When memories of hardship return, Khiaing Zar Myint, the mother of 9-year-old Theetat, recounts the most difficult time her family has faced: “When the flood came, we were in this house. I remember it was very tough. Our family had to evacuate and stay at the temple for over a month because the floodwaters were high. Our house was severely damaged.”
Theetat’s family are migrant workers from Mandalay, Myanmar, who have been working in Thailand for many years. Before the flood, they had a relatively stable life. Khiaing Zar Myint and her husband worked as employees at a hotel in Chiang Rai. Their income allowed them to support their children and ensure that the oldest son could go to school. They lived a happy life.
“Thank you for giving me these school supplies. I will study hard,” Theetat says smiling.
Sirima Wungpa, Programme Manager, is handing over school supplies to children.
But their happiness was suddenly interrupted when the major flood swept through northern Thailand, damaging their home. The hotel where they worked was also flooded and could no longer operate, leaving her and her family zero income.
“All our household items were damaged. I could not work because the hotel was flooded. It was very difficult with no income, especially now that we have another young child. Only my husband could go out to work to support the family,” Khiaing Zar Myint says with a voice tinged with worry.
Khiaing Zar Myint and her family at the handover of bedding supported by the Northern Floods Recovery Project
To alleviate the hardship of affected families, World Vision Thailand, supported by Unicef Thailand, has implemented the Northern Floods Recovery Project.
Students have been supported with school supplies so they can return to their studies as usual. Over 1,700 students in Chiang Rai, Nan, and Mae Hong Son provinces have received necessary school supplies.
More than 1,700 school children in Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son and Nan provinces have received assistance with school supplies so they can return to school as usual.
In addition to providing school supplies, World Vision Thailand’s Northern Floods Recovery Project has also supported affected people through various interventions. These include providing household items, repairing damaged homes and schools, educating about disaster preparedness, and promoting accountability mechanisms that allow affected people to easily share their complaints or feedback with World Vision Thailand through different channels.
Promoting communication channels for affected people to file complaints or feedback to World Vision Thailand is part of the implementation of the Northern Floods Recovery Project.
This initiative is another important ministry of World Vision Thailand, supported by our partner, which aims to improve the quality of life for vulnerable children and their families. It provides them with opportunities to recover from disasters and strongly move forward. Not only are school supplies delivered to the children, but also encouragement and a ray of hope to help them and their families start anew.
“Thank you for these school supplies for us!” Children express their gratitude with cute little voices.
