Fostering Hope: changing lives in Mae Sot, Thailand

Note: This blog post was written collaboratively with Robin Hogan of Global Child Advocates.

When two young siblings in Thailand suddenly lost their mother, their world was shattered.

With no immediate relatives to step in, their future hung in the balance. Local organizations rushed to offer solutions, some ready and eager to place the children in a dormitory, while others proposed informal care arrangements. But the Global Child Advocates (GCA) team took a different approach.

Rather than accepting a quick fix, we prioritized the children’s long-term well-being. Our staff visited the family, provided emergency support, and began a thoughtful process to assess their true needs. We listened to the children, spoke with their stepfather, and committed to finding the best solution, one that preserved their sense of safety, dignity, and belonging.

After months of monitoring and careful planning, we identified a woman from the children’s school community who had a personal connection with them and was willing to become a foster parent. With proper assessment and support, she welcomed them into her home, offering not just shelter, but stability and love.

Meanwhile, our team worked diligently to trace extended family across the border in Myanmar. Although kinship care wasn’t possible, the children were able to reconnect with relatives, restoring a vital sense of identity and family history.

With their foster mother and teachers, the children began to thrive. They received the care, education, and emotional support they needed to heal. One major hurdle remained: the children lacked legal documentation. Thanks to collaboration with the local school, both children secured 10-year identification cards, unlocking access to services and a future filled with opportunity.

Today, the children are safe, settled, and surrounded by people who love them. One has even become a standout student at school, making his teachers and the community proud.

This story reflects the heart of GCA’s mission: ensuring that no child loses the warmth of family, even in crisis. Because of your support, children like these don’t fall through the cracks—they find protection, permanency, and the chance to thrive.

That’s why, beginning in October 2025, The Hope Effect and GCA are joining forces to make sure more children grow up surrounded by the love of a family.

Bringing Hope to Mae Sot, Thailand

Mae Sot, Thailand, sits on the Thailand–Myanmar border, at the center of one of Southeast Asia’s most vulnerable populations—displaced and undocumented families fleeing conflict in Myanmar. Tens of thousands of migrant children are at risk of institutionalization, trafficking, and exploitation.

In the midst of so much uncertainty, one truth remains: children don’t need institutions—they need families.

Together, The Hope Effect and GCA will expand the kinship and informal foster placement program, giving orphaned and vulnerable children a chance to thrive in a home environment.

And this work extends far beyond family placement. Our approach includes family preservation support, intervention in urgent cases of trafficking and abuse, facilitating school enrollment, and leading regular community trainings on child safety and rights.

This ensures that children are not only placed in safe families but are also protected, educated, and supported holistically.

GivingTuesday: Celebrating 10 Years of Hope

We can’t wait to share the impact you’re making in the lives of children and families in Mae Sot. And in just a few weeks, there’s an opportunity for you to change even more lives around the world.

GivingTuesday, a global day of generosity, is coming up on December 2. We invite you to join us as we celebrate 10 years of hope!

Since launching in 2015, hundreds of children who once lived in institutions are now growing up surrounded by the love, stability, and belonging of family. And it’s all thanks to you.

We’re celebrating your role in creating a decade of hope—and providing a brighter future for children around the world. In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing inspiring stories of transformation made possible by your generosity. We can't wait!

And while we celebrate all that’s been accomplished, we recognize that our work is far from over. Millions of children are still waiting for the love of a family. Together, we can make the next decade even more transformative.

And in honor of GivingTuesday, every gift will be matched up to $125,000, doubling your impact for children around the world. If you’d like to get a head start, our GivingTuesday page is live now, and all gifts through that page will be matched!

Thank you for your continued support and generosity. Together, let’s change lives in Mae Sot…and make the next 10 years a story of even greater hope!