Support Hilltribe Children Asia.

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At this site we want to give information about the hilltribe children, especially in Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Laos and Vietnam, on the background and purpose of the foundation and about the project where the foundation is dedicated.

Hill tribes children Asia.

Hill tribes live in the mountainous regions of Northern Thailand, in Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. They originate primarily from Tibet, Middle and Southern China and Myanmar. Each of the tribes has its own language, culture, religion and characteristic dress features. Main tribes are the Akha, the Lhisu, the Hmong, the Karen (well known for the women with long necks), the Lahu and the Mien. They are minorities in the national states they live in, do not have the nationality of those states, and thus can not exercise rights connected to the nationality of these states, in particular regarding housing, education, healthcare and welfare. Generally speaking their standard of living is low. Alcoholism and drug addiction are common.

In the region where Myanmar borders Northern Thailand the power of the central Myanmar regime is limited. Fore years the Shan are fighting a long lasting and fierce battle with government. Meanwhile local drug lords are fighting between each other. Hill tribe people fall victim to all the ongoing fighting and many of them cross the border into the mountains in the north of Thailand. Yet, having arrived there, they do not or barely speak the language, are not entitled to a Thai identification card, can not possess plots of land nor can they

lay claim to education or health care, Their dwellings are primitive: thatched bamboo huts, if they are lucky a bit of corrugated iron. As ever, the children are the main victims of this situation. Many of the families are incomplete, one or both parents fallen victim to the warfare, alcoholism or drug addiction. Sufficient means to bring up the children in a way fit for a human being are lacking. The children are left to their fate, some of the older move to the cities and live on the street. Some, the lucky ones, ar being taken into an orphanage.

Asia's Hope.

In Doi Saket, 20 kilometres north of Chiang Mai into the direction of Chiang Rai, an orphanage can be found called Asia's Hope. Here some hundred hill tribe children from various tribes are being taken care of. The orphanage's mother is called Khun Tutu. Only two years ago the orphanage existed of two large thatched bamboo huts on an open plot. In the rainy season the water stood centimetres high on the floor of the huts. Vermin had free access.

Stichting Support Hilltribe Children Asia	Address in Thailand:
Sarphatipark 23 hs	Stichting Support Hilltribe Children Asia Co.,Ltd
1073 CP Amsterdam, The Netherlands	249/22, M.9, Soi Sukrudee
+31 20 470 7362	Nongprue, Banglamung, 20150, Chonburi
Kvk 34300451	+66 89 922 1467
ABN AMRO 45.77.79.969	TMB 538-2-07819-3

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