By Margaret Grainger | Vice president Hand to hand Foundation
The COVID 19 has left thousands of people in Pattaya without employment as the city relies heavily on tourists who cannot come. This has resulted in many becoming homeless relying on food given out by the several food banks set up in the city.
The Thai government has also been very strict about social distancing rules and it is compulsory to wear a mask whilst out of your house. Without a mask you cannot join the food line and without money you cannot buy a mask. In addition to this masks were scarce and very expensive. So Hand to Hand Foundation began to train the unemployed to make fabric masks and pay them for each competently completed one. In this way we could make masks available as well as providing job opportunities. Each participant was given 2 days of training after which they could continue to sew masks at their house which enabled them to also look after their family. The masks are hand sewn and all materials and training are provided by the foundation for free. The participants are paid for the labour to make each mask.
So far the participants have made over 3000 masks which have all been given out for free to people in the slums, in the food lines and at the hospital. The masks are fully washable and we also distribute soap so that the recipients can keep them clean and free of germs.
The masks are made in a range of sizes and colours and bring safety, joy and employment. We have also been distributing them throughout Thailand to orphanages, care homes other needy places.
We would like to continue this project however with each fabric mask costing $1.50 (materials, labour and soap inclusive) the cost is $1500.00 for 1000 masks. The need for the masks keeps growing as does the need for employment. Not only does thisd progect provide an income to feed families it is alos giving the participants self esteem as they take great pride in their work.
Thank you so much for all of your support which makes life changing programs such as this continue.
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