DOVE INTERVENIAMO > THAILAND

Protecting Vulnerable Women and Children in Thailand

The Good Shepherd programs in Thailand strive to protect children and women against all forms of violence e abuse, discrimination and exploitation. In particular we are committed to provide a safe and healthy environment that fosters the children’s physical, intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual development e supportos women affected by violence and exploitation, migration and extreme poverty through training and counselling per improve their overall personal and working conditions. 

Activities

• Social inclusion of women experiencing Gender-Based Violence through skills development – Pattaya
  The Fountain of Life Women’s Centre in Pattaya is committed to eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls and aims to reach out to women and girls who are affected by their involvement in the sex industry and sex tourism. The project provides a safe space for women where they receive education, healthcare, counselling and psychosocial support to reduce traumas of commercial sexual exploitation. Skills training for alternative employment, specifically in hair dressing and Thai massage is provided. Seminars and awareness programs are also conducted on women’s human rights, safe migration and human trafficking prevention, together with language skills in Thai, English, German and French which enable the women and girls to create or find alternative ways of living or improving their employment opportunities. About 970 women and girls participate in the programs each year. 
• Gender-based violence programs in Phuket, Chiangmai and Nongkhai 
  This project aims to strengthen protection mechanisms to prevent and respond to gender-based violence experienced by women and children from most vulnerable communities of Chiangmai, Phuket and Nongkai Provinces. The program is developing an informal community reporting and referral mechanism by setting- strengthening community-based protection watchdog group. The survivors are cared and empowered through access to best practice integrated response, which includes case management, rehabilitation service and referral as well as vocational skill training. 
• Anti-human trafficking program to prevent exploitation and trafficking of women and children 
  Through a set of integrated activities based on the best practices, the program’s goal is to prevent the exploitation and trafficking of women and children and to support protection, rehabilitation and reintegration of the human trafficking survivors, reinforcing a system approach. 
• Women Economic Empowerment ‘Fatima Centre’ – Bangkok
  The Fatima Centre offers young girls and women at risk, mainly from the nearby slums and government housing, the possibility of learning basic skills that enable them to earn a decent living in a respectful and friendly environment. Producing high standard handicrafts, toys, educational books, children’s clothes, quilts, embroidered table and bathroom linens, the participants receive a just wage for dignified work.The Fatima Centre has been a place of training and employment with 2,282 people having entered its doors since it opened. The current number of participants is more than 100. Since the beginning, 592 women returned to school and completed primary education, 620 have achieved secondary level 3 and 198 women have graduated from higher studies and have earned a university degree.
• Children Day Care centre Bangkok
  The Centre takes care of about 100 underprivileged children of the women who work at Fatima Centre and other small children from the Din Daneg Slums and poor families in the neighbourhood, who are at risk. The Centre also provides education, health care and nutritious meals for all who attend on a daily basis.
• St. Euphrasia BanYa Literacy and Learning Centre – Phuket
  Initially the centre was established in the BangJo construction camp, which houses Myanmar workers, and 30 students were supported by establishing a safe learning centre which provides an environment for children during the day whilst the parents were at work. The children can learn to learn Thai, Myanmar and English in 4 key learning areas which are the basis of tests to be undertaken by students so that they can access Thai government schools and access high quality and long term education. The centre has reopened in 2019 with 275 students and 10 teachers, aiming to represent e a model which supports and encourages young people to play an effective role in their communities.
• Outreach Village Program – Nong Khai 
  The program reaches the population living in 171 villages in Nong Khai and neighbouring provinces Bueng Kan and Udon Thani. This area remains Thailand’s poorest, with poor acidic soil, often infertile from overuse. No rainfall for six months of the year, restricts rice growing to one annual harvest and many people migrate to the cities or other provinces to find work during the dry season. This leads to the separation of families, with children often left in the care of aging grandparents. To monitor the physical, emotional and social well-being of approximately 500 adults and children yearly, through visitation, advocacy, transportation to hospital, counseling, nutritional provision and direct health care at home or in the Garden of Friendship facility in Nong Khai. 

PROJECTS LOCATIONS

Phuket, Bangkok, Chiangmai, Nongkhai

HIGHLIGHTS

10

Projects

10,000

Beneficiaries

1000

Local staff

AREAS OF INTERVENTION

Diritti Umani

Aiuto umanitario