Updates from ADRA Thailand

Thailand is proud to work with and on behalf of the people of Thailand; assisting those in need to have greater life chances and life choices.

Increased self-confidence of Peer Educators in music skills helped to make the HAPPE project well known in Chiang Rai province...

After HAPPE project received a set of musical instruments from YAMAHA Thailand, the Peer Educators were really excited to practice their musical skills, but they were very shy and had no self-confidence to perform in public.

On August 7th - 8th, 2009, Peer Educators got a great chance to join the "Folk Music Festival" music band contest, organized by 91.4 MHz radio station of Chiang Rai, and they won the second complimentary prize. This was the first step of their success on music that leaded them to have more self-confidence.

After the contest the Peer Educators were really proud of their achievement, and felt enthusiastic to practice, develop their musical skills further. They wrote many beautiful songs about youth power in communities, and they tried to pass on the songs to their peers in the communities.

The Peer Educators realized their value by gaining this prize. They are more encouraged and motivate use their musical skills in public. They wrote new songs and paid a lot of attention when they had a chance to learn with trainers in a "Music skill training course". With newfound confidence, they now sing their songs in public when engaging in their duties as peer educators.

The HAPPE project supported the Peer Educators by giving them advice, and trainings to improve their skills and also search for any opportunities for Peer Educators. If their abilities are accepted and utilized by communities, they will be proud and realize their value.

The project staff realized the importance of creating opportunities for the Peer Educators to show their abilities in public. It was very encouraging and satisfying to see and experience the change in development of the Peer Educators to become confidence young people who can be of example to their friends and families.

CHIANG RAI, Thailand-The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) recently organized a summer camp for nearly one hundred young girls who are receiving academic scholarships through the Keep Girls Safe project, a successful initiative that aims to prevent human trafficking in northern Thailand.

“We have this camp to get together girls from the local communities, including girls from the [Keep Girls Safe] shelter,” said Suthasinee Noptunya, project manager for the Keep Girls Safe project.

The theme for this year’s event, which was held in late May, was Dream Camp. According to Noptunya, camp attendees learned about empowerment, about themselves, and how to be resilient.

“I can really see the change in the girls,” added Noptunya. “When they arrive, they are shy and not confident at all. But after three days at camp, their self-confidence has increased. They can do any activity with their friends.”

To assist with camp activities, ADRA invited the Heart and Head Group from the Chiang Mai University, a group that included several college and graduate students pursuing degrees in psychology, and a professor. The team focused on conducting team-building activities with all the participants, then did education sessions that targeted the various age groups, which ranged from the ages of 8 to 20.

“The camp was so much fun,” said Nok, whose name has been changed to protect her identity. “This is my third camp, and this has been the best camp ever! I like the activities where we can use our creativeness and show our talents.”

During one of the evening programs, groups performed dramas, songs and dancing acts in front of friends. Girls were permitted to do presentations on any subject they were interested in. While camp participants did not receive specific training about human trafficking, one group presented a drama based on the issue.

“This is a good example of the ripple effect and how knowledge about the trafficking issue is being filtered through the communities,” said Britt Celine Oldebråten, Programs Officer at ADRA Thailand.

ADRA Thailand, which has been active since 1979, is headquartered in the northern city of Chiang Mai. It is well known for its campaign against human trafficking, its opium rehabilitation program, and its tsunami relief and recovery projects. Since 1984, ADRA Thailand has served disadvantaged communities in Thailand, among them marginalized ethnic groups, refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and migrant workers.

ADRA Thailand’s main portfolios include water and sanitation, food security, economic development, education, health, and disaster relief.

ADRA is a non-governmental organization present in 125 countries providing sustainable community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race or ethnicity.

For more information about ADRA, visit www.adra.org.

Author: Britt Celine Oldebråten, Programs and Public Relations/Marketing Officer, ADRA Thailand.