Out of desperation, Air would take his children out at night and sift through trash to find recyclables to sell for their next meal. Since joining BSF, this loving single father has now been empowered to provide for the needs of his four children.
Mr. Air is a single father who was struggling to provide for his four children. After his wife walked out and left the family, Air lived in a public area on the edge of a canal in Chiangmai, Thailand. Out of desperation, Air would take his children out at night to collect trash to recycle and earn a little money to buy their meals. Life was difficult and Air was in great need of a sustainable income to support his family.
Air’s main income source was construction work, but he was not hired every day. Even with his trash collecting and recycling, his daily income was insufficient to support his children.
After learning of their challenges, BSF invited Air and his family to join the program in Mae Hia. Air was delighted and began planning with the BSF Project Coordinator for a more sustainable livelihood. Since Air was experienced in construction work, he decided that he would like to provide improved construction services and was supported by BSF with a steel cutting machine and an electric grinder to help him find more work and operate more effectively and efficiently.
To further assist Air’s family, BSF also provided him with 1,000 small catfish to raise in the canal in front of his home, as well as 20 ducks and duck feed. This provides Air with additional income sources to his construction services.
As a result of these interventions, Air has now been receiving more regular construction work and earns a more stable income than in previous years. The catfish and ducks he is raising are growing bigger and he has already begun to sell some catfish to support his family. Air is so grateful for the livelihood assistance and now has enough income to take care of his family.
The BSF Program has also supported Air’s two youngest children with their education by providing them with their tuition fees and school supplies. Air and the children also enjoy attending the monthly training and family fun days together which is an entirely new experience for them and has given them so much joy and many memorable moments.
Air shares, “I am so grateful to BSF for bringing this opportunity along for my family and for helping in various areas of our family life, especially our family’s livelihood. In the past, I have never been able to take my children out on special outings due to my unstable income. Thank you so much BSF for giving us this special gift of becoming a much stronger family."
BSF is a partner for project J1079 & J1102 with Australian NGO, Global Development Group (ABN 57 102 400 993). Donations to BSF through Global Development Group are tax deductible in Australia, NZ, and the USA.