Saving 50 children from substance-abuse cycle

Saturday Training For Children And Youth At Risk Of Substance Abuse Project

            This project has operated in Mae Na Toeng community, Pai district, Maehongson province which is a red-zone area of drug trafficking. 46 % of drugs cases in Pai district are found in Mae Na Toeng community. The youngest case of drug addicts is 12 years old boy. Children in this community are vulnerable to substance abuse because they live in the areas that are prone to drug traffickers and ex-incarcerated adults because of drugs in community.  Most children are tribal children of whom the parents are usually not trained to parent their children.  They tend to leave their children with grandparents.  Without proper parental care and guidance, the children are influenced and pressured by peers to try some kinds of drugs. Right social values of peers are diminishing, and substance use has become acceptable in some forms and at some levels. They also have no other ways to spend time wisely except hanging around with their peers.

In the past seven months, we have provided various but specific activities to develop children’s life includes Saturday training programs, home visits, parental training and children’s camp following this;

-In April and May, there were no gathering activities due to the spread of the coronavirus. However, we had provided relief kits for 50 families benefiting about 200 individuals. We had home visits to distribute relief kits 3 times in each month.  Our program coordinator strictly adheres to the preventive measure of coronavirus pandemic.

- In June to December, we provided weekly trainings, meals and snack for children and youth at risk every Saturday with a total of 70 children. The Saturday training program includes bible teaching through Superbook curriculum, sports, life skills, worship leading and music skills. 80% of the children in the program attend the program regularly. Their academic and behavioral performances are positively changed. 80% of parents attended an orientation program in April and parental training programs in June. 2-3 home visits was done by monthly.

- We hold children’s camp in October 2020. 90 children (70 children in program and 20 children from near community) attended a three-day-camp at Light Shine center. There are 8 children praying to receive Christ in their lives.  10 additional children are interested to join the Saturday training program from the community. Youth leader team practice their leadership skills by creating ministry programs and responsible in leading games, worship, activities and taking care of the kids in the camp. This camp is the opportunity for the youth to practice and develop their skills and talents. 80% of youth leader become good role models among their peers and younger children to be away from drugs. They will be the key person the make a change in their community in the future.

            This is a story of Pat , 11 years old girl who was abandoned by her parents and lives with her grandparents.

“Hello, my nickname is Pat and now I’m studying in grade 5. I dream to be a teacher. I live with my grandparents and there are just the three of us because my parents have both separated their ways. My grandfather is 77 years old and my grandmother is 76. Both of my grandparents have raised me up since I was young. My grandmother is a farmer and a hire laborer. She plants sweetcorn and rice. Currently, the economy is not good.   There are not many people hiring employees. On some days, my grandparents would get some work to do and on some days they wouldn’t. On the days that my grandparents don’t have any work, we would eat instant noodles and vegetables. On the days when my grandparents go to work, I would cook rice for dinner.  When they come back from work, they would cook food and we would eat together. I have only started to come to the Saturday Training center for a year. My friends invited me here. I like coming here because there are snacks that I want to eat and the food is very delicious. Every Saturday, I have a bible study from the stories in Superbook and in the afternoon there are fun activities.  I really like this program a lot.  I will come here to join all the activities given. My grandmother does not allow me to go and work with her. Instead, she allows me to come here which is so good to me. I will continue to focus on my studies, so that I can have a good occupation and take care of both of my grandparents. Thank you very much.

            Another story from one of youth leader team, Makada, age 18. Studying in grade 11/1, Pai Witayakarn School.

“I would like to give thanks to God for my life today. Before, I used to be so attached to my friends; wherever my friends invited me to hand around or whatever my friends do, I would follow them. My father then told me to come to join the Saturday Training activities and go to church every Sunday. At that time, I did not want to come at all. However, I had to come or else my father would scold me. So, I had to come because I didn’t want to argue with my father. When I came here, P’Doi, P’Patae, and P’Poy (Youth leader team) would always support and be like big brother and big sister to me.  They all taught me many things and I able to have a chance to practice a good leader here and learn to critical thinking and become more confident. As time passed, the friends that I had before, slowly disappeared because I didn’t have time for them. Right now, those friends, some of them already have got married and become pregnant before age. Some of them are no longer studying anymore. I am so thankful to God that my father told me to come here, or else I might go astray as some of my friends. Currently, I am a part of the student council at my school. I also mentor the junior children at the Saturday Training and at church. Next year, I will take the test for entering a nursing school. Thank you for your support.”

Links:

• Missions of Operation Blessing Foundation(Thai)
• Superbook, a media for promoting ethics for children