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Leaving Banphai - the power of child sponsorship

22-May-2009

Children take pride in their schooling.

The greatest measure of success for Plan, and for child sponsors, is when we can leave communities once they've reached their development goals.

Plan's work with communities in Banphai, Thailand is an example of how child sponsorship can help children and their communities to break the cycle of poverty.

With the help of Plan's child centred community development programs and more than 8,000 Plan child sponsors, Banphai succeeded in achieving self-sufficiency after almost 20 years.

Plan child sponsors support the path to community sustainability in Banphai, Thailand

 

In 1986

Today

Poor life expectancy:
Over 10% of children died before the age of 5.

 

Healthy children:
Improved healthcare has meant that not one Plan sponsor child under five or their siblings died in the 12 months preceding Plan's phase-out from Banphai.

6km walk to get drinking water:
Children at school had limited access to clean drinking water.

Sustainable clean water system:
Today Banphai's school has a water tank and a filtration system maintained by the community.

Employment options limited:
Women had few opportunities to participate in supporting their families.

Successful women's weaving cooperative:
A natural dye cotton weaving group was established in Banphai in May 2004 and employs women who are now better able to support their children.

Poor school attendance:
School facilities were lacking and attendance was low.

Children take pride in schooling:
Children now finish pre, primary and secondary school in Banphai at the local school built by Plan.

 

With the future for children and their families in Banphai now secure, and communities able to look after their own development, it was time for Plan to move on to help other communities in need.

When you sponsor a child with Plan, you help improve the lives of children and assist their communities to become self-sufficient.