Help Stateless children achieve Thai citizenship

Since our last update, we have had 2 people get their ID cards! We do focus on children, but in many of our cases, the children must wait for their parents to get their birth certificates and ID cards before the chidlren can follow and receive theirs. This month, we had one client who has been trying to get her card since she was in 7th grade, finally receive it at age 33! Now her two children will be able to get their ID cards easily. 

In another case, we had to take a grandmother to do a DNA test with her father, so her children and grandchildren could get their ID cards. The grandmother received her card in mid-February and this week, we took the mother to get a DNA test with the grandmother. Once that has been processed, she too will get her ID card and then her children will as well. Next week, two mroe children will finally get their ID cards, which we are excited about because if the kids get their ID cards on time (the government requires them to apply and receive their cards at age 7), it makes their lives so much easier. Once they are over age 15, the paperwork and proof of birth and family ties become much more complicated. The 2 children coming up are 8 and 10 years old, so they are able to get the cards easily, despite being later than they should. 

Thank you for your support in this area, we are seeing more cases each year that require DNA testing, which is $350 per parent/child pair, which is unattainable for most tribal families. Having an ID card really changes their entire lives.