Chiang Rai News
Plan Thailand Helping Children in Chiangrai
Plan Thailand has also provided educational funds for 60 children aged 6 to 18
Plan has been working in Thailand since 1981, helping poor children to access their rights to education, health, livelihoods, protection and participation.
Our work supports more than 36,700 children and their families in over 600 communities in 7 provinces.
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Today we are undergoing a major transformation, from provider of services to mobiliser of social and financial resources, from manager to facilitator, and from implementer to advocater of child rights. In particular, we are dedicating our efforts to involving the corporate sector in the development of sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects which greatly improve the lives of the marginalised and disadvantaged children in Thailand.
Located in the north of Thailand, Plan’s Chiang Rai Programme Unit is bordered by Laos to the east and Myanmar to the north. Plan works in 3 areas here: Chiangsean, Maechang and Maefaluang districts. The climate is generally hot and humid and the flat landscape is surrounded by mountains.
Plan Thailand’s Country Strategic Plan aims to help marginalised children, families and communities – particularly ethnic minorities, the stateless, and migrants – realise their rights.
Children living in Thailand face many challenges. Their right to participation has been ignored and most marginalised children, especially girls, are excluded from contributing to family and community matters.
Many children, especially those of vulnerable populations such as ethnic minorities, migrant and stateless children, cannot exercise their right to protection. They have no access to government services. Child trafficking, abuse, neglect, sexual exploitation and labour are on the rise.
The quality of education, particularly early childhood education, is poor. The incidence of HIV and AIDS infection is increasing among youth. In the rural North and Northeast, people cannot earn sustainable livelihoods, access government services or mobilise the resources to which they are entitled.
Children living in Thailand face many challenges. Their right to participation has been ignored and most marginalised children, especially girls, are excluded from contributing to family and community matters.
In Chiang Rai, Plan Thailand is raising people’s awareness of issues that affect children’s lives. We are providing youth with opportunities to participate in activities that teach them how to access and protect their rights from exploitation. The establishment of youth forums is encouraging them to raise their voices on social issues.
“The programme opened up an opportunity for us to discuss issues that continuously shape our behaviour and this will affect our lives in a good way,” said Patacharee, age 14.
People infected and affected by HIV and AIDS face daily struggles that have a particularly profound impact on children. Under the People Living with HIV (PLHIV) programme, Plan Thailand creates a strong support network group to care for these people and provide them with livelihoods.
Training and workshops are held for people living with HIV and AIDS. Home visits by group leaders and counsellors, and vocational training are helping group members.
“I’m glad to have joined this family camp because I could meet with people,” said 10-year-old Tanyalak. “My parents have passed away but at least I have relatives and friends who understand me.”
Plan Thailand has also provided educational funds for 60 children aged 6 to 18 infected or affected by HIV.
The Government of Chiang Rai province revealed that nearly one-quarter of children aged fewer than 18 lack birth certificates.
The lack of birth registration creates a barrier to important social services, such as healthcare and education. Children without legal status are at greater risk of being exploited through trafficking, kidnapping, forced labour or sexual servitude.
Workshops and training sessions showed stateless children how to prepare documents for identification and how to pursue their rights under the Nationality Law.
Children have the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives. We work with children and their communities to identify problems and implement solutions.
We promote child rights activities, including youth camps on child rights and awareness, as well as child-led clubs, government child councils and youth networks.
Plan Thailand also helps children to speak out by supporting them in producing their own media – such as film-making and journalism.
Protection
We promote child safe environments, free from abuse, neglect and exploitation, by:
lobbying for the implementation of national policies on child protection
training teachers and child caregivers on child protection
training children on how to protect themselves.
Education
Our early childhood care and development (ECCD) and education programmes establish child-friendly learning environments and methods for children to gain quality education.
This approach helps to improve community and family health, hygiene and nutrition.
Household economic security
This programme helps families to provide for their children and become resilient to economic shocks, such as the loss of a job or a natural disaster.
We help expand livelihood opportunities through a number of initiatives from providing vocational skills training and agricultural support to promoting microfinance schemes and cooperatives.
HIV and AIDS awareness
Plan Thailand promotes HIV and AIDS prevention programmes for youth through supporting sex education curricula activities and strengthening youth groups so that they can be peer educators in their community.
We also develop livelihood programmes for people living with HIV and help them obtain better access to health services.
Corporate social responsibility for children
We promote the concept of ‘corporate social responsibility for children’ among members of the corporate sector to support the needs and rights of children.
We invite the corporate sector and other donors to learn about, and gain first-hand experience of, the issues facing children and communities so that they can be a part of addressing these issues and solving the problems.
Visit Plan’s global sponsorship area to find out more.
