Updated: March 2009
Thailand
Overview | World Vision's history in Thailand | World Vision in Thailand today
OverviewLocated in Southeast Asia, Thailand shares a border to the east with Cambodia and Laos, to the south with Malaysia, and to the west with Myanmar. Prior to 1939 and during the period from 1945 to 1949, the country was known as Siam. The new name of Thailand means “the land of the free.” Bangkok, the capital and home to more than 6.3 million people, was established in 1782.The agricultural sector in Thailand accounts for 49 percent of income sources for Thais. Agricultural outputs include rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, and soybeans. As the country’s richest natural resource, the fertile central plain in the Chao Phraya basin produces 5.2 million tons of rice annually. Thailand also produces much of the world’s tin and contributes to the rubber, lead, natural gas, and timber markets. In addition, tourism is one of Thailand’s leading industries. Thailand’s population has more than doubled since 1960. Improvements in health care have reduced the death rate; however, the birthrate remains high. About 75 percent of the population is ethnic Thai; the balance is comprised of ethnic Chinese and Malays. Thai is the official language, though Malay, Chinese, Lao, and other languages also are spoken. English is used sparsely in Thailand, usually as the second language of the wealthy. Theravada Buddhism is practiced by 95 percent of the population. Thailand has never experienced foreign rule, though the British gained a foothold in the region in 1824. By 1896, however, Thailand was guaranteed independence. Coup attempts, war, and ongoing conflicts with neighboring Cambodia and Vietnam have been a mainstay throughout the nation’s history. Additionally, Thailand’s economy, once one of the strongest in the region, collapsed under the weight of foreign debt in 1997. This set off a chain reaction sparking the Asian currency crisis. The country’s economy slowly improved after a $17 billion bailout by the International Monetary Fund. Today, Thailand has the 12th best unemployment rate in the world at 1.7 percent. |  |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The country has a warm, tropical climate most of the year, affected by an annual monsoon, with a rainy season from June to October and a dry season the rest of the year. On December 26, 2004, a tremendously powerful tsunami, triggered by a 9.0 earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, ravaged 12 Asian countries. Thailand reported nearly 3,900 casualties, with another 2,800 missing and presumed dead. More than 3,300 homes were destroyed and 1,500 were damaged. The country’s total damage estimates ran nearly $2.5 billion. In the fall of 2006, disputes stemming from a debated election continued to build, leading to a military coup in September. Martial law was granted for a time, but the junta responsible for the coup was ousted in early 2007, and a permanent constitution was set up. Today, Thailand has fully returned to democratic elections. The current government now looks toward helping to fight human trafficking, which has plagued the country for years, and help stem the still small but growing epidemic of HIV and AIDS. Back to top World Vision’s history in ThailandPastors conferences in 1959 and 1960 ushered in World Vision’s first ministry to the people of Thailand. A grant in 1971 provided funding for the construction of the Udorn Orphanage, and in 1973, a field office was opened in Bangkok. After Cambodia fell to the Khmer Rouge in 1975, relief funds were channeled to help thousands of refugees who fled to Thailand. Placed in camps established by the Thai government, many people later immigrated to other countries. Thousands remained, however, and the camps developed into small communities. Trained health workers offered vocational training and helped families plant vegetable gardens. In late 1982, the management of these programs transferred to the Mennonites and the International Red Cross.During the 1970s, World Vision launched a child sponsorship program, offering hope to more than 1,100 children in 56 homes operated by the Evangelical Church of Thailand, the Christian Church of Thailand, and others. A project for youth in the Klong Toey slums of Bangkok was established through the construction of a youth center. By the end of 1979, 8,020 children were sponsored in 77 projects. Other programs included distribution of relief supplies to refugees, vocational training, agricultural improvement, water development, and economic development. The Child Relief Project, located in remote areas of the north, enabled nearly 1,500 children from poor families to attend school. They received tuition, books, and other necessary school supplies. The Theological Education by Extension Program trained pastors and elders in northeast Thailand to teach other local church leaders. Students grew in Bible knowledge and improved in basic ministry skills. The program reached people in several refugee camps, emphasizing doctrine and practical Christian living. From 1980 through 1989, more than 30,000 children in 175 sponsorship projects received education, health care, and vocational and income-generation training. World Vision continued to provide emergency response to the tense and volatile situation between Thailand and Cambodia. Thousands of people fled into Thailand when the fighting escalated. During this period there were eight development projects providing nutrition and community health education, improved food production, vocational training, rehabilitation, and counseling. Three evangelism projects offered Bible scholarships to students committed to fulltime ministry. Child care, development, and relief continued to be of major concern in the 1990s. Project managers trained local church leaders, offered community development, strengthened urban ministries by working with pastors and church leaders, and responded with flood relief packages and counseling. The Pa Pai Pattana Sponsorship Development Project promoted potential village leaders through skills training and management instruction to prepare them to implement their own development plan within their community. The project included education for 100 children, professional skills training, and a health-care program providing children with nutritious lunches, village health volunteer training, and vaccinations. The Chaing Rai Flood Relief Project assisted children and families affected by tropical storm Harry through the provision of medical care, food, and clothing. Sponsored children were moved from their flooded hostel to a temporary shelter. Sixty girls from the community were also relocated to a safer place as the existing facilities were under the flood waters. Rehabilitation assistance was offered to the area to help rebuild lives.Back to top World Vision in Thailand todayWorld Vision is committed to partnering with the people of Thailand to enhance their lives today and to help enact sustainable solutions for the future of their communities, families, and children. Currently, 124,672 children are registered in the World Vision sponsorship program. Several times this number of children and other family members benefit from World Vision activities. Of these registered children, many have World Vision sponsors in other countries. U.S. donors sponsor 15,760 girls and boys. In addition, World Vision operates 79 development programs, 14 of which are supported by U.S. donors. Highlights of these efforts include the following:
Back to top | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Newsletter Sign-Up
World Vision
Phone: 1-888-511-6548
P.O. Box 9716
Federal,WA 98063-9716
© 2009 World Vision Inc.
- Fraud Alert
- Our Mission
- Trustworthy
Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability
Accredited Charity
Charity Navigator Your Guide To Intelligent Giving
- Careers
- FAQs