Helping Children from Ex-Sex workers in Thailand

Hello everyone!

Greetings from Thailand! We want to send a big Thank You to each of you for your continued support of our children and their mothers.

The past few weeks at Tamar have been absolutely wonderful. After the new school year kicked off in May, the initial excitement wore off a bit—but don't worry, it hasn't been all hard work and no play!

Thankfully, a fantastic team from Singapore visited us during the June public holiday. They hosted daily after-school programs and organized a massive group outing for all the children and mothers. The kids couldn't wait to rush out of school every day to play with the team! For their big day out, they visited a 3D illusion museum, where the children loved posing for funny photos, followed by a delicious meal together.

We had also planned a waterfall hike to mark the beginning of the Tamar Vocational and Life Training program. Sadly, heavy rain forced us to cancel, but we will definitely reschedule it soon! In the meantime, we pivoted to a Mu Kratha (Thai barbecue) feast instead, which the kids absolutely loved.

New Beginnings & Growing Families We are thrilled to share that one of the women who recently joined our training program is pregnant, so we will soon be welcoming another baby to the family! Meanwhile, the baby boy born to one of our mothers last November is doing wonderfully—you can see his bright smile in the attached pictures.

Looking Ahead: Mother’s Day Outreach August is just around the corner, and we are gearing up for our annual Mother’s Day Outreach. This year, we plan to distribute 1,000 gift bags to mothers currently working in the bars. The bags will contain special treats for the moms, as well as items they can send home to their children. Many of these mothers only get to see their kids once a year during Songkran. Our goal is to encourage them and remind them that if they choose to join Tamar, they can bring their children with them so they can live together. Our women are already busy handmaking gifts, and the excitement is building!

Double Your Impact: July Bonus Day! Finally, we have an incredible opportunity to make your support go twice as far. On Wednesday, July 15, GlobalGiving is hosting its July Bonus Day campaign.

During this 24-hour window, donations of $100 or more will help unlock matching funds from GlobalGiving for the Tamar Housing Project. The larger the gift, the higher the matching percentage we receive to power our impact!

• When: Wednesday, July 15, starting at 10:00 AM EDT  for 24 hours.

Thank you so much for your faithful partnership, both past and future. We truly could not do this life-changing work without you.

With gratitude,

The Tamar Family

Capybaras, Creativity, and a Mother’s Tears

Sawadee ka!

Songkran is in full swing here in Thailand! As we celebrate the Thai New Year, our city has transformed into the world’s largest water fight. We’ve been out in the pickup truck with our giant water barrel, joined by hundreds of others in the streets. It is the perfect way to cool down in this heat, and the kids are having the time of their lives!

A Season of Discovery The fun actually started back in early March with the beginning of the school holidays. Thanks to a visiting team from the USA, our mothers and children spent a wonderful day at the newly opened Capybara Café. It was heartwarming to see the children interacting with the animals—not just the capybaras, but meerkats and turtles, too.

We’ve also focused on nurturing their creative side. Our older children attended a special arts class where they learned the basics of drawing and painting. We definitely have some future artists in our midst now, as they’ve continued practicing their new skills at home! Another highlight was a trip to a local international school’s "forest project." The kids learned about nature, tried their hand at archery, and even flew down a zipline before ending the day with a refreshing swim in the school pool.

The Power of Family: A Mother’s Story While the holidays are full of laughter, we were recently reminded of why the Tamar family is so vital. One of our mothers, who gave birth this past November, shared her testimony with us at the beginning of the year.

Through tears, she explained that during her previous two pregnancies, she was entirely alone. She went to the hospital alone, had no visitors, and returned home to care for her newborns with no help at all. This time, however, was different. She told us how much it meant to have the Tamar family by her side every step of the way—from hospital runs to regular visits and helping her settle back in with her baby.

There was hardly a dry eye in the room. While it is naturally difficult for her to leave her little one in our nursery as she returns to vocational training, she does so with peace, knowing our staff will provide the best possible care.

Her story is a stark reminder of the isolation many women in Pattaya face. Because of your support, these children aren't just surviving; they are having beautiful childhood experiences and, most importantly, staying with their mothers.

Thank you for helping us provide the supplies, the space, and the community these families need to thrive.

With gratitude,

The Tamar Family