Help Keep Families Together

Kate and Anissa Arrive to 
Discover Big Steps Ahead.

We always tell Step Ahead volunteers to be ready for anything when they come to join us, and as a dear old mission mentor from Texas, Earl Kellum, always said, "Brethern, we'll treat you so many ways, you are bound to like some of them."  Well, these social workers, one from the UK and the other from the USA, coming to serve with Step Ahead in a mammoth task - seeking to forge new Thai government policies in reference to Family-Based Orphan Care, at least got off with some big training steps. 

 It's a big job, but Kate and Anissa got a great introduction with a free elephant ride soon after their arrival.  The elephant expedition owner when he heard of our foundation's work to help poor families keep together (explained in Southern Thai language) decided our new volunteers should enjoy Southern hospitality and their elephant ride for free.

Our next steps in approaching impacting Thai government policy will likely not prove so easy. It will require significant patience, networking, meeting, research and building the body of work in Thai that will make a path up and through the mountainous jungles of historical understandings that can put children and families at-risk.  Kim has become a leader in this non-institutional orphan care movement today with nearly 30 years serving some of Thailand's poorest and most vulnerable children. We are excited that now seems to be the moment to press forward and trust God to act and use us to see change happen for Thai families.

As ever, we thank you for your important support, prayer and standing with us and Step Ahead through the years and today.

Today continuing to stand with families at-risk across Thailand

is as challenging as we have ever known.

There are preschool children needing support if their families are to avoid sending them off to orphanages that beckon and promise help, if the single mom or relatives will release them into their care.  It's a sad situation to see, and the reason we run the "Keeping Families Together" program.

On the other hand, many poor families across Thailand today find themselves looking at their young teenage girls as essentially economic engines, ready to be put to work for the family.  Early teen children don't need to leave home and go to work in the big cities, indeed, making such a decision is one of the most risky moves a family can make for the future of their children.  Therefore, Keeping Families Together makes economic opportunities with training and counseling for families to make better decisions for them all to step ahead together. Community Economic Development can make a big difference for some of rural Thailand's poorest families.  Take a look now at how you can enjoy ITSERA purses and change women's economic future's today.

Further, Step Ahead is soon to launch new Urban Gardening initiatives in Bangkok's largest slum community.  Please donate $20, $50, or $100 to see this dream become a reality of hope for some of Bangkok's poorest families.  Thanks for making a difference today!

Links:

• Article from Kim Quinley on Families At- Risk.