EVENT PARTNER

400 kilometres west of Bangkok lie the mountains and jungle of Sangkhlaburi. A few kilometres to the west is Myanmar, where decades of civil war have brought violence and displacement to rural villages. To the east lies job opportunities, education, and health care... for those with citizenship. 

Stateless person (as defined by UNHCR): “not considered as a national by any State under the operation of its law”.

Most stateless families face poverty and great insecurity. Work is underpaid, scarce, and requires constant relocation. Drugs, cheap alcohol, and trafficking gangs are prevalent in these makeshift communities. In this unstable environment, children are left highly vulnerable. Without basic child protection services or access to the safety and opportunity of education, abuse and exploitation are commonplace.

In 2005, Children of the Forest was founded to address these issues. Now, over 40 qualified teachers, social workers, and dedicated full-time staff assist families to gain access to government services. Through its registered school and extensive scholarships, medical programme and mother and child protection services, Children of the Forest provides the necessary link to achieving a safe, self-sufficient, and fulfilling life in Thai society, ensuring that vulnerable and excluded children can gain access to vital services and breaking the cycle of poverty and exploitation.

Children of the Forest takes a multisectoral approach to assisting stateless children, single mothers, and families. The Foundation’s programmes are designed to redress social injustices and alleviate the grievances of those facing discrimination on the Thai-Myanmar border.

CoF ART INSTRUCTOR