WHY WE DO THIS WORK

There are areas of Thailand where children will leave their homes to work as prostitutes in order to provide for their families.
​
Shared Space For All provides an alternative future.

THE WORK WE DO

Shared Space For All operates on the prevention side of sex work by mentoring and educating the most at-risk children in Thailand. We provide education and opportunity that would not otherwise be available in Isaan. We invest in children
by providing a safe space for learning,
​and qualified adults to teach and mentor. 

HOW WE WORK TOGETHER

Our Thai and American boards work together to
shape the work of Shared Space for All. We believe that
serving the people of Isaan must be culturally responsive and holistic. Our Thai team of local professionals largely guides
the work we do in Isaan, for the greatest benefit
​to the community.

LOCATION MEANS SOMETHING:
ISSAN, THAILAND

Thailand is a thriving, developing country, but the wealth of Bangkok and other tourist areas is not distributed to all. Isaan is the poorest region of Thailand, making its people particularly vulnerable. Many of its young people migrate to city centers for lucrative work, often leaving children behind to be raised by grandparents. Young women are particularly at-risk in this scenario, as the pressure on them to make enough money to provide financially for their extended families makes prostitution a viable choice. Workers from Isaan often end up in high-risk or hard labor employment. They are the servants of Thailand and its tourists. There seems to be systemic consequences to the southern migration of Isaan's workforce, including an elevated rates of school dropout, teen pregnancy, domestic violence, and alcoholism in men. Village children are at-risk to follow in their parents’ footsteps.

​​EDUCATION IS THE KEY

For the children of Isaan, education is a way out of the cycle of poverty and the limitations of ethnic class. It greatly reduces multiple risk factors including teenage pregnancy, domestic violence, and prostitution.  Families who can afford it send their children to larger towns and cities to be educated, but many children are left in the village schools that offer little in terms of educational opportunity. Our focus on teaching children English as a second language, along with mentoring and tutoring, significantly increases the chance of post-secondary education and gainful, low-risk employment. Our teachers-as-mentors model of education provides children positive role models.