Helping Single Thai Mothers Keep Their Babies

by Family Connection Foundation
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Helping Single Thai Mothers Keep Their Babies
Helping Single Thai Mothers Keep Their Babies
Helping Single Thai Mothers Keep Their Babies
Helping Single Thai Mothers Keep Their Babies
Helping Single Thai Mothers Keep Their Babies
Helping Single Thai Mothers Keep Their Babies
Helping Single Thai Mothers Keep Their Babies
Helping Single Thai Mothers Keep Their Babies
Helping Single Thai Mothers Keep Their Babies
Helping Single Thai Mothers Keep Their Babies
Helping Single Thai Mothers Keep Their Babies
Helping Single Thai Mothers Keep Their Babies
Helping Single Thai Mothers Keep Their Babies
Helping Single Thai Mothers Keep Their Babies
Helping Single Thai Mothers Keep Their Babies

Project Report | Feb 5, 2021
Prioritizing Work or Family?

By Jen Dao | Work Project Developr

Emma (pseudonym) recently reached out to the Thai government orphanage, Baan Wiang Ping, and another local orphanage to inquire about leaving her 4 year old son, Christopher (also not his real name) there on occasion. Each organization required his father’s signature on various legal documents in order to register him. The father had demonstrated over time that he was unsafe for both Emma and Christopher, so Emma was reluctant to connect with him. The local orphanage referred their case to Home of the Swallow.

After chatting with Emma, we learned that the reason she couldn’t care for Christopher independently was because she works a rotating shift at Home Pro (a local hardware and home goods store) and thus has an irregular work schedule. As a single mom without other sources of support, Emma was spending a large share of her income to compensate neighbors and babysitters to care for Christopher at all hours of the day and night.

Before encountering this child care obstacle, the COVID situation had left both mom and son in a precarious financial situation. Emma had been out of work for months in early 2020 and the two of them didn’t have enough money to sustain themselves or eat regularly during this time, causing Emma to be fearful that she would lose her job again. She felt she had no choice but to prioritize work and figure out a way for others to help care for Christopher, so she connected with these orphanages as a last resort. She planned to come back for Christopher if she was able to secure employment with a more regular schedule. 

When HOS staff discussed this case, we decided to expand our typical nursery hours in order to care for Christopher on an as-needed basis. Although HOS usually provides residential care to women and their children, Emma, who had grown up in an orphanage herself, was reluctant to live at a foundation again. We thus decided to receive Emma and Christopher as members of our project, even though Emma continues to live in the community. This is the first family we have supported in this way. After coordinating care and meeting regularly to provide encouragement and counsel to Emma and Christopher for a month, Emma decided she could care for Christopher herself!

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Organization Information

Family Connection Foundation

Location: Muang, Chiang Mai - Thailand
Website:
Facebook: Facebook Page
Project Leader:
Timothy Dunham
Muang , Chiang Mai Thailand
$63,436 raised of $100,000 goal
 
157 donations
$36,564 to go
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