RADION International
 | |
| Founded | 2007 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Eugene Wee, Benjamin Goh |
| Type | Non-governmental organization |
| Focus | Vulnerable & Marginalized Communities |
| Location | |
Area served | Thailand |
| Method | Child rescue, Advocacy, Rehabilitation, Humanitarian Relief, Disaster Recovery, Community Development, Education, Livelihood development |
| Website |
www |
RADION International is a Christian humanitarian relief and development organisation dedicated to the long-term development of underprivileged and marginalized communities in Thailand. RADION International, headquartered in Chiang Mai, Thailand, functions in 8 hill-tribal villages within a 70 km radius in Phetchabun province in North Thailand. The organisation provides humanitarian aid and promotes community development to a population of 17,000 Hmong villagers. As of 2016, the organisation's chairperson is Mr Alvin Ong, and the Founder and CEO is Mr Eugene Wee.
History
2007: RADION International started as a small three-man organisation, providing humanitarian aid to a community of 8,900 Hmong Lao refugees, who had sought asylum in the remote province of Phetchabun, Thailand after the secret war.
2008: A group of villagers appealed to RADION to help their local community living near the refugee camp. RADION started Project SHOPHOUSE, a social enterprise providing the village with its first internet cafe. This setup doubles up as a shelter for domestic violence victims. Later in the same year, RADION started the STREETKIDS! Programme to provide aid to children in dire need of assistance.
2009: RADION is inaugurated as a registered charity in Thailand under the name of RADION International Foundation.[1] RADION started its integrated farm to trial the feasibility of new farming technologies and products and to create jobs for local villagers.
2010: RADION is registered as a social enterprise in Singapore.
2011: RADION expanded the STREETKIDS! programme, planting a second shelter in Chiang Mai, catering to older children.
Donating Countries
RADION International accepts donations from a number of countries, including Singapore, Thailand and the United States of America.
Organizational Philosophy
The organisation is founded on Christian values. RADION's name originates from the combination of two words, "RADIATING" and "MISSION". It strongly believes in reaching oppressed and needy groups through practical actions and to be a catalyst for change within these communities.
Long-Term Developmental Model
RADION targets communities that are marginalised due to political, geographical or social constraints. The organisation promotes aid and community development through a four-prong approach, administering programs to children, young adults and the elderly. The organization is currently the only non-governmental organization serving the Hmong hill-tribe village of Khek Noi — the largest Hmong community in Thailand.[2]
STREETKIDS! Rehabilitation Shelter (STK)
An intervention and rehabilitation program for children from high-risk backgrounds (i.e. poverty, substance abuse, gangs, physical abuse/neglect). The program provides education, nutrition, healthcare, emotional support and character development for these children.
DEKThai Children's Weekend Education
A preventive children's weekend program, preventing underprivileged children from falling into vices of drugs and domestic violence. The program provides weekend tuition, livelihood skills training, healthcare education and nutrition to village children that come from poor backgrounds.
Village Outreach Programme (VO)
An elderly care program that provides nursing care, nutrition and emotional support to the poorest and most at-risk villagers in the community.
Community Development Program (CDP)
A two-pronged program with an advocacy arm to educate youth in an effort to break the vicious cycle of poverty, violence and drugs, and a social business arm that provides practical work-skill training and safe shelter for victims of domestic violence.
The SHOPHOUSE! and Integrated Farm are social enterprises created to aid victims of domestic violence by providing jobs, work skills training and rehabilitation in a safe environment. The goal is to empower these womenfolk to one day attain financial independence and self-sufficiency.
Short-Term Humanitarian Relief
RADION provides direct assistance to all rural villages within a 120 km radius of its integrated centre in Phetchabun, Thailand in the event of natural calamities or disasters that occur in the area.
Humanitarian Relief/Recovery projects are short term projects targeted at channeling timely life-saving support to underserved communities in the event of natural disasters or calamities.
These adhoc projects provide affected villagers with food, shelter, medical care and crisis support.
Disaster Recovery projects aim to provide mid-term assistance to communities impacted by disasters through the provision of livelihood options and economic recovery.
Past Projects
2007-2009 : Pioneered outreaches spanning 600 km across Thailand, providing 8900 Hmong-Lao refugees in 3 different areas with humanitarian aid.
a. Phetchabun Refugee Camp (8200 refugees)
b. Nong Khai Detention Center (158 refugees)
c. Refugee Settlement (450 refugees)
Each site had different pressing needs, and as a result, outreach operations varied in scale and intensity from basic MILK! Missions (children nutrition augmentation missions), FRUITS! Mission (family food augmentation mission) to first-aid training.
Jan 2009 : Disaster Relief & Medical Support
RADION International responded when the Thai government called for additional support during the sudden cold snap in 2009. RADION International provided medical assistance to 8 villages within a 120 km radius from RADION's field office in Phetchabun.
Nov 2013 - Jan 2014 : Disaster Relief For Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)
RADION was amongst the first to respond after Super Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in Nov 2013. The disaster response team spearheaded missions into Capiz Province that had been devastated by the typhoon but neglected by other aid agencies. The relief effort is currently still ongoing with volunteer teams providing medical care, relief items and establishing development initiatives to assist and restore affected communities.
Partners & Supporters
RADION receives support from individuals and corporate partners, including:
- Crocs, which donated several hundred pairs of footwear.
- Singapore Technologies (Info-communications), which helped to set up satellite collection for relief items.
- Lee Foundation, supported project cost for education projects
- Welch Allyn, which donated medical equipment and essentials towards the projects
- Silkair, which donated computers & laptops towards community education projects
- Starhub, which donated school bags & stationaries
- The Pan Pacific Singapore, which contributed retail space to serve as a collection centre for a RADION donation drive in February 2009.[3]
- Syngenta, which supported agricultural development projects
- The Salvation Army Singapore, which contributed relief items.
- FS Freight Systems Pte. Ltd.
- Crabtree & Evelyn, which donated essential toiletries.
- Woleco, contributed hygiene items.
Supporters
- Afiko Delivery, which is contributing S$1 out of every S$50 of revenue towards RADION.[4]
- colinsphotograffi, which contributes 10% of profits & photography services towards RADION's marketing and communications materials.
- NUS Medical Society, ongoing collaboration to provide medical care in impoverished communities.[5][6]
- INTASE, donates a percentage of profits towards education and development projects
Notes & References
- ↑ Singaporean Moved By The Plight Of The Hmongs
- ↑ The Land Without The Concept Of A Title Deed
- ↑ A Fisheye View Of Project LIVES!. 2009-09-02. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
- ↑ A Worthy Charitable Cause. 2009-09-14. Retrieved 2009-10-04.
- ↑ A Heart For The Hmong. 2011-11-25. Retrieved 2011-11-31.
- ↑ ActivAid 2012: Understanding How Working Together Works. 2012-08-25. Retrieved 2012-08-31.