Credits
LOMEF
Catholic Overseas Development Agency (CAFOD)
United Church of Canada (UCC)
Islamic Development Bank (IDB)
Qatar Charity
Muslim Aid UK
Buddhist NGOs Network of Japan (BNN)
Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF)
ASIAN RESOURCE FOUNDATION
The Spirit of Caring and Sharing
THAILAND
With the objective of expanding support for locally based projects, two new projects were sponsored in Thailand.
Partner Organization: Friends Fund
Micro-credit Program for Juveniles
The Friends Fund was established in 2003 after research showed that many juvenile detainees had little idea of what the future held for them upon their release. The small percentage that did have plans lacked the means such as finance, education, career skills, and/or work space to realize them. To achieve the objective of continued support for the prevention of post juvenile re-offence, the fund has the means to provide no interest loans and technical support to ten juveniles from the Bann Prani (girls) and Bann Sirintorn (boys) detention centers. Each juvenile will receive 5,000 baht with the agreement that a minimum of 300 baht is returned to the project, and a minimum of 100 baht saved per month.
Consultation on educational opportunities, marketing strategies, career training, budgeting, and family counseling and monitoring through home visitations are also provided to both the juveniles and community members.
The fund follows these multiple streams of activities in order to support a holistic approach in support of youth careers, the promotion of education, as well as to promote self-esteem, and reference support among the youth themselves and the wider community. For those juveniles wanting help but are not receiving financial support, the fund provides advice on career training, education or social/personal problems.
Case Information
At present, six youth from the two target groups have applied for assistance from
the fund. Currently, two of them receive support for their small businesses.
Som is seventeen years old and has only a Grade 6 education. Upon returning home to live with her mother, stepfather and two sisters, she received 5,000 Baht for the establishment of a tea shop at Talad Thai, the biggest food market located in Patumthani province. After visits to discuss with Som and her parents about the possibility of establishing the small business, the location of the market was deemed a good place as it is a busy area and her parents are close enough that they can help her with the management of the shop. Som has spent her funding on materials and after her business is settled, plans to apply for a non-formal education program in order to develop her skills in small business and join an occupation program.
Kung is eighteen years old and comes from a broken family. While her husband serves a prison sentence she lives with her mother in-law and two year old daughter. Kung received 5,000 baht for the establishment of a food shop, located in front of a factory where it is crowded in both the morning and evening. As she enjoys cooking and has skills in this area, her mother in-law is pleased to support her shop. Kung spent her funds on decorations for her shop and new cooking utensils.
Partner Organization: White Heart Youth Group
Community Learning Center
Established in October, 2003, the center is located in the Sip Rai community of Samuthprakarn province. A needs assessment survey undertaken by the program co-ordinator showed that within the community the level of basic Thai literacy was low with problems also evident with math, history and social science class scores. Government tutoring programs are not attended by the community children as they are too expensive and often lack appropriate resources. From these findings, the center was started to help the children by complementing government provided education through the provision of after-school tutoring in the above mentioned subjects. Twenty six students aged between nine and twelve years attend the center with twenty four girls and two boys in attendance. Classes are run everyday during the week and on weekends cooking and physical exercise classes are run.
A rented house currently functions as the classrooms with LOMEF/ARF support providing a teachers salary, premise rent and basic resources such as tables, chairs, stationary and teaching aids. Future programming includes plans for the development of a resource library, the building of a permanent residence, the recruitment of more volunteers and expansion into occupation and skills training for women.
With the objective of expanding support for locally based projects, two new projects were sponsored in Thailand.
Partner Organization: Friends Fund
Micro-credit Program for Juveniles
The Friends Fund was established in 2003 after research showed that many juvenile detainees had little idea of what the future held for them upon their release. The small percentage that did have plans lacked the means such as finance, education, career skills, and/or work space to realize them. To achieve the objective of continued support for the prevention of post juvenile re-offence, the fund has the means to provide no interest loans and technical support to ten juveniles from the Bann Prani (girls) and Bann Sirintorn (boys) detention centers. Each juvenile will receive 5,000 baht with the agreement that a minimum of 300 baht is returned to the project, and a minimum of 100 baht saved per month.
Consultation on educational opportunities, marketing strategies, career training, budgeting, and family counseling and monitoring through home visitations are also provided to both the juveniles and community members.
The fund follows these multiple streams of activities in order to support a holistic approach in support of youth careers, the promotion of education, as well as to promote self-esteem, and reference support among the youth themselves and the wider community. For those juveniles wanting help but are not receiving financial support, the fund provides advice on career training, education or social/personal problems.
Case Information
At present, six youth from the two target groups have applied for assistance from
the fund. Currently, two of them receive support for their small businesses.
Som is seventeen years old and has only a Grade 6 education. Upon returning home to live with her mother, stepfather and two sisters, she received 5,000 Baht for the establishment of a tea shop at Talad Thai, the biggest food market located in Patumthani province. After visits to discuss with Som and her parents about the possibility of establishing the small business, the location of the market was deemed a good place as it is a busy area and her parents are close enough that they can help her with the management of the shop. Som has spent her funding on materials and after her business is settled, plans to apply for a non-formal education program in order to develop her skills in small business and join an occupation program.
Kung is eighteen years old and comes from a broken family. While her husband serves a prison sentence she lives with her mother in-law and two year old daughter. Kung received 5,000 baht for the establishment of a food shop, located in front of a factory where it is crowded in both the morning and evening. As she enjoys cooking and has skills in this area, her mother in-law is pleased to support her shop. Kung spent her funds on decorations for her shop and new cooking utensils.
Partner Organization: White Heart Youth Group
Community Learning Center
Established in October, 2003, the center is located in the Sip Rai community of Samuthprakarn province. A needs assessment survey undertaken by the program co-ordinator showed that within the community the level of basic Thai literacy was low with problems also evident with math, history and social science class scores. Government tutoring programs are not attended by the community children as they are too expensive and often lack appropriate resources. From these findings, the center was started to help the children by complementing government provided education through the provision of after-school tutoring in the above mentioned subjects. Twenty six students aged between nine and twelve years attend the center with twenty four girls and two boys in attendance. Classes are run everyday during the week and on weekends cooking and physical exercise classes are run.
A rented house currently functions as the classrooms with LOMEF/ARF support providing a teachers salary, premise rent and basic resources such as tables, chairs, stationary and teaching aids. Future programming includes plans for the development of a resource library, the building of a permanent residence, the recruitment of more volunteers and expansion into occupation and skills training for women.