“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.”
– Nelson Mandela
The U.N. has established a universal standard to measure global poverty. The extreme poor often feel hopeless and forgotten. They expend all their energy trying to find work to pay for their family’s most basic needs. Children frequently go to bed hungry and families live in overcrowded, rudimentary housing structures. Educational opportunities are nonexistent. Most receive little to no medical care. It is a hard life! [1]
ARK provides specialized aid for those who are struggling with abject and generational poverty. We provide basic supplies/medicinal support and sponsorship for food on an as needed basis within our communities of focus. We offer assistance to those in dire medical crises with medical assistance towards the goal of self-sufficiency and overall wellness.
In addition, we provide some of our youth with scholarships towards annual visits to the dentist, glasses, and other medical assistance/needs for children and youth attending ARK International programs.
We are grateful for the generosity of faithful donors that provide pathways for us to come alongside the impoverished and marginalized.
In order to create cycles of change, ARK infuses teaching on nutrition and basic health care to further support transformation in our communities.
*Gan attended Nak Suu for many years. He grew up without a father or mother and when he was a young adult, he was in a terrible accident that could have permanently maimed his leg and foot. He did not have access to the surgery he needed to correct the break and help his young body heal and become strong again. So he reached out to one of our leaders and Ark was able to sponsor him to have this life changing surgery. Gan has full function in his leg and foot and leads a normal life today.
*It is not unusual for parents to return to their country and leave their child in Thailand. One of our young migrant girls’ mothers was dying and Ark was able to pay for some of her healthcare and medication to alleviate her pain in her last days as well as facilitate a last visit with her daughter. Her daughter today, is completing her Social Work degree and desires to help others in difficult family situations as a result of her own life experience.
*Ark International Foundation has a policy that no real names of any of our minors will be published publicly. This is a real story but the child’s name has been changed to protect their identity.
ARK International is a legally registered foundation under The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security in Thailand and is an associate ministry of YWAM Thailand and Australian Mercy.
