We have six ongoing projects in Phang Nga Province in southern Thailand: Children's programs, migrant development programs, women's empowerment, leadership development, documentation and community outreach. Currently, we have 26 staff members, 26 teachers and several volunteers.

1)    Children's programs

Children's programs largely focus on learning centers for elementary-aged children of migrant workers and nurseries for children under five in the coastal area of Takua Pa District, Phang Nga province. Children receive instruction in Burmese, Thai and math, and are provided with free breakfast, a snack and lunch.

Currently, we have five learning centers, 26 teachers and over 500 students. In these centers, instructors and international volunteers teach Burmese, Thai, English and Mathematics. There are also two nurseries serving over 100 children and a community child care center for orphans and separated children. Other children's programs include organized sports, a mobile teaching program serving over 200 children, summer camp, an integration project transitioning Burmese children from learning centers into Thai schools, and the "InSight OUT!" photography program.

2)    Health education

Every week, staff members from Grassroots as well as from partner NGOs provide healthcare at the learning centers and nurseries, including nutritional awareness education. Other health programs include HIV prevention, family planning and medical treatment for the migrant worker community.

3)    Migrant development programs

Core components include job support/creation, emergency assistance, mobile teaching, temporary shelters for at-risk families, legal aid, community organizing and human rights training. Grassroots is working to increase job availability for migrant workers, and we also provide migrants with transportation to their worksites as well as materials and tools needed for their jobs. Emergency assistance is provided to migrants who cannot legally use Thai services (hospitals, etc.) and who don't have relatives nearby. For example, in case of accidents, hospitalization, and labor rights violations (unpaid wages), Grassroots provides migrants with support that includes money, food, shelter and transportation. We also offer a mobile teaching program serving over 110 adult migrant workers remotely.

4)    Women's empowerment

Women's empowerment has two parts: healthcare and women's rights education. Vocational training is also provided, as well as classes in English, Thai and Burmese, domestic violence prevention and women's rights awareness.

5)    Leadership development

Grassroots offers administrative internships for young adults, which includes language tutoring, computer training and human rights training. We also provide teacher training programs and management training for staff, teachers and community leaders.

6)    Documentation

The demographics of Burmese migrant workers living in Phang Nga province in Thailand are sketchy at best. Therefore, we are collecting data on migrant workers in the area, which can be used to provide better support and plan future projects for Burmese migrants. We also document human rights violations among the migrant community.

7)   Community outreach

Thai people as well as Burmese people have misconceptions about one another despite sharing a part of history and a border. We feel that it is vital for both to build the bridge between Thai and Burmese people. Grassroots is working to build that bridge by developing relationships with the Thai community as well as local, provincial and national authorities.