Update from Openaid

Dear Friends,

Everybody involved at Openaid is genuinely passionate about the village-based projects in the northeast of Thailand.  Today, in 14 villages we provide a range of support services and education programs to inspire and help protect vulnerable girls, to keep them from falling prey to human traffickers and abuse in this part of Southeast Asia.

We are doing our very best with the resources we have to help vulnerable girls and their families, to improve their lives.

This year, one young Australian from Melbourne donated $1000 specifically for our village-based projects.  Last week, Baan Nongkanoun community members under the direction of Openaid workers started constructing Aom’s new home, a small besser brick type dwelling which is a far cry from the makeshift old hut with broken walls and floors she lived in!

Aom suffers from physical and mental impairment (affects eyesight and social and intellectual abilities).  Day-to-day functioning is severely restricted and mostly she doesn’t speak or communicate successfully with others.

Phongsok, Aom’s mother, has always had a fantasy of a safe and clean house for Aom.  She told me, “Mosquitoes are everywhere when it rains and water always soaks blankets and clothes.”

We have been supporting families and girls in Nongkanoun village for 2 years, providing ‘Life Choices’ education at their school, microfinance to start income generation projects, and a range of community networking activities with women.  Children from all ages are benefiting, especially girls disadvantaged and less fortunate.

We are extremely proud of the villagers in Nongkanoun who have enthusiastically come together with us to build this new home for Aom and her mother.  Aom’s family earns about 65 baht per day (around $2 AUD) and are obviously unable by themselves to build a safe house for their family.  Projects like this in Thailand and along northeast borders with Laos provide great support and education for vulnerable girls, keeping them in school and away from those who prey on poor families with young daughters.

A young Australian donates $1000 which helps to transform Aom’s life!  I am inspired by this one generous act.  $1000 is all it takes!  We are hoping to be able to progressively build a number of these homes over time as funds become available.  I believe others may be prepared to share the blessings we all have if they really appreciated what a difference their $s can make.

I’m excited to see the first photos of construction progress and will visit Aom again next month when back in Thailand.  If you are not already committed to a work like ours and would like to contribute something to this great program which brings hope and a brighter future for young girls and their families, please contact me on office@openaid.org.au.

Best Regards,

Justin Whitecross, Director