thailand Archives - Safe Child Thailand

This week is Safe Child Thailand’s inaugural Global Run. Throughout the week, runners from around the world are running/walking in support of Safe Child Thailand’s work to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children across Thailand. Runners are aiming to collectively run the length of Thailand – 1,024 miles!

With the kick-off of the week-long run this week, it’s an honour to share a special message from the Ambassador of Thailand to the United Kingdom in support of the Global Run and all participating runners:

”Dear Participants,

I wish to extend my heartfelt support to all those participating in Safe Child Thailand’s Global Run, a commendable virtual event that goes beyond borders to make a positive impact on our world. Your dedication to run 1,024 miles which is the length of Thailand to raise funds for vulnerable children in Thailand showcases the power of philanthropy in the current VUCA and BANI world in which we all live.

As you set your own running and fundraising goals, please remember that every step you take will contribute to a brighter future for those in need. Your efforts will help thousands of vulnerable children in Thailand to grow up in safe and nurturing environments with their loving families and communities, enabling them to reach their full potential and to mature into responsible adults. I salute each and every one of you for your dedication.

Thank you for being champions of change. Your passion and commitment will help create a better world for generations to come. I wish you all an incredible Global Run.”

Thani Thongphakdi

Ambassador of Thailand to the United Kingdom”

Helping communities impacted by the virus in Thailand.

Thailand has been cited as a success story in containing the coronavirus outbreak, having gone more than 40 days without any local transmission of Covid-19.

Yet its economic outlook is grim and according to World Bank Poverty projections the social and economic impacts of COVID-19 are likely to be significant.

The service sector is a main component of the Thai economy (including hotel and restaurant sectors) accounting for 24.9%[i]. The country is also very dependent on exports; accounting for more than two-thirds of the country’s GDP[ii].

With annual tourist arrivals forecast to drop to 8 million, just one-fifth of last year’s total, analysts such as The Bank of Thailand forecast deep contractions for Thailand’s economy this year. This is to be Thailand’s biggest GDP decline ever, surpassing even its plunge during the Asian financial crisis two decades ago.

The government responded early to the crisis, by introducing a stimulus package. This includes provisions to protect employment earnings. But there are major challenges in reaching out to the most vulnerable. To apply for the income support, people have to access the internet and hold a saving account. This, and 47% of 15-year-olds in rural areas being functionally illiterate, has excluded all too many of those from the poorest communities.

Even before the coronavirus outbreak, Thailand remained one of the most unequal societies in Southeast Asia. More alarmingly, Thailand topped the world ranking in terms of its wealth gap. In 2018 the bottom 50% of Thais had only 1.7% share in the country’s wealth. The coronavirus outbreak will only deepen these existing inequalities. If Thailand’s economic history offers any guide, income distribution will worsen in the coming months.

Poverty forces people to make unbearably tough choices. With a dark economic outlook, rising inequality and poverty the most common reason parents choose to put children into care, sadly, the year ahead will see many more children at risk.

[i] “Thailand at a glance”. Bank of Thailand. 2013.

[ii] 16.316 trillion baht (US$505 billion) in 2018

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‘Every step you take will contribute to a brighter future’ – A Statement from Ambassador Thani Thongphakdi in support of SCT’s Global Run

The Economic Impact of Covid-19 on Thailand’s Children

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