By The Life Skills Development Foundation (TLSDF) or RakDek in Thai.
Permit number T. 312/2541 issued by the Registrar of Lamphun Province.
Background
In Northern Thailand, many migrant, stateless, and vulnerable children grow up facing extreme poverty, unsafe housing, family instability, and limited access to healthcare and education. Through TLSDF’s Living Fund, children in crisis receive urgent support such as food, formula milk, school supplies, medical transportation, clothing, and emergency protection. By working closely with local communities, teachers, and volunteers, TLSDF helps children stay safe, healthy, and connected to care during the most difficult moments of their lives.
Challenge
Thousands of children in Northern Thailand live in highly vulnerable conditions due to poverty, migration, lack of citizenship status, neglect, or family crisis. Many migrant and ethnic minority families have limited access to state welfare, healthcare, and stable income. Children may face unsafe housing, interrupted education, malnutrition, untreated illnesses, or heightened risks of exploitation and abuse.
For families living in crisis, even small emergencies can become life-threatening. A child may be unable to attend school because they lack transportation or uniforms. Some families cannot afford hospital visits or medicine. Others live in damaged homes without proper doors, windows, or sanitation. Government assistance often takes time to process, leaving children without immediate support when they need it most.
TLSDF regularly works with children who are:
- migrant or stateless,
- living in family crisis or without family care,
- affected by illness or disability,
- living with single mom/dad or grandparents who are unemployed,
- at risk of neglect, violence, or exploitation,
- or recovering from trauma and family instability.
Without urgent community report and fast-disbursement living fund, many children face increasing isolation, unsafe living conditions, and long-term barriers to healthy development.
Solution
TLSDF’s Living Fund provides immediate emergency assistance to vulnerable children and families across Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai provinces.
The program works through a strong community-based child protection network involving:
- teachers,
- local volunteers,
- schools,
- social workers,
- local government organizations,
- and community leaders.
When a child is identified as being at risk, TLSDF conducts home visits and quickly provides support tailored to the child’s urgent needs. Assistance may include:
- nutritious food or formula milk for babies
- school supplies and uniforms,
- emergency transportation,
- medical care and hospital travel,
- clothing and hygiene supplies,
- temporary housing support,
- and protection referrals.
In cases where children live in unsafe housing conditions, TLSDF also supports community-led house repair and house-building initiatives to create safer living environments for children and caregivers.
Unlike many formal systems, the Living Fund is designed to respond quickly, flexibly, and directly to children in crisis.
Long-Term Impact
The Living Fund helps children remain safe, connected to education, and supported by caring adults during periods of crisis.
With community-based support, children are better able to:
- continue attending school,
- access healthcare,
- avoid unsafe labor or exploitation,
- recover from trauma,
- and build safer, more stable futures.
Since 2009, the Living Fund has supported around 500 vulnerable children through emergency assistance and community care initiatives. The program also strengthens local child protection networks and encourages long-term community responsibility for children’s well-being.
By supporting vulnerable children early and directly, TLSDF helps prevent deeper crises before they escalate.
What Your Donation Can Do
- $25 can provide emergency food, formula milk, and school supplies for a vulnerable child.
- $50 can help cover transportation and medical support for a child needing urgent healthcare.
- $100 can support emergency assistance for a child and caregiver in crisis.
- $500 can contribute to repairing or improving unsafe housing conditions for vulnerable children.
Even small donations can make an immediate difference in a child’s safety, wellbeing, and future.
Why TLSDF?
TLSDF, The Life Skills Development Foundation, or RakDek in Thai has worked in community-based child protection in Northern Thailand since 1998. The organization collaborates closely with schools, hospitals, volunteers, and local agencies to support children experiencing poverty, ethnic, indigenous, and migration-related vulnerability, neglect, trauma, and unsafe living conditions.
TLSDF believes that every child deserves safety, dignity, care, and the opportunity to grow within a supportive community.
Inspired by community-based child protection and life skills education initiatives supporting vulnerable children in Thailand.
You may help us save children lives here.
