MMC Supporting Other Organizations in Thailand
August 1, 2018
Many Canadians will never have to experience living in a war-torn country or the terror associated with having to uproot your life, cross the border into another country and have no rights or legal status. This has happened to many of the Burmese refugees seeking solace in Thailand. Many have to take jobs wherever they can find them. These people are desperate to support themselves and their families. They are forced to take jobs that pay less than $1 a day, and when they don’t get paid for their work, they have no recourse. They have no one to go to for help.
This vulnerability opens many of them up to abuse and mistreatment. Women and children are faced with the threat of exploitation and human trafficking. Social Action for Women (SAW) was founded to assist displaced women and children from Burma who are in crisis situations after having fled to Mae Sot, Thailand.
This group provides various programs and services to vulnerable Burmese women and children. It offers shelter, health education, rights awareness, counseling and vocational training. The goal of the program is to empower and improve the mental health and wellbeing of the women in SAW’s shelters.
SAW has developed a strong reputation for its health services both locally and internationally. In 2008, it was one of 25 organizations worldwide to receive the Red Ribbon Award from the United Nations Development Programs for providing outstanding HIV prevention, treatment and education on a grassroots level.
Currently, the organization is renting a number of spaces for shelters; however, this is inefficient. SAW needs to have a centralized location to group programs, dormitories and schools together so the children don’t have to pay for travel. Medical Mercy Canada is raising funds to help SAW buy land to achieve this goal.
MMC has donated over $126,000 over eight years to enable SAW to buy land to develop different programs and locations to help Burmese women and children. The work, however, is not done. SAW is still in need of funding for its projects. You could help create healthy communities for abandoned and orphaned children and abused women.
This vulnerability opens many of them up to abuse and mistreatment. Women and children are faced with the threat of exploitation and human trafficking. Social Action for Women (SAW) was founded to assist displaced women and children from Burma who are in crisis situations after having fled to Mae Sot, Thailand.
This group provides various programs and services to vulnerable Burmese women and children. It offers shelter, health education, rights awareness, counseling and vocational training. The goal of the program is to empower and improve the mental health and wellbeing of the women in SAW’s shelters.
SAW has developed a strong reputation for its health services both locally and internationally. In 2008, it was one of 25 organizations worldwide to receive the Red Ribbon Award from the United Nations Development Programs for providing outstanding HIV prevention, treatment and education on a grassroots level.
Currently, the organization is renting a number of spaces for shelters; however, this is inefficient. SAW needs to have a centralized location to group programs, dormitories and schools together so the children don’t have to pay for travel. Medical Mercy Canada is raising funds to help SAW buy land to achieve this goal.
MMC has donated over $126,000 over eight years to enable SAW to buy land to develop different programs and locations to help Burmese women and children. The work, however, is not done. SAW is still in need of funding for its projects. You could help create healthy communities for abandoned and orphaned children and abused women.
