THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN
UBON RATCHANTHANI WOMAN'S DESK
NAKHON RATCHASIMA AND NONG PUALUMPHU
Thai women suffer disproportionately from the social and economic factors that cause migration, both internationally and domestically. Because of this, women, or their husbands, and young girls are compelled to leave their village homes and migrate to the cities, and often abroad, seeking employment and money to support their families. Thailand’s notorious sex trade is heavily populated with unskilled and unsophisticated migrant women who are exploited as they are sold and bought as commodities in this trade. Migration bears a large responsibility for the spread of AIDS in Thailand. Understanding is taught as to how AIDS is spread, and how its spread can be prevented. Advocacy for people with AIDS promotes their respect and care in their family’s homes.
The Woman’s Desk provides services to all persons irrespective of ethnic or religious traditions. Efforts are focused towards empowering women to fully utilize their potentials as leaders in their communities. With concrete activities that produce, individually and collectively, self-confidence and independence, women become agents of change to promote reverence for them selves and for the dignity and worth of each individual person. Universal human rights as decreed by the United Nations and rights as conferred under the Constitution of Thailand are taught and advocated. Leadership courses are conducted at all locations, as are savings programs that enable investment for individual or community improvement. For those who wish to review the details of our operations at each location, please click on sites for Bangkok, Ubon Ratchanthani, and Nakhon Ratchasima and Nong Pualumphu. Sister Meg Gallager is Director of the Women’s Desk. She can be be contacted at cmcwdesk@loxinfo.co.th The Catholic Migration Commission Women’s Desk administrative office is located at 232/9 Naret Road, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand. Funding is made possible from local grants and donations and contributions from around the world.
The Bangkok office is the administrative center for all programs. Educational workshops are conducted on women’s issues locally in cooperation with other non-governmental organizations with the focus of empowering women to be independent, self-sustaining, with an understanding factors that can prevent abuse and exploitation. Counseling services are provided as well as assistance in job and housing acquisition. A "Safe Shelter," opened in 1995, with accommodations for eight, give food, shelter and counseling to women arriving in Bangkok from rural villages. During their first few days of settlement, when single women are vulnerable to abuse, help is given to obtain employment and housing. Of interest is their "Savings Program" for low-income Thai workers, which has 56 members who meet regularly and save money together; it trains in basic financial survivor skills in budgeting and accounting principals, encourages the discipline of savings, and provides for investment in their futures.
UBON RATCHANTHANI WOMAN’S DESK
The Office in Ubon Ratchanthani serves a population that is relatively stable. Counseling services are provided and educational workshops are conducted with the focus on empowering women to be leaders in their villages. "Savings – Investment Groups" are organized and developed.
In some of the poorer villages, income generation programs are promoted to assist them with achieving financial independence. Some of these programs are:
NAKHON RATCHASIMA AND NONG PUALUMPHU
In Nakhon Ratchasima and Nong Pualumphu new "Centers for Empowerment of Migrants and Their Families" are providing workshops and counseling in these northeastern areas where there is a high incidence of young people leaving villages to find work. Training tells of Universal Human Rights as prescribed by the United Nations and rights guaranteed under the Constitution of Thailand. Those who plan to migrate abroad are advised of laws in the countries where they will go as well as factors in other cultures that need to be understood. Addresses of resources, such as safe shelters, should help be needed while there, are provided. As migration has brought the spread of AIDS, the teaching of its dangers and means of prevention are essential. Training of families of migrants includes financial sustainability skills. Training and counseling are also given for re-integration into communities of those returning from migrating for jobs elsewhere.
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