According to the report from a meeting titled “ Bridging the Gap: Thailand’s Path to Inclusive Prosperity” by NESDC and the World Bank (2023), many of the provinces in South Thailand face “persistent poverty”. Our foundation is located in the poorest area in Thailand, and we also find that the common problems in our province are lack of opportunities and activities for students, early marriage and drug problems, low education level, and low family income.
For a decade, SEEDS members in Thailand have championed the transformative power of sports for the urban environment, recognizing its positive impact on youth development. We’ve seen firsthand how engaging in sports not only builds athletic skill but transcends the playing field by helping them in other aspects of their lives as well.
Recently our SEEDS’ consultant working in partnership with Hasanuddin University in Makassar (Indonesia) was interviewed by one of his students who is part of a journalist team publishing the internal university’s magazine on student life. The main objective was to learn about his educational and professional background but also why he came to Indonesia and how the partnership started with Hasanuddin University.
Tracking, Training, Treatment, Transportation, and Trust.
These are the five elements of a cooperative program between the Jembatan TCB Kampar tuberculosis (TB) initiative and members of Indonesian village communities, local government, and private health facilities.
The first four “T” words can be quantified, but how does one measure Trust?
A new village warmly opened its doors to our foundation, allowing us to hold English activities for the local children. With the help of village volunteers and a few foreign volunteers, we spent time preparing the space and planning the program. There was excitement in the air as we got ready to welcome the kids.On the day of the event, thirty children showed up with curious eyes and hopeful smiles. Many of them had lost their fathers, and some were completely orphaned, now living with relatives.
In 2023, a SEEDS worker engaged with a local healthcare training with other national partners. One of the training modules involved checking basic eyesight, and giving an assessment about presbyopia before providing reading glasses to the community.
Many university students want to learn English not only to meet foreigners but also to study abroad one day and continue their postgraduate studies. One of the main universities in the city and the entire province of West Sumatra is the University in Padang where the Faculty of Humanities has the Department of English for university students.
At the end of November 2024, it rained so heavily in the southernmost provinces of Thailand that it flooded like never before. Some elderly people said that they haven’t experienced such a severe flood in their life-time. Streets and houses that usually don’t get flooded, were flooded this year. Many streets were flooded, so people could only wade through water to shops.
“Kahla” has been coming to the children’s reading and play group for several years. Initially, she was very shy and would rarely talk to anyone. Now that she is starting school, her mother is working on teaching her to read. However, they cannot afford to buy books for her. Kahla’s mother is very appreciative to be able to come to the Window to the World Library and borrow books to help Kahla learn.
When SEEDS met Mrs. Yakeen in 2013, she was blind. Severe cataracts obstructed both eyes, but she was fearful of the surgery needed to restore vision. SEEDS partnered with a local foundation in Riau, Indonesia, and sent health workers to Mrs. Yakeen’s isolated village. For months, they encouraged her to give the healthcare system a chance, and she agreed to treatment for her left eye. It was a success. Mrs. Yakeen proudly declared to neighbors that she could see, and others followed her example. Several villagers sought