40th years anniversary JICA Volunteer Program in Thailand - Sharing for the best and Growing Together -

[With regards to the 40th anniversary of JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers in Thailand]

Name: Sakura YAMAMOTO
Group of dispatch: 2018-3
Period of assignment: 8 January 2019 – 23 January 2021
Assignment place: Phitsanulok Welfare Protection of Victims Trafficking Center (Baan Songkhawe)
Field: Youth Activity

Title: Towards the 40th anniversary of JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers in Thailand "Aiming for a society where everyone can live with peace of mind in their own way - the light of hope seen in Thailand-"

I conducted my activities as a member of the 2018-3 group of dispatch in the field of Youth Activity at Phitsanulok Welfare Protection of Victims Trafficking Center (Baan Songkhawe) in Phitsanulok Province, northern Thailand. This center provides protection for women who are victims of human trafficking in Thailand. They provide food, clothing and shelter, mental and physical care, and also provide vocational training to prepare them for their return to society. At that time, there were eight similar centers for men and women all over Thailand, and the ages and nationalities of victims varied depending on the center.

In fact, I have an impression that more people in those centers are from neighboring countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, and from ethnic minorities near the border, than from locally. Under such circumstances, I was assigned to the first acceptation room which is the first step for all new entry victims to stabilize their mind and body. I cooperated with other staff of the center such as clinical psychologists and social workers to provide meditation practice, yoga class, self-understanding recreation using SST (Social Skill Training) and SGE (Structured Group Encounter), creative therapy, etc. to the victims in the first acceptation room. Through the activities with these multinational victims, I realized the importance of being with them and being closer to their past and present than words ever could. The greatest achievement was that I could feel the change in their eyes, that they were becoming warmer and brighter from the closest place.

I am really grateful to staff of the JICA Thailand office, senior and junior volunteer members, and members of the same group for supporting my activities. In addition, I would like to thank the local people who waited for my return even though I was temporarily returning to Japan due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the people who accepted and supported my re-dispatch.

I think human trafficking is a global problem. Among various countries, in Thailand, groups of former victims, including government-controlled shelters, are active in support of such issues. Now and in the future, I would be happy if I could help solve human trafficking by disseminating what I actually felt and saw in the field.

Morning meditation routine

Workshop to realize about what and who is important to oneself

With staff of the recipient agency

Impression on JICA volunteer, Ms. Sakura YAMAMOTO

Ms. Sakura is always energetic and concentrates on her works. She tried to study about Thai culture and the process of work of the center. She is a very friendly person and could get along with staff of the center very well. Also, protection recipients in the center get along with the volunteer very well. Regarding her work at the first acceptation room, she had set the plan and consult details of the plan with other staff before implementing her activities to avoid any problems and to create the most effective result of works. She also could work very well together with other staff of the first acceptation room and has plenty of knowledge such as language and rehabilitation activities in order to stabilize victims' mind and body.

Ms. Suppasiri Tubkiew (Counterpart)