Empowering Vulnerable Women and Children
March 6, 2018
Imagine how vulnerable a women would feel after abuse, trafficking, severe poverty, unwanted pregnancies, poor health and forced labour,.. Now image these conditions in a country were women still can't vote and have very little influence in their society.... Now imagine being a refugee, fleeing from persecution from your homeland, to a place where it is technically illegal to work as a foreigner.. You are a displace person living in horrific conditions.
Social Action for Women (SAW) was established in June 2000 to support and assist women displaced from Myanmar/Burma who were in crisis situations after having fled to Mae Sot, Thailand; Since establishment, SAW has provided shelter, health care, nutrition, health education, rights awareness, counseling and vocational training for these abused, unskilled women, orphaned and vulnerable migrant children.
Thanks in part to Medical Mercy Canada, 2017 brought many positive changes to SAW. The organization now has legal status as a Foundation in Thailand which means it can control all funds donated to it in a SAW bank account. SAW has a founding board of directors which includes a Thai human rights lawyer, 2 Thai teachers who have supported SAW since 2000, and a Thai homemaker.
Social Action for Women (SAW) was established in June 2000 to support and assist women displaced from Myanmar/Burma who were in crisis situations after having fled to Mae Sot, Thailand; Since establishment, SAW has provided shelter, health care, nutrition, health education, rights awareness, counseling and vocational training for these abused, unskilled women, orphaned and vulnerable migrant children.
Thanks in part to Medical Mercy Canada, 2017 brought many positive changes to SAW. The organization now has legal status as a Foundation in Thailand which means it can control all funds donated to it in a SAW bank account. SAW has a founding board of directors which includes a Thai human rights lawyer, 2 Thai teachers who have supported SAW since 2000, and a Thai homemaker.
Opening Ceremony of SAW Children’s Safe House on new land – 11 November 2017
MMC donated $126,430 CAD over 8 years to enable SAW to buy 4 Rai of land. This enabled SAW, with the financial assistance of several other International NGOs, to construct their own buildings on their own land. A United Kingdom NGO called “Safe Child Thailand” (formerly Thai Children’s Trust) sponsored the building of:
2 dormitories (1 girl’s & 1 boy’s)-50 beds in each dorm.
2 toilet / bath house buildings (1 girl’s & 1 boy’s).
1 kitchen / dining hall.
Waste Water treatment system.
Concrete brick wall, 2 metres high, surrounding the property.
Concrete road down the length of the property.
2 dormitories (1 girl’s & 1 boy’s)-50 beds in each dorm.
2 toilet / bath house buildings (1 girl’s & 1 boy’s).
1 kitchen / dining hall.
Waste Water treatment system.
Concrete brick wall, 2 metres high, surrounding the property.
Concrete road down the length of the property.
Interior of girl’s dormitory - 43 girls live there now
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Exterior of girl’s 2 story dormitory, washrooms on right
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SAW buildings consists of:
1. CHILDREN’S SAFE HOUSE with 2 dormitories, supporting 91 children who are permanent residents, many since infancy. They all attend Thai schools except for the pre-school aged children.
2. CHILDREN’S CRISIS CENTRE one large, old, rented house in Mae Sot, with 74 children in residence. Six more children come from inside Burma in one month. The lands of many families were confiscated by Burmese military leaving those families homeless.
3. HEALTH CARE HOUSE with 2 small, old, homes for 18 women and 13 children (2 in Thai School, 10 at SAW school). All are permanent residents, have HIV and are receiving ARV treatment. Most of the women are involved in Income Generating Programs (sewing, crafts, etc.).
4. ADMINISTRATION OFFICE
1. CHILDREN’S SAFE HOUSE with 2 dormitories, supporting 91 children who are permanent residents, many since infancy. They all attend Thai schools except for the pre-school aged children.
2. CHILDREN’S CRISIS CENTRE one large, old, rented house in Mae Sot, with 74 children in residence. Six more children come from inside Burma in one month. The lands of many families were confiscated by Burmese military leaving those families homeless.
3. HEALTH CARE HOUSE with 2 small, old, homes for 18 women and 13 children (2 in Thai School, 10 at SAW school). All are permanent residents, have HIV and are receiving ARV treatment. Most of the women are involved in Income Generating Programs (sewing, crafts, etc.).
4. ADMINISTRATION OFFICE
SAW needs your support
New Children’s Crisis Centre dormitory on new land is very much needed. This new dormitory:
MMC appeals for support and financial assistance to continue creating this healthy community for abandoned and orphaned children and abused women.
New Children’s Crisis Centre dormitory on new land is very much needed. This new dormitory:
- Will save much money presently spent on rent of old facility.
- Will save money on kitchen facilities when all children use the same kitchen/dining area.
- Will provide cleaner, safer, healthier, more spacious environment for the children in which to live.
- Children from the Crisis Centre and Safe House will be all together on one site.
- All the children will be more easily monitored and managed to grow and be educated appropriately.
- Cost of new Crisis Centre dormitory, to house 50 children, on the new land owned by SAW is estimated at $50,000 CAD. The toilet / bathhouse facility cost is estimated at $12,500 CAD.
MMC appeals for support and financial assistance to continue creating this healthy community for abandoned and orphaned children and abused women.