J858 Project Justice International

The Situation

In Chiang Rai, Northern Thailand, educational opportunities are still limited based on geographical location, poverty, substance abuse, etc. 49% of ethnic children do not complete primary school, which leads to a high risk of trafficking and exploitation. Child traffickers have one purpose: to exploit the young for their own gain. They prey on vulnerable people groups, families in the grip of desperate poverty and hardship. They use force, coercion and deception to procure young lives. The children may be victims of forced labour, sex trafficking and exploitation, and child pornography. Employment for young adults and poverty is still an issue.

This project is focused on alleviating poverty, lack of education and unemployment in Chiang Rai and Northern Thailand through various programs and projects. It recognizes that many young adults, children and families have few options to improve their lifestyle and future, and often continue to live within a cycle of abuse, disempowerment and poverty. It sees the need for sustainable options for education, employment and community development for the vulnerable of this area. 

The Objectives

1. Children from at risk situations and poverty-stricken communities are educated and empowered through individual education scholarships. These children are empowered to progress through different levels of learning, achieving primary, secondary, university, and vocational stages of education.
2. By analysing each situation individually, the majority of children receiving educational scholarships will remain within their natural family unit. This concept builds Family unity and the importance of families taking responsibility and partnering with their child’s educational journey.
3. Rescue operations aimed at rescuing children from legitimate, legally recognised cases of child trafficking and child exploitation, throughout connections with the local and international police authorities.
4. The Child Protection Network continues to grow and expand, with new leaders in the remote village communities having the ability to access Project Justice staff and our hotline to report suspicious situations.
5. Providing work opportunities and upskilling programs for teenagers and young adults who had missed too many years of government schooling to be re-enrolled via the Vocational Training Program.
6. Children from at risk communities are educated on methods and tactics traffickers are using to exploit children via the prevention programs.
7. Facilitation of construction courses, welding, hairdressing, farming, and other skills-based training that can improve overall income and job possibilities via the Vocational Training Program.