Project S.I.A.M.: Soroptimist International AIDS Mediation 1995 - 1999

In partnership with the Population & Community Development Association

This quadrennial project, conducted in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, was designed to address the issues of the high rate of HIV infection in the region and the number of young women entering the Commercial Sex Industry (CSI).

Working in partnership with the Population & Community Development Association, income-generating projects were set up in 10 villages in the Chiang Rai region.

As well as occupational training for young women and their families, with a revolving loan fund to support these activities, SI provided education about HIV/AIDS and CSI to the whole community and both formal and non-formal educational scholarships to 12 - 25 year old women and girls.

Typical subjects of occupational training included northern Thai style weaving, passion fruit growing and basket making. Village banks were set up, run and regulated by the villagers themselves.

An ongoing endowment fund was set up and the project currently works with 19 villages to prevent their young women from entering the commercial sex industry.

To read the latest progress report for Project SIAM (January 2012), click here.