This is Bell’s story.
Bell’s parents died from HIV/AIDS when she was very young so her two grandparents look after the five children left behind – Saam, Song, Baam, Bo and Bell, in a remote rural village in the far north-east of Thailand. With Bell’s grandparents relying on any casual work they can find, trying to keep five children in school whilst living in a tin and bamboo house without walls and no means of regular income, is very challenging.
Together, Entrust and our partner supported the family by setting up a chicken-rearing project to raise regular income. The family chipped in by helping to build a hen house, whilst chickens, feed, education on rearing the animals and ongoing support and advice was also provided. Our partners also helped build the family a weatherproof house with the assistance of others in their community.
This project provides HIV/AIDS and drug awareness education programs in Thai rural schools, prisons and communities together with simple income-generating projects to support families from the school who are afflicted by disease, and other poor families. By educating and supporting affected families with health education and income-generating projects such as chickens and pigs, it allows children to be kept in school, in a family and in a community. It also raises awareness and empowers the children to protect themselves from predatory harm and behaviours.
Grandma Kon says, “I am so thankful for the help our family has been given. We are so poor. My husband works as a casual rubber tapper and I collect and sell things. The chicken project provides eggs for us to sell, gives us extra food to feed everyone and a little bit of extra money to help pay for the things the children need at school. I am very, very grateful not only for the help but for the encouragement as well.”
This income-generating project has transformed Bell’s family. Not only does it provide much-needed income, it provides a sense of purpose, skills that the whole family can utilise, self-esteem and responsibility, all of which will help lead this family of seven to a better future.
Our partners have worked in this area for over 25 years and have a proven track record in the community. Relationships have been built and consolidated over a long time. Our partners are well networked with local Thai government departments and other NGOs (non- government organisations) in the area.
Income-generating projects give families a way to stay together, to support themselves and send children to school. Economic empowerment of the family in a community setting allows children to grow up in a more stable environment, to have better nutrition and to attend school. Simple income-generating projects like this encourage families to become productive members of their own community.