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Thailand

Population: 68.1 million

Life Expectancy: 68.7 years

GDP: US$4116 per capita

Unemployed: 1.2%

11.5% earn less than US$2 per day

Thailand, Asia

THA06c - ITDP - Support of Teachers

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Partnership Overview

Hill tribe people in general do not have access to proper education, especially those without citizenship and living in remote areas. Approximately 80% are illiterate of the Thai language (Information from the Department of Public Welfare: 1993). Since many are still not aware of the value of education, it is difficult to convince hill tribes of all ages the importance of obtaining a proper education so that they will have better opportunities to have improved livelihoods. And, for those that do understand the importance of a good education, they are unable to send their children as a result of poor economic conditions, awareness, and lack of Thai language abilities.

In addition, where there are schools, the Thai government does not provide enough programs that help children develop their learning abilities. School curriculums are not designed correctly according to children's needs and environment. They are not taught to think creatively and solve problems. Teachers do not perform proper teaching activities and are basically absent most of the time. There are no proper study/teaching materials and monitoring/evaluation approaches. Children aged up to 7 years old that attend government school are unable to communicate well in the Thai language and have trouble understanding what teachers are saying. Lack of communication is a big obstacle that keeps children from doing well in local government schools.  Many children leave school because they are placed in classes that are not suitable for their age and knowledge level. All this has played a part in hill tribe children developing wrong social values and inappropriate behaviours. They cannot develop as well as they should and adjust with changes in society, making it difficult to enter Thai society as equals.

Tribal children are generally 1-3 years slower than children who live in towns in terms of their academic intelligence and skills. It is because their parents do not understand much about the development of their children's intelligence and skills. In addition, they do not know how to better improve their children's skills by using the natural resources around them. Parents raise their children depending on their beliefs, education and their economic status. Furthermore, malnutrition in children affects their physical, mental and brain development.

At least 80% of primary aged children in ITDP's targeted areas have few opportunities to study in proper schools.  ITDP is therefore wanting to set up schools and fund teachers to teach these children who would otherwise have no chance of receiving an education. In the evenings these teachers will also provide informal education for the parents of the children. 

History Of Partnership

Since 1990 the Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP) has assisted hill tribe people to cope with the many changes that have taken place in their livelihoods. This has predominantly been through small projects providing special assistance with drinking water, irrigation systems, farming and income generation, fish farming, establishing a Fair-Trade International Coffee Cooperative, self-help groups, and assisting Lahu hostels in areas of capacity building and sustainability. To date, in addition to aiding minority groups in Thailand, ITDP is assisting other countries in the region. More than 250 villages and 6 tribal groups have received assistance from ITDP.

Bright Hope World's association with ITDP commenced in 2005 when we started buying coffee from them and importing it to New Zealand. Since then we have been in regular contact with Mike Mann and have visited Thailand a number of times.  It is therefore exciting to now be able to partner with them in other aspects of their ministry.

Beneficiaries

The direct beneficiaries are the teachers who will receive financial support from this partnership but indirectly hundreds of children (and their parents) will benefit as they receive an education.

What We Like About The Partnership

Educating children is a vital ingredient to lifting these hill tribe people out of their life of poverty.  With an education these village children will have better opportunities to enter Thai society.  They will be able to get citizenship, enter universities and have access to better jobs.

 

Key People

Leadership Profile

Mike and Becky Mann have been providing support to the hill tribe villages in Northern Thailand and surrounding regions since 1990. Mike is from America and is a global consultant for rural development. He serves as director of Integrated Tribal Development Program in Thailand, in addition to consulting around the world. Becky Mann helps tribal farmers and women's groups, and works with parents of special needs children. She also works with Integrated Tribal Development, helping to market Thai coffee. They have four children, Richard, Melanie, Ryan and Robert.

Other People Involved

The various teachers who will receive support from this partnership.

 

Vision And Annual Strategy

1) Children are able to speak, read, and write Thai, up through 6th grade 
2) Primary students from targeted villages are attending and doing well in local government and private schools
3) Children are able to communicate their language, culture, and traditions to other villagers and the next generation 
4) Parents have an increased involvement in their children’s education
5) To improve the literacy rate among adults 

 

Annual Budget

As with the other two ITDP partnerships, the budget here is unlimited really. US$4,840 is required to support one teacher for a year but there are obviously many villages that would benefit from having a teacher.

 

How Can I Help?

We currently do not have any financial donors for this partnership so please contact us if you are interested in investing in the lives of these hill tribe children.