Project Report
| Nov 30, 2020
Keeping Kids in School Keeps them Safe!
By Tim Dunham | Project Director
![Susie is the one giving instructions!]()
Susie is the one giving instructions!
Susie lives with only her mother. Living on a single parent income is tough, and Susie's mom never received an education, so her job options are very limited. The only work she can find is selling flowers to tourists in restaurants and bars. Since Covid-19, businesses that depend on tourists have closed or have very few customers. So, her minimal income was now completely insufficient, so her mother started bringing Susie with her to sell flowers with the hope of increasing income for the family. Sending Susie into bars at night was putting her at risk of being sexually assaulted, plus it is hard to go to school when you are up late at night working. The Family Connection Foundation (FCF) works in Susie's community through the Taw Saeng project. The staff reached out to help Susie and her family by giving her a scholarship from Education Matters. With this help, Susie no longer needs to sell flowers with her mother, and she now has the opportunity to stay in school and have a better quality of life. Susie has been participating in the Taw Saeng project and her mentor is helping her develop skills as a leader. Susie loves helping and serving others. She regularly joins in various activities at Taw Saeng, and is even teaching younger children in another poor community!
This is a great example of why Education Matters is such an important program and why keeping these kids in school is vital to keep kids safe and away from risky activities. We know that when kids stay in school it makes them less vulnerable to sexual predators and human trafficking!
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Aug 4, 2020
A Team Effort
By Tim Dunham | Project Director
![Fern (smiling) and a friend selling snacks]()
Fern (smiling) and a friend selling snacks
Helping Thai kids get an education is not merely a matter of providing scholarship support to buy school uniforms, purchase supplies, cover transportation costs, and tuition. These are all very important and vital to keep poor children in school! But, it also takes the support and encouragement of mentors and a supportive community to encourage the students and provide guidance. So, we work very hard to make sure the children all have a mentor in their life as well as helping them connect with community resources. This is as important to the student’s success, as is financial support.
Fern is new to the Education Matters program. She is in the 8th grade and is described by those who know her as a “good kid.” Every Saturday, Fern participates in Kids Club with other Education Matters students. Not only does she attend, but she eagerly volunteers to help organize and lead activities and games for the younger students. One of her jobs is to sell snacks like Ramen noodles with a couple of her friends. These opportunities give Fern a chance to learn and grow and are also a way that she can give to others. It is also a palace where her mentor, Ms. Rawi, has the chance to give her guidance and wise advice.
We are so grateful for your financial support of this program. You are part of an indispensable team that is making a life-changing impact in the lives of many children like Fern!
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Apr 7, 2020
Does Education Matter in COVID 19?
By Timothy Dunham | Director
![Distributing food.]()
Distributing food.
As the world shuts down due to COVID 19, the economic impact is being felt by everyone. But for those who are already living in extreme poverty, the loss of work is most devastating. Education Matters provides aid to poor families so that their children will be encouraged to finish school and thereby break the cycle of poverty. In order to help the children, we also must help the entire family. Recently, two of our staff, Dave and Jason, saw that one of the poorest communities we work with was in great need. The families living in this village work primarily as day laborers making just enough to live day by day. With everything closing down in Thailand, these families are now without work. No work means no food. We only support a couple of children in this village, but it is hard to help one family and not all of them. So, Dave and Jason used their own money (not Education Matters funds) to buy a bag of rice for every family in the village - 33 families in all! We are so thankful for the heart and sacrifice these guys made and it shows the heart of the Education Matters program. The only way we can help children succeed is by helping families succeed!
We are seeing similar needs in all the communities we work in. We will continue to work hard to meet real human needs in the midst of the COVID 19 outbreak! Thank you so much for being part of the solution! And a huge thanks to Dave and Jason for coming alongside those in need!
![Food distribution]()
Food distribution
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