Chon Buri centre for abused and trafficked children struggles amid Covid crisis
Thailand, like much of Southeast Asia, has long wrestled with human trafficking issues. According to the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report, June 2016, vulnerable “persons are trafficked into Thailand for forced labor or sexual exploitation and Thai nationals are trafficked abroad for the same reasons.”
Among the most vulnerable are children. Pisorn Noja, director of the Centre for Human Trafficking in Children and Abused Children in the Chon Buri area (Baan Kruja), spoke with Thai media about the severe negative impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the centre, resulting in vastly reduced support from the overall community. He told the press that due to government policy, at this time people who would normally be travelling to donate and support to the centre are not allowed to enter and see the work they do, leading to significantly less donation revenue and overall support.
Noja says that because the centre is closed out of fear of infection and the spread of Covid-19, the children are confined indoors and aren’t allowed to go participate in the various activities usually organised for them, like various training and classes to promote their self development. He says Baan Kruja was growing vegetables and teaching the children how to farm, which was helping offset any current problems with the ongoing Covid-19 situation.
He is appealing for donations of rice, dry food and second hand clothes and money. saying that although people won’t be allowed to enter the centre or interact with the children, that staff can be called to collect all donations during the current crisis.
There are 42 children, the vast majority having come from abusive homes and bad situations, currently living at the centre. The centre currently has funds for the remaining semester, but is gravely concerned about the future due to the impact Covid-19 has had on the community at large.
The centre was founded in 2008 and has been helping abused and trafficked children for 13 years now. It still has regular donations and support from various individuals and groups, but due to the crisis a shortfall in the usual support is trying to ensure that the community as a whole knows who they are and remembers those who especially need help during the Covid-19 Coronavirus crisis.
Donations can be made in person at the Baan Kruja center, located at Village 7 in the Nong Prue Subdistrict, Banglamung, Chonburi province.
SOURCE: The Pattaya News | STVPattaya
