High in the hills of northern Thailand, village life goes on as it has for centuries. For the elderly their cultures and traditions continue. But change is all around. Young people from these remote villages often leave in search of greater prosperity.
Many find it. But some fall into the hands of human traffickers and never return. According to the International Labour Organization, most trafficked victims leave their homes voluntarily, only to end up in exploitative situations of forced labour and the worst forms of child labour.
18 yr old Nagey Lefu has another option. She’s staying home with her family and participate in a eco-tourism home stay program sponsored by the ILO’s Mekong Project to combat trafficking in women and children. Nagey and her family give tourists a taste of their village life.
Nagey’s mother
Things are better now because the tourists bring in money. They pay for food and Accommodation.
The number of tourists has been increasing each year and many seem to appreciate the opportunity to observe and preserve the indigenous culture.
Educating young people about the dangers of ill-prepared migration is proving to be an effective way to prevent human trafficking. 14 yr old Jan Fong Tong Di says she feels more confident since starting this program.
Nagey Lefu
There may be a chance that I would be trafficked. Now I know to ask for some more information. If they offer me a good salary I will become suspicious….
Instead of looking for work elsewhere, the best way for these women and children to fight trafficking may to lie in their own backyard.