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18 years old with the education of a kindergartener

18 years old with the education of a kindergartener

“She’s 18 and doesn’t know the alphabet. She doesn’t know how to add or subtract.” One of our Thailand partners shared the story of a young woman — we’ll call her Malee — who has worked since she was 10 years old. She’s never stepped foot inside a school. Never...
Thailand’s red-light district is closed

Thailand’s red-light district is closed

Something I never thought I’d see in my lifetime happened last month — every single “go-go” bar in Thailand closed their doors. All of them. The red-light districts went dark. No more neon lights. No more pounding music. No more girls dancing for crowds of potential...
Love your neighbor: the single mom

Love your neighbor: the single mom

Imagine a single mother moves in next door to you and your family. Her car is rarely there because she’s always at work — a job that completely drains her, but it pays the bills. You watch her son get off the school bus every day with your own kids. You wonder if...
Koy is an orphan from a slum — but don’t count her out yet

Koy is an orphan from a slum — but don’t count her out yet

On my trip last week to Bangkok, Thailand, I got to meet the newest residents at the Freedom Home there — including a 15-year-old girl I’ll call Koy. Koy’s mother was a sex worker. Her older sister died of AIDS, and her other sister has HIV. But thanks to generous...
The Christmas party that changed Palma’s life

The Christmas party that changed Palma’s life

Christmas is supposed to be a time of celebrating with loved ones. But for many people around the world — it’s a lonely season. I’ve just returned from visiting women in some of Thailand’s largest red-light districts, which, in my opinion, is one of the loneliest...