Hands up if you want to help Sao
Sao is 13 years old, lives on the Mekong River on the Thai-Laos border. Her family crossed the river 13 years ago desperately broke and searching for food and work.
Rattana and I first met Sow in 2008. We were delivering a ‘Life Choices’ session at her school and she was finishing grade 4. She smiled all day and impressed Rattana and team with her enthusiasm and attention. School staff identified Sow for help.
We have managed to meet with Sao and her family every 8 to 12 weeks. Listening to their story and building trust and understanding is so important and support-plans are always birthed through this process.
Sao’s father collects stones and sometimes earns 60-80baht for 10 hours work. When very young he contracted polio and suffered terrible damage to his legs and back. He cannot work everyday. Her mother also collects stones and makes 60baht when she works 10 hours.
Sao does not have ID papers to live in Thailand. Without proper legal status families from Laos in Thailand find it very difficult to find safe employment and income.
Sao’s house is unfit for human beings. The toilet is dreadful and almost makes me vomit. The entire family is wet during rain and cannot keep mosquitoes from their skin at night. Sao has a younger sister and baby brother.
How do we reduce the risk of exploitation where girls like Sow are targeted and trafficked into the sex trade?
Read the blog tomorrow and find out.
Justin
