Strengthen Families in Thailand

One of the ways The Family Connection Foundation strengthens families and communities in Thailand is through our Education Matters program which provides not only scholarship funds for school but also a mentor for each student. As a result, each student meets regularly with a mentor who gives the student the help and support they need to make sure they can achieve success, both in school and in life.

One example of this is a young woman nicknamed Daisy (not her real name). Daisy lives with her parents and brother in Kalasin Province, in the Northeastern region of Thailand, or what Thai people call the Isaan region. Unlike the rest of Thailand, this area is relatively dry and people are quite poor. Most of the villagers in this region work as farmers, and the income from this occupation is barely enough to support a family. As a result, some families have a tough life. Often, either the father or the mother has to find work in other provinces. Fortunately, Daisy's parents are both at home. Her father works as an electrician, but her mother had to close her beauty shop due to a health condition that made it impossible for her to work with her hands to cut hair.

Daisy is studying in high school, intending to attend college after graduation. A college education is one of the few avenues for children in this region to escape the cycle of poverty. Daisy is currently attending a government High School but still has expenses that her family must cover. Since her mother had to stop working, their income was not enough to cover school expenses. Her parents were very stressed about how Daisy could continue her education. Thankfully, a local Church became aware of their need and invited the family to apply for help through the Education Matters program. Daisy was accepted into the program and is able to continue her education!

Your support of The Family Connection Foundation's administrative team helps keep children like Daisy in school and gives them a very different life!

One of the ways that The Family Connection Foundation is helping families in Thailand has been to meet needs during Covid through direct aid. Thailand relies on tourism for about 20% of it's GDP and exports of good and services for about 60% of GDP. It goes without saying that a pandemic that shuts down tourism and factories has caused substantial economic hardship for families as some or all of household income is lost. Our direct aid food program, Bread For Life, has been able to partner with the local government to provide food and supplies to thousands of families in need. Another one of our programs will be partnering with the Mental Health Crisis Assessment & Treatment Team from their local Department of Health to conduct mental health evaluations and provided food and supplies to 75 families who lost loved ones to Covid-19. They made their first visit this week to a mother who lost both her husband and parents to Covid. We thank you for your partnership as you enable us to serve families in Thailand!