Dao will never fall for mamasan Fon's sweet talk
Years ago, Fon (not her real name) left her village in Mae Lao District (Chiang Rai) after she was sold to a businessman. Recently she returned and established herself as mamasan (whore madam). She tries to win over girls with nice talk about the capital they can earn by going to work elsewhere. Some fall for it, but not Dao.
"If someone asks me if I'm interested in working elsewhere, I assume he or she is a human trafficker, because there are a lot of them here," says Dao, 15, who lost her parents a few years ago. “When girls leave, we know they're going into the sex business. When they come back, they have earned enough money to build a new house for their parents. That sounds good, but the reality behind it is not as beautiful as it seems.'
Dao is one of XNUMX children receiving a scholarship from the Sold Project, a charity that aims to prevent child prostitution and reduce the likelihood of boys and girls becoming victims of human trafficking.
Sold Project not only gives a study grant, but also keeps an eye on the children
Sold Project was founded in 2007 by a group of Americans and Thais who wanted to make a documentary about human trafficking. During production, they decided to help a child who was at high risk of being trafficked. There are now 150, and 20 are added every year. Often children who have lost their parents and live with relatives or children from poor families in which little value is attached to education. Not only can they now work on their future, but Sold Project is also watching them.
“The scholarships are meant to keep them in school and at the same time it allows us to stay in touch with them so we know what risks they are facing,” says Tawee Donchai, one of the founders.
The elephant program makes the children resilient; it relieves their stress
Sold Project has recently become the program in collaboration with the Golden Triangle Elephant Foundation Elephants for Kids started. Initially a day out, the project has developed into a training program to become a mahout. The children learn to give commands, they learn how to feed and bathe the animals, what the role of a mahout is, how to interact with elephants and they are taught about the importance of conservation.
'It makes them resilient,' says Tawee. It gives them strength and confidence. At first they are afraid of elephants. They hardly dare to touch an elephant. But now they have come to know the animals. Somehow their stress is relieved by their experiences with elephants. Stress that may be caused by society, family, and so on. When they return from the elephant camp, they are much more outgoing.'
Dao confirms Tawee's words. 'In the beginning I found elephants very frightening. But now I think they are one of the most beautiful animals I have ever encountered. I wash them and talk to them. And they understand my language. Handling elephants gives me more courage and confidence. I think it makes me feel stronger.'
(Source: bangkok mail, March 18, 2013)
The Golden Triangle Elephant Foundation has a bank account with Siam Commercial Bank, No. 639-229093-5. The Sold Project has an account with the Bangkok Bank, no. 629-022035-6 in the name of Tawee Donchai and Ruttikarn Chermua.