Keep Thai Children in Families, Not Institutions

Imagine in other countries if there was no social welfare and people were paid less than half of the minimum wage, it is amazing to see the strength and resilience of parents as they fight for survival and do the best they can for their children. Before One Sky started there was no help in Sangkhlaburi for destitute parents in crisis, and the only option was to give up their children to local children’s homes. This is no longer the case, and we have been with some families for the long haul now while other families just need a little support to get through a difficult period.

In 2025 we provided casework support to 259 families and a further 58 families received brief interventions such as advice or one time advocacy. We have been building systems of family support and strengthening for 13 years now and our holistic approach includes:

-            Advocacy and language support with birth registration, school enrollment, legal, health and local administration issues. Especially when parents can’t speak Thai well and if they are illiterate.

-            Victim support in cases of domestic violence and child abuse including emotional support and support through the legal system. Help for mothers and children ready to flee domestic violence.

-            Income generation through skills building and work opportunities focused on single mothers with childcare responsibilities for young children.

-            Home based food production including pigs, chickens and vegetable growing.

-            Welfare support including cash payments, monthly food drop, house repairs, medical costs (health insurance for non-Thais).

-            Education support including over 200 children with monthly scholarships for transport and lunch costs and support for uniforms.

-            Buddy program where older children teach Thai to younger children struggling in school.

-            Peer to Peer support through positive parenting workshops

-            Small business startup loans and support

-            Family strengthening days – bridging the generation gap and working through family issues

-            Tracking down parents working in the city to ensure regular money is sent back to kinship carers looking after their children.

-            Short term welfare – sickness, no work, money stopped coming from parents in the city.

-            Long term welfare – low income, many children.

-            Support with health issues for older carers

-            Support groups, Mom power and girls group.

-            Early Childhood Development (ECD)12-week program now run in 12 communities providing group learning and exchange for parents and carers with young children.

-            ECD volunteer network to follow up on the 12-week program, with over 20 volunteers so far.

-            Support for special needs children to access government facilities in the city – transportation and support during holidays.

720 children benefited from this work in 2025. 251 children received additional nutrition in 2025 through our monthly food drop and 46 children could access the healthcare they needed once we paid for their medical insurance (system for non-Thai children). Our budget for this welfare is reduced by more than 50% for 2026, please get in touch if you would like to help.