The
Ayui Foundation, Chiang Rai, Thailand
The
Ayui Foundation is a non-profit organization
based in Chiang Rai. Its mission is to provide practical
support, educational opportunities and a safe environment
for Akha hill tribe young people, who are one of
the most disadvantaged ethnic minority groups in
Thailand.
The
Foundation focuses on three areas of disadvantage
among the Ahka: access to education, lack of citizenship
and familial social problems. IF has provided one
year of financial support and continues to provide
technical support to improve the governance of the
Foundation, as requested.
This
support includes a review of current governance
arrangements and ongoing assistance to improve specific
areas of operations including strategic planning,
contingency and risk management procedures and operating
budgets.
Context
The Akha people are semi-nomadic South East Asian
hill tribe people originiating from Mongolia up to
1500 years ago. Today, Akha people live mostly in
China (Yunnan Province), Burma, Laos, and northern
Thailand. Their overall population is around 450,000
with an estimated 60,000 living in Thailand. Many
of the Akha people who live in Thailand have fled
civil unrest and persecution in Burma only to find
they are not welcome in Thailand.
Many
Akha, even those born in Thailand, are denied citizenship
rights, which precludes them from land ownership,
access to legitimate work, and legal protection. Of
all the hill tribes in northern Thailand, the Akha
people are least educated and most at risk from the
poverty cycle. According to a 1998 study, the literacy
rate in their first language (Akha) is between 1%
and 5% and between 1% and 50% in their second language
(Thai).
Other
long term social problems include a history of opium
farming, which has brought with it a legacy of drug
use and trafficking, HIV/AIDS, child prostitution,
child trafficking and abuse. While many hill tribe
people have moved into farming other crops, there
is still a stigma attached to the Akha people.
Partner
since: 2008
Project
Manager: Mary Mertin Ryan
Liaison Officer: Sumalee Milne
Consultant: Julianne Crowley
The
Project
IF originally provided one year of core funding to
The Ayui Foundation (TAF) enabling TAF to:
-
fund ongoing hostel expenses
-
support to review the Ayui Foundation documentation
including a review of constitution/documents/objectives
etc. and advice on volunteer management
-
support
the Foundation’s longer term strategic planning.
Funding: $AUD5000 for 2008 + ongoing technical support
on governance
Activities
The
Ayui Foundation manages a hostel called ‘Baan
Ayui’ which supports up to fifteen young hilltribe
children. Currently there are thirteen young people,
both female and male, aged from 11-17 living in the
hostel with the two house parents, Tip and Lek.
The
hostel provides a loving, safe and long-term home
environment and supports the emotional, physical and
social development of young hilltribe people. The
focus of the hostel is to provide the young people
with a chance to complete their education while living
in a supportive environment.
All
the young people attend school and have their educational
and living costs covered. Additionally they have access
to tutoring, mentoring and support. Local teacher
–parent meetings were held recently and these
revealed how well the children were doing at school.
The Ayui Foundation is supporting the House Mother
to complete her schooling, providing an important
role model for the children (and supports the Foundation’s
core belief that education can break the cycle of
poverty).
Each
week Sumalee Milne hosts discussion groups with the
children. The focus is on exploring issues around
gender roles, decision making, bullying and other
teenage concerns. Important topics are openly discussed
with the older kids ensuring they are aware and educated
about HIV/AIDS, the sex industry, and people and drug
trafficking.
Additionally
the Ayui Foundation seeks out opportunities to profile
the challenges faced by the Akha people particularly
around lack of citizenship. The young people at the
hostel are supported to navigate the processes of
gaining citizenship.
Governance
Review
As the Foundation is in the third year of operations
it was timely to review the organisation’s governance.
The organisation in the first two years of operation
focused on raising enough funds to ensure the hostel’s
viability. Moving into the third year the Foundation
has secured a number of ongoing supporters and while
financial security is still a major issue for the
Director and Board there is ‘space’ to
begin to reflect on other elements of the organisation’s
operations. Therefore, recently IF has funded a capacity
building visit to support the governance and management
of the organisation.
This
support includes a review of current governance arrangements
and ongoing assistance to improve specific areas of
operations including strategic planning, contingency
and risk management procedures and operating budgets.
Mary
Mertin-Ryan, as a member of the IF Management Committee,
in undertaking this visit has provided a catalyst
for a review and to take stock of the achievements.
Mary
held discussions with the Board, Sumalee Milne, and
the house parents as well as some of the young people
in the hostel. She surveyed the stakeholders and is
compiling a report for the Foundation. Mary will provide
ongoing support to implement the recommended changes.
Successes
Mary
noted that, “the very small Board, and until
recently very limited staff capacity, has done an
amazing job in providing a wonderful home and a future
for the Akha young people. Running on a tight budget
and with wonderful supervision and support from the
house parents, this has changed the lives of these
children and raises awareness of the challenges of
the Akha hilltribe people at a broader level.”
If
you would like more information please contact the
project
manager at indigo.foundation@bigpond.com.
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