In Pong Ngam Subdistrict, Mae Sai District, Thailand, a collaborative initiative has been launched by IOGT-NTO Movement, Pong Ngam Subdistrict Administrative Organization, and the Thai Community Empowerment Foundation (TCEF). This initiative aims to create a safer community for children and youth, especially in light of serious drug and alcohol issues.
Located near the Thai-Myanmar border, Pong Ngam is home to many ethnic communities but faces severe challenges with substance abuse. Despite the urgent need for action, local government sectors often work independently without unified guidelines, leading to less effective solutions. Instead, community-driven efforts have shown better results.
In April 2024, alarming statistics revealed that around 90.3 million drugs were intercepted in the region, highlighting the need for community action. In response, the ”Saket Rak Pong Ngam” project was launched to involve children and youth in creating safer environments. This project included a forum that brought together various stakeholders such as executive team members, council representatives, local officials, military personnel, police, Village Health Volunteers, housewives, the elderly, students, educational institutions, and monks—to discuss local challenges and develop proposals to protect youth.
The proposals from these discussions were.
-Developing capacity of children and youth: Provide education on the dangers of drugs and environmental issues while promoting shared responsibility.
-Organizing creative volunteer activities: Engage youth in positive initiatives, emphasizing exercise and sports.
-Regular screening in educational institutions: Implement routine checks for cigarettes and illegal substances in schools.
-Enhancing surveillance and law enforcement: Strengthen effectiveness of government, military, and police surveillance and ensure strict law enforcement
-Promoting creative activities and intergenerational Wisdom Sharing: Encourage creative activities across age groups and promote the sharing of wisdom between generations, fostering community engagement and transforming risky areas into creative spaces.
– Establishing a collaborative organization for creative activities: Create an organization or designated spaces to facilitate regular creative activities for children and youth in Pong Ngam Subdistrict
The forum’s discussions caught the attention of local representatives, management teams, and officials from the Pong Ngam Subdistrict Administrative Organization. They have expressed a renewed commitment to protecting children and youth by creating guidelines to help young people understand the dangers of drugs and alcohol and empowering them to address the issues highlighted by their peers.
