2010 - There are currently 7 projects that Orphan's Promise is providing in Thailand:

1. Keeping Families Together (KFT) Program – Phang Nga, Southern Thailand. KFT program provides holistic care and development opportunities for poor at-risk families, strengthening each family so they can stay together, grow stronger, and become sustainable.

2. Step Ahead Child Development Centers (CDC’s) – Phang Nga, South Thailand. These four child development centers provide quality child care, education, and meals, for over 100 marginalized children, aged 2-5 years.Nearly 500 family members benefit as a result of these centers.

3. House of Blessing – Chiangmai, North Thailand
The House of Blessing children’s home cares for over 110 orphans and vulnerable children.

4. Hope House – Projects for Asia – Chiangmai, North Thailand. Hope House cares for over 50 orphans and vulnerable children. In 2009, Orphan’s Promise provided monthly support for supplies and operational costs.

5. Rakprakun Children’s Home – Chiangmai, North Thailand. This Home is situated high in the mountains of Chiangmai and cares for 14 orphans and vulnerable children from hill tribe villages.

6. The House of Hope – Mae Hong Son, North Thailand cares for 35 orphans and vulnerable children, who are mostly displaced children from the Shan ethnic group.

7. Liberty Kidz Orphange – Chiangmai, North Thailand caring for over 30 orphans and vulnerable children, mostly from hill tribe villages. In 2009, over $2,500USD was provided by OP to Liberty Kids Orphanage to set up a chicken farm (meat chickens & egg-laying chickens), a mushroom farm, a fish farm, and to purchase gardening equipment and tools.

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BACKGROUND

Originally known as Siam, Thailand has long been known as a capital of international sex tourism. A consistent political crisis has kept this country from enjoying great domestic growth. Since 2004, thousands have been killed as separatists in Thailand’s southern ethnic Malay-Muslim provinces increased the violence of their cause.

Thailand’s major issues are orphans, drugs, and as the country is a producer of heroin, children with disabilities, and diseases that are poverty related.

Bangkok is also well-known as a hub of sex trafficking in children, a trade frequented by European and American men.

Orphan’s Promise supports several orphanages in Thailand, providing the items necessary for kids well-being and proper development. The Rakpakun Children’s Home was in dire need when we first arrived. Children slept on floors in buildings with no insulation. We have provided beds and mattresses, guitars for praise and worship, and, their first computers!

Currently, they cook and eat on the floor of an open bamboo structure. Orphan’s Promise has built a safe kitchen/dining hall to protect them from the elements and from the threat of fire. We also made education available for older children at schools in nearby cities. The skills training provided give the Thai kids hope and help for a brighter future.

Major Issues:

• Orphans
• Refugees
• Drugs (producer of heroin, and marijuana)
• Children with disabilities
• Infectious diseases