Safe Shelter for 16 Children and Woman in Thailand

Over the past three months, the Mekong Regional Indigenous Child Rights Home (MRICRH) has provided comprehensive support for four individuals at risk of potentially being trafficked. Two of the individuals attend the HDS at DEPDC, while the other two live full-time at the centre. The students attend academic classes aimed at increasing their Thai and English proficiency and equipping them with a solid foundation of knowledge to pursue higher education or to enter the workforce. In addition, the students attend a variety of life skills workshops. The most recent of these workshops was swim training held from February 20 to 22. The ability to swim is a critical skill in life both for survival as well as for job opportunities. Aside from offering this well-rounded education, MRICRH strives to create an environment that encourages compassion, collaboration, and self-sufficiency.

Unfortunately, due to a limited budget, DEPDC does not have sufficient resources to support more individuals in MRICRH at the moment. Others seeking help can be redirected to nearby organisations operating under the same mission. As mentioned before, DEPDC will continue to provide support for the individuals currently in the programme. However, in the near future, DEPDC plans restructure MRICRH by no longer admitting members, and rather allocating all resources toward individuals within the existing programme. Through this approach, DEPDC hopes to ensure these people have safely reintegrated into society and have established autonomous and productive lives. We firmly believe the changes within MRICRH will provide urgent and immediate short-term care for people at risk of being trafficked, as well as create long-term relationships among them which are rooted in a sense of trust, love, and shared experience. Although MRICRH is currently managing only four cases, it will nonetheless strive to serve as an emergency shelter for those in need regardless of budget constraints.

On behalf of all the children, teachers, and volunteers at DEPDC, I would like to say thank you for your continuous support of our mission. The impact of your generous donations is evidenced in our ability to provide quality services to the people who need them the most. Please continue to provide your much appreciated support or consider volunteering with us! Don’t forget to spread the word about MRICRH by following, liking, and sharing our updates on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn!