Clicks for Kids - We are Thailand Bound!

Hi Guys! 

Just a quick update on our family news.

Last year, I was fortunate enough to take a holiday to Thailand and was touched by the living conditions of many people, but particularly the families with young kids like mine.   In the Northern Thailand villages we visited, the living conditions were beyond basic with many families not having even the barest of necessities. 

In (the many) areas that were devastated by the Tsunami, many have not been able to rebuild and live in half demolished houses with no amenities.

Over 15 million people in Thailand live on less than $2.00 a day.   While that amount certainly goes further in Thailand than it does in Australia (!!), it is not enough to look after a family and there is no welfare system.  Of the 2.8 million prostitutes in Thailand, many have been forced or chosen to take this path due to lack of other options.   Young girls in particular are lacking in the education that could make the difference between other employment and entering the sex trade.  The link below gives some good information on the situation in Thailand and what can be done.

http://data.unaids.org/Publications/IRC-pub05/JC466-GirlsVuln_en.pdf

More generally than this, since agriculture has been devalued in Thailand in recent decades, families have looked to other methods to support their families.  Being able to speak English is a valuable commodity for both adults and children, allowing them to gain employment in towns and in the tourism industry.

In February 2010, my family and I have volunteered to work for free in a small village in Nong Khai - Northern Thailand which houses the headquarters of an organization called Open Mind Projects.  It is one of the few organisations recommended by CNN in their ‘Be the Change‘ campaign.  (http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/11/13/btc.ngos/index.html).  

We will be working in the Nursery School and teaching both adults and children English, as well as helping in the production of brochures, websites and other information which they are lacking in order to get their message to a wider community and gain more assistance.

This is a photo from one of the very touristy areas in Thailand, where the Tsunami hit hard.  This is not in the process of being repaired - it is how families are living due to lack of money.

Having a job which pays (comparatively) well is the only way these families are going to get a hand up.  And speaking English is one of the only ways to get such a job.

Thanks to the generosity of Adelaide Photographers, we will be holding a charity auction of shoots donated for this cause.  You will have the chance to bid on a photo shoot for a maternity, baby, family, wedding... and save yourself a bundle - while helping out an excellent cause.

Please visit our Facebook Page - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Clicks-For-Kids/134196199616

and become a fan.  We will keep you updated as new photographers come on board and new items are added to the auction.

BAG A BARGAIN - HELP OUT THOSE LESS FORTUNATE - Did I mention you could grab a bargain??

Lia

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Comments

[Emma Sharkey]

Lovely post Lia :) It's a great cause.
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[Nick Matyas]

Very impressive work. I liked your work. You did very well posting. Good luck with your work. ;)

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[Nick Matyas]

Very informative post. I liked it. Thanks for your posting. :)

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[shayla]

hi my name is shayla how do i find pics of my baby cousin diesel you saw him this week as a newborn.thanks.ps.nice photes.

[Lia Hayes]

Thanks Nick! Hi Shayla, this is my old blog, but Google still sends people over sometimes! Please go to www.liahayesblog.oom, you will find your gorgeous nephew over there!!
Lia