Check out our new online digital viewbook to learn more about the "LLU Experience."

<READ MORE>

Saving the children

Faculty of Religion professor becomes involved in protecting Thailand's young children


Girls who are at the greatest risk are those in the remote areas of Thailand who have completed sixth grade.

Ladawan Wongsriwong, deputy secretary general to the prime minister of Thailand, traveled to California in March. Here she shares the work of her foundation

Boonthong Laitipaya and his wife, Somluck (left), from the Thai Adventist Church helped coordinate cooperation with the community. Mrs. Wongsriwong is in the center.

Ladawan Wongsriwong, deputy secretary general to the prime minister of Thailand, traveled to California in March. Here she shares the work of her foundation.

Children from poor families like these girls from the village of Laolur, Thailand, are at risk to be sold to owners of brothels and massage parlors.

Loma Linda University and Medical Center have helped make a dream come true for Chinese philanthropist Sir Run Run Shaw.

When most 11-year-olds are playing with toys and spending time with friends, children from the northern and northeastern remote forest areas of Thailand--the two poorest regions in the country--are being sold to brothels or massage parlors. These families are very poor and some of them do not have the proper documents required by the government--thus their rights are limited.

More than 800,000 children (of whom approximately 20,000 are boys) below the age of 16 are forced to work as prostitutes in Thailand; about 200,000 of these children are under the age of 12. It is common for young girls from China (the Yunnan province) and Burma to be sold to brothel owners in Thailand and other countries. Though illegal, this $4-billion-a-year business which involves airlines, tour operators, and the sex industry, will not easily go away.

In the remote northern Thai province of Phayao, girls who are at the greatest risk are those who have completed primary school (sixth grade). Until recently, they were not required to remain in school. Throughout the year, but mainly during the months of April and May--the holiday season--brothel owners from Bangkok and other major cities go to the areas to buy innocent children.

"Parents of these girls have little to no education and are desperate for money," points out Siroj Sorajjakool, PhD, MA, associate professor of religion, Faculty of Religion, and overseas coordinator for the Young Northern Women's Development Foundation.

"They make deals with loan sharks, who charge 100 percent interest on loans for things like fertilizer, just so they can keep up their crops. They are told that they can repay their loans quicker if their child goes to the city and works at a restaurant or as a domestic worker."

During the summer of 1999, Dr. Sorajjakool met Ladawan Wongsriwong, deputy secretary general to the prime minister of Thailand, an advocate for the rights of women and children. "A few years ago, I was visiting Laolur [in northern Thailand]," remembers Dr. Sorajjakool. "An 11-year-old girl named Ju came to me and told me that her parents were going to sell her. Since then, the prevention of child prostitution has been an issue in which I wanted very much to be involved.

"The name Ladawan Wongsriwong kept coming to my mind. I was very impressed with the projects she was involved in. What was most appealing to me was the fact that her projects seek to prevent the most vulnerable group of children from being sold into prostitution. These are mainly families that are poor and/or have a history of prostitution."

He continues, "When I returned from Thailand I spoke with Dr. Winslow [Gerald Winslow, PhD, dean, Faculty of Religion], who supported me in my endeavor to aid in the mission of the foundation. I also spoke to members of the Thai Seventh- day Adventist Church who were also very eager to help."

Ladawan Wongsriwong, a native of the province of Phayao, saw the importance of putting an end to the trafficking of innocent children. She formed and is president of the Young Northern Women's Development Foundation.

The foundation offers the opportunity for further education and vocational training for underprivileged girls from the northern provinces to improve their quality of life. More specifically, the foundation's goal is to use education to discourage girls from entering into prostitution, either voluntarily or involuntarily.

Mrs. Wongsriwong initiated the pilot project in her native province which at the time had the highest number of children being sold for prostitution. Now the Thai government has implemented the program, but more than 50 percent are still not covered by this plan. They are also working on making it mandatory for children to finish high school.

"The scholarship program sponsors the children for three years of continued education," states Dr. Sorajjakool.

When she first introduced the project, parents were resistant to the plan. Having no idea what their children go through, they say, "What's the problem, we just send our kids away so they can make money to help the family."

"Parents are offered a one-week educational plan where Mrs. Wongsriwong takes them to the red light district in Bangkok," says Dr. Sorajjakool. "The parents are told to walk through and see what would happen to their children if they were there. She invites them to listen to stories told by children who were sold into prostitution and rescued. She even takes them to a temple where AIDS patients tell their stories."

Mrs. Wongsriwong came to California in March of 1999 and shared her mission with School of Public Health students during their chapel program. Through the efforts of David R. Larson, DMin, PhD, professor of religion, Faculty of Religion, she also spoke to members of the Association of Adventist Forums and the Association of Adventist Women. As a result of suggestions gathered from these meetings, a new law that increases punishment for those taking advantage of women and young girls will be enforced. This will include foreign visitors to Thailand.

Patricia L. Jones, PhD, RN, professor of nursing and chair of the LLU International Nursing Council, also offered her perspectives to Mrs. Wongsriwong on this issue.

"This trip has been beneficial in many ways," Dr. Sorajjakool remarks. "Many Thai associations promised to provide continued support through fundraising for this project. Mrs. Wongsriwong will also be working with the Coalition Against Trafficking of Women through the Thai Adventist Church to influence government action that will protect women who have been forced into prostitution."

According to Dr. Sorajjakool, the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Loma Linda University are known among Thai communities as organizations that take an active role in the prevention of child prostitution in Thailand.

"On many occasions Mrs. Wongsriwong, a Buddhist, made known her desire to incorporate Christian principles in her community development strategies," reveals Dr. Sorajjakool. "She is deeply impressed with the Adventist Church and Loma Linda University for taking active and supportive roles in this project."

[Top]