POVERTY BREAKS FAMILIES APART. We work to keep them together. Did you know there are over 120,000 children growing up in 700 + orphanages / children's homes across Thailand? Eighty percent of those children have families; but sadly, poverty pushes parents to give their child away to be raised in residential care institutions. Step Ahead's flagship program, Keeping Families Together, focuses on building the skills of adults so children grow up safe, stable and strong in families.
Families consider residential care as an option for their children because they cannot afford school tuition, books or transportation to and from school. Poverty, lack of access to education and the breakdown of family are the key push factors for family separation. Thousands of young girls (often teenage mothers) drop out of school migrating to big cities for work leaving their young children with grandmother. These young mothers become at risk of sexual exploitation and grandma struggles too.
Strong families are the essential foundation of a good society. Our Keeping Families Together program helps communities care for their own orphans, widows, single mothers and families at risk. We strengthen vulnerable families through holistic development trainings, economic initiatives, educational opportunities, psychosocial support and health access.
Families will find increased economic opportunities, and emotional and social growth that means more security for their children and a positive developing community. From mothers with a stronger economic situation able to provide better for their families, to young children who enter school with a strong early childhood preparation and teens who have discovered mentoring friends in the staff, give them all more hope to step ahead.
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