What is the Phra Sumen Crew?
Phra Sumen Crew is the name for the locals who gather at Phra Sumen (Fort) to do b-boy dancing, breakdance, tag art and DJing. Then there is also a group for younger kids called Phra Sumen Juniors which has around 40 members aged between 9-14.

What else do you do here?
I am actually working on another project, called Mur-dee Panakorn (ancient warrior), which is an ongoing project to make different types of education more available to the kids.

How did you get involved?
Coming here gave me a more open mind, to know and talk with other people (which often includes many foreigners). It gave me some English—it’s all from here. So I teach the kids and then they make money, but I also teach them to share their opportunities for new experiences too.

What do you dislike about this area?
Sometimes the attitude gets a little annoying. It’s been more than 10 years since we’ve been doing this kind of stuff here. We have some sponsors that will help improve the park, but the park authorities won’t adapt it for our needs. We have been asking for more lights for years, but many Thais, and specifically the people making the decisions, don’t see the value in this culture so they never make an effort to help. Secondly, this area is a bit too mafia-heavy for me. Maybe not specifically here on Phra Athit, but closer to Khao San, it’s too much. It’s not real mafia but thugs. They are gangsters that think they rule this area. If you want to do anything, you have to pay.

Is there any advice you can offer someone visiting the area?
Come visit Santi Chaipakran Park to check out what’s going on, anything from dance to capoeira to exercise. Every month sees new events and competitions. As for Khao San, try to get out of the bars and talk with some locals on the street about the history of the area; Bang Lampu has a rich history in music and art.

What message are you trying to convey?
These kids are our next generation. They are our future; they also have hopes and dreams. They are artistic, and if you give them a stage to express themselves they will. Don’t stereotype and judge them just because they don’t have money and they are not in what people consider ‘proper’ society. These kids should be given full and equal opportunities.
Check out videos of Phra Sumen Juniors on youtube.