Trafficking Rampant in Schools of Thailand

August 19, 2019

Not Abandoned Responds

According to educators and social services of Thailand's Northeast Region, Isaan, young students are getting recruited into the sex industry at unprecedented levels.

"Prostitution Junior" is utilizing 18-year-olds as pimps, 16-year-old boys as buyers of sex, and 12-year-old girls as the prostituted. These young girls are being massively manipulated by older boys that seem "cool." They take advantage of their normal desire to fit in, to feel of interest to boys and also their parent's pressure to provide financially for their impoverished families.

It's a terrible cocktail of vulnerability.

However, because of your support, Not Abandoned has been reaching a bigger audience this month with trafficking prevention programs through the public school systems...

Our team is now working with 5 different school districts, representing 11,500 students and 1,150 educators weekly.

This in-classroom work includes interactive trafficking prevention media, counseling and new job skills education.

After-school and weekend programs are being held at our nearby center to help train students with early job skills such as budgeting, baking, and business.

Regular meetings are taking place with vulnerable families in their homes in various neighboring villages.

"Will you please come and talk to my parents? They're talking about sending me to Pattaya and I don't want to go there and do that kind of thing."