Child Protection Thailand Project #28056

Prevent Trafficking: Educate 130 Thai Children

by Global Relief Association for Crises & Emergencies, Inc.

Project Report | Mar 11, 2019
Service Collaboration with ICS Bangkok

By Angie Sullivan, Cofounder of GRACE | Project Leader

ICS & GRACE Teams

The International Community School of Bangkok chose our city of Pattaya for more than one-hundred seventh grade students and their teachers to collaborate with local NGOs and participate in various service projects.

GRACE Family Resource Center Khao Noi was honored to be a recipient of their service. Collectively, they donated personal hygiene supplies for more than 100 families.

During the two days of service, the group of twenty-one people worked hard on the interior and exterior condition of the center. Sponges, clothes, scrub brushes, pails of water, brooms, mops, garden hoses, and more filled all hands as the GRACE staff and ICS team combined efforts to clean the facility.

Prior to the children arriving to the center, the ICS team also spent time laminating English language lessons, organizing the craft room, disinfecting and organizing the toys, and organizing the garage.

The students prepared activities for the children of GRACE's after school program. Music, dance, games, homework assistance and tutoring filled the center.

Our leaders were actively engaged with the ICS group at their night of community needs assessment. The children investigated aspects of our community in an effort to better understand the economy, health and wellness, social, relationships, access to medical care and life necessities, and more.

GRACE fosters relationships with various community groups in an effort to improve services and care as we strenghten families and eradicate the vulnerabilities (poverty and illiteracy) of human trafficking and exploitation.

Thank you so very much for your ongoing support! We are blessed because of your care.

Personal Hygiene Supply donations

Working Together and Making an Impact

Links:

Check out our new website!

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Dec 12, 2018
It's About More Than Toys: GRACE Kid's Wish Lists

By Angie Sullivan | Cofounder, Project Leader

GRACE Christmas Wish List Responses Reveal More About Children Than a Desired Toy

One of our mothers didn’t know the birthdays of her three children. I was astonished. “The poor don’t celebrate birthdays”, she said. Continuing, “it is just another day to survive.” We celebrate birthdays every month at our family resource centers. Cake, ice cream and a gift are simple acts of kindness to express our gratitude for them. More importantly, to make an opportunity to express our love for them as a person of great worth and value.

For most children of our world, Christmas is a joyful time of hope and filled with dreams anticipating gifts from loved ones. Even the idea of Santa Claus instills a subconsciousness that our dreams can come true as we share our desire for specific gifts with friends and family members to awake on Christmas morning to a new reality. We advance into adulthood experiencing a hopefulness as simplistic dreams came true. Reality is some dreams are shattered and children grow into hopeless adults with a severed hope. I was reminded of this hopelessness as I witnessed varied levels of excitement and dismay of the children attending GRACE programs as they completed a Christmas wish list with intentionally leaving questions unanswered or responding absent of expectation.

Wish List Responses

The “I want…” responses included ‘toys’, ‘gift’, watches, wallets, robot cars (transformers), remote control cars, purses, Barbie dolls, Lego block sets, bicycles, scooters, waist bags (fanny packs), watercolor paint, books, clothes, shoes, computers, phones, sketch books, school supplies, volleyballs, badminton sets, jump ropes, stuffed animals, plush dolls, backpacks, drum sets, pencil case, cameras, suitcase, Playdough sets, piggy bank, guitar, microphone, Elsa, to be a doctor, and ‘lots of love’. Sounds pretty typical of children ages three to sixteen.

Collectively, most of the children “need” school supplies. Many of the children responded with a few items listed as other children’s wants including clothes, shoes, backpacks, volleyballs, and phones. Additional responses to “I need…” included language learning sets, money, a Christmas tree, to see an eye doctor, and a bed.

It’s the “I would really love…” responses that brought our staff to tears of laughter and sorrow.

“...my mother to come back for me.”

“...my mom back.”

“...for my parents to have happiness.”

“...to visit the sea with my mother and aunt.”

“...to visit my grandmother.”

“...my parents to reunite.”

“...my parents to fall in love.”

“...my parents have much love.”

“...to have parents.”

“...to have a happy family.”

“...happiness.”

“...for my parents to not talk too much. They are boring.”

“...for life to be better than now.”

“...for my parents to stop drinking alcohol and fighting.”

“...for my parents to stop fighting.”

“...for my parents to stop correcting me.”

“...to have love.”

“...for this (wish list) to be real.”

“...for my parents to love me.”

“...to go on a trip with my parents.”

“...when parents talk with good words (not rude).”

“...for my parents to have money to build a house.”

“...to keep to myself.”

“...to go on a vacation/island/cruise.”

“...to go with you.”

“...to be with you.”

“...I do not have a clue.”

“...to decide what I want to be when I grow up.”

“...everything I write (wish list) becomes true.”

“...you come to me.”

“...to go to the zoo.”

“...to play with Barbie.”

“...this comes true.”

“...my true love comes to me on Christmas day.”

“...having a scholarship.”

“...to have chocolate every day and money every week.”

“...to have a Christmas party.”

“...playing badminton and volleyball.”

“...to go to university.”

“...swimming.”

“...hope my parents buy many toys for me.”

“...for my parents to not talk too much.”

“...to meet Santa Claus.”

“...dreams come true.”

“...to have everything Elsa.”

“...to see a waterfall.”

Santa Plans to Visit the GRACE Children in Thailand

Santa Claus will be visiting the children at GRACE family resource centers a little later this year. He set aside time in early January to share in the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth. Santa is bringing gifts, making wishes come true, instilling hope and sharing about the greatest of gifts - the birth of Jesus Christ. Yes, Santa is coming to GRACE to celebrate the birth of the Savior.

The GRACE staff will be busy wrapping gifts and preparing goodies for the celebration. Jon and I (Angie) will travel back to Thailand the day after Christmas. We have empty luggage to fill with gifts from generous donors and sponsors. Gifts of candy, school supplies, personal hygiene supplies and wish list items will be given to each child.

Donations through GlobalGiving help, too. Thank you for continuing to support GRACE in Thailand!

Links:

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Oct 22, 2018
A Child's Perspective of GRACE in Thailand

By Jon & Angie Sullivan | Co-founders

Penmanship

Comments of a seven year-old girl on her first day:" GRACE has food and snacks. GRACE has games to play. Has drinking water. Has books to read. Has many toys to play with at GRACE."

Comments of a nine year-old boy: "I get better grades in every subject at school. I love everybody here. My very best friends are at GRACE."

Autumn greetings from Thailand! It is rice harvesting season and the schools are closed for the month of October. It is an exciting time for the children and the staff of GRACE Family Resource Centers. We are open for daycamp! Seventy children are participating in the daycamp activities at our Khao Noi location.

Daycamp is full of activities. As the children arrive breakfast is provided. A casual playtime with groups gathering for exercise and daily instructions. Children rotate through four classes each morning including Thai and English language, penmanship, and mathematics. Admist their morning rotations children receive a snack and recess time. A healhty lunch is provided with the younger children napping afterwards. As the younger children are napping the older children partiicipate in lessons of life skills and journaling activities which promote self-esteem. Then, all the children gather together for group craft time, song and dance, movies, and reading.

We asked the children what they like about the GRACE progams.Their answers were very telling and encouraging. Their number one answer is that they love the program as they receive knowledge. Many students refer to having better school performance. Almost every student referred to the fun atmosphere and some admitted they have gained best friends since attending the Family Resource Center program. In addition to learning and having fun, they cited the access to the good food and drinking water. Some of the children stated they have found happiness at GRACE and GRACE is like a family.

Comments of an eight year-old girl: "When I come to GRACE I get more knowledge. I love everyone here. Because GRACE is like my family. I love to learn Thai and English language."

Comments of an eleven year-old boy: "I get knowledge. I have fun. It makes me better than before."

Comments of a tweleve year-old boy: "We have snacks every morning. I like the reading class. My best friends are at GRACE. I enjoy snacks. Some days I can play. I gain knowledge. We have lunch together everyday."

Comments from a ten year-old girl: "GRACE teaches about life and how to be a good human."

Friends

P. Aor teaching writing skills

P, Mai teaching mathematics

P. Jum teaching Thai language

P. Noi cooking a delicious meal

P. Ericson and P. Lisa teaching English

Links:

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