Bangkok--27 Jun--Penner-Madison
The latest project is aiming to develop the quality of life for Moken children at Surin Island
Bangkok, 26 June 2013 — Childline Thailand Foundation’s 24-hour help line Saidek 1387 is continuing its mission to protect children’s rights under the Unicef Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The foundation is now running three projects, namely Hotline Saidek 1387, the Hub Sai Dek Youth Club and, the latest project, developing the quality of life for Moken children at Surin Island, in PhangNga Province.
Established in 2003, Hotline Saidek 1387provides essential child counselling and community outreach projects across Thailand and is operating in cooperation with the PeunKaew Association and with support from Unicef. Saidek 1387 operates a 24-hour telephone helpline 365 days a year, providing information and services to children and concerned adults via trained and experienced call centre staff. In 2012, the call centre answered 93,980 calls, and of these up to 200 cases are being assisted by the foundation.
Hotline Saidek 1387
MR Supinda Chakraband, Childline Thailand Foundation Board Chair, says that Hotline Saidek 1387 has been achieving its objectives, with the number of received calls and cases being handled continually increasing.
“In 2012, there were over 90,000 calls. Most of the calls are from Bangkok Metropolitan Region and 40 percent of the callers want to discuss psychology and mental health concerns.
“We provide children in Thailand with trusted and reliable access to protection, health and human services, as is their right, and which the Thai government adheres to through its ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. We coordinate with government and non-government agencies in cases of physical and mental abuse, including sexual abuse, which requires immediate assistance.”
The Hub Saidek Youth Club
The Hub Saidek Youth Club offers much needed support to hundreds of homeless and disadvantaged children in the Pomprab district of Bangkok. The building is a short walk from Hua Lampong Railway Station, where neglected children migrate to from all over Thailand. The Hub offers three key areas of support to equip Thai youngsters with self-respect and confidence, skills and attitudes required to face their own unique challenges, and opportunities to succeed in everyday life. These key areas include basic health and welfare services, recreation, and a programme to provide skills for living.
The Hub’s Skills for Living Programme is modelled on the success of the Exodus Youth Education Programme, which provides quality education services for struggling kids and homeless teens across Australia.
“It is estimated that there are over 10,000 homeless and disadvantaged children inBangkok,” says MR Supinda.“The Hub Sai Dekproject assists an estimated50-70children per day.Many of the children have been forced on the streets to become mobile,independent and economically active. Some have run away from dysfunctional families, others have left home due to the death or imprisonment of their parents. Some children are also victim of adult abuse and economic exploitation, and are compelled to become street children.”
Childline Thailand’s positionin the social services sector gives the foundation a unique experience and understanding of Thailand’s children’s needs. Staff at the foundation connect callers with the services they need by making referrals to the appropriate public sector agencies, non-profit organizations and private service providers, or by providing direct assistance when no agency can be found.
“We have strong financial support from private Australian donors and the Exodus Foundation to provide the basic food, games and welfare services,” says MR Supinda. “However, to provide excellent facilities and to expand our services to provide Thai children with every opportunity they deserve, we rely on the growing support and commitment from the Thai and wider international communities.”
Moken Community Development Project at Surin Island
The latest project under Childline Thailand Foundation is the Moken Community Development Project at Surin Island, Kuraburi District, PhangNga Province. Established in 2011, the project is partnered with PLAN International (Thailand) to run Child Centre Community Development(CCCD). The project name in the Moken language is “Le PuiNae”, which means “making dreams come true”. The project’s main objective is to stimulate and encourage public health services for the Moken community, adults and children alike. The project is being supported by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, PhangNga Naval Base, Department of Fisheries, Public Health Ministry, Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education, and Ministry of Interior.
Childline Thailand Foundation has taken care of Moken children since the tsunami disaster and worked with the Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education to bring the project under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. To provide education to the children there is a Moken teacher who graduated from Rajabhat Surat Thaniand who is based at the school on the island. There is also a Lunch for Kids project. A multi-purpose sala has recently been completed and solar cells have been delivered to each family. The latest two projects are in honour of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhornand have been undertaken with a budget from the Provincial Electricity Authority and support from PhangNga Naval Base to move construction materials from Tab Lamu to Surin Island.
“The main objective of the project is to develop the quality of life of the Moken people and help them to live their lives independently,” says MR Supinda. “We will not change their way of life and culture. This is as per the instruction of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. They are sea people. When they are located on the island, they face many rules. Therefore, we have to help them to have careers and lives that are related to the sea. They have to change from being hunters to become conservationists and we have to provide them with public health services and also help them to have an ID card. When they are comfortable with their changed circumstances, they will be able to develop their lives in the future.”
Childline Thailand Foundation is openfor volunteer opportunities, donating equipment and food, and donations. Please contact telephone:662-561-0981ext109.Fax: 662-941-8306.
The donation can be done online by visiting the website: www.childlinethailand.org or www.thehub.childlinethailand.org orKasikorn Bank savings account transfer at account no. 070-2-84387-1 or email
[email protected]