 50 baht?

Read more: Bangkok Post