About Us

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is a global network of independent humanitarian organizations established in 1984 by the Seventh Day Adventist Church for the specific purpose of providing individual and community development and disaster relief.

ADRA Thailand was established in the early 1980s and began programs mainly in assisting refugees from Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar with health care and basic human needs. As the program expanded ADRA began to include poor rural Thai people outside the refugee camps and development projects began alongside relief assistance projects.

ADRA serves people without regard to their ethnic, political or religious association. It simply helps people in need, especially those most vulnerable such as women, children, and the elderly.

Networking is essential for the success of ADRA Thailand’s programs. Through networking together with local Thai Government, other NGOs and village communities, ADRA has been able to make small changes in the people of rural Thailand’s life.

ADRA Thailand has over 50 employees who are serving the communities both in the northern regions of Thailand and along the Thailand / Mayanmar border. ADRA Thailand is part of a global ADRA Network with employees working in more than 100 countries around the globe. This network brings together ADRA staff, donors and volunteers all over the world to work together to make the world a better place.

Our Mission:

Reflect the character of God through humanitarian and developmental activities.

Actively support communities in need through a portfolio of development activities which are planned and implemented cooperatively.

Provide assistance in situations of crisis or chronic distress, and work toward the development of long-term solutions with those affected.

Work through equitable partnerships with those in need to achieve positive and sustainable change in communities.

Build networks which develop indigenous capacity, appropriate technology, and skills at all levels.

Develop and maintain relationships with our partners and constituents which provide effective channels for mutual growth and action.

Promote and expand the equitable and participatory involvement of women in the development process.

Advocate for and assist in the increased use of communities' capacities to care for and responsibly manage the natural resources of their environment.

Facilitate the right and ability of all children to attain their full potential, and to assist in assuring the child's survival to achieve that potential.

Staff

•	Brendon Irvine	Country Director
•	Marc Andre Hensel	Program Director
•	Rattanaporn Ananyavong	Finance Director
•	Phannawat Charoensiri	Human Resource Officer
•	Matika Naisom	Human Resource Assistant
•	Britt Celine Oldebråten	Intern (ADRA Norway), PR & Marketing
•	Atchara Jiacharoentrakul	Senior Accountant
.	Mark Rowsell	ViDA Volunteer (Australia)
•	Rattanee Thanwima	Accountant
•	Tanasak Siriworanan	IT/Operation Officer
•	Warunsara Duangsaeng	Administrative Assistant
•	Esther Irvine	Marketing and Public Relations
•	Bob Young	Marketing and Public Relations
*	Yuttachai Butta	Logistics

Funding

ADRA as an agency receives funds from a variety of sources in the form of private donations and international government development funds via international organisations and also local corporate and private giving.

Future direction

As part of ADRA Thailand's strategic plan for the future, ADRA Thailand hopes to build up a local donor base to fund projects in country using in-country money. Thailand is increasingly becoming more developed, with much wealth concentrated in the central region around Bangkok. Much of the north and northeast however is comparable to many other less developed countries.

ADRA Thailand’s future projects will continue to meet the needs as they arise, addressing issues of poverty, human trafficking, refugee care and advocacy for justice.