The Development and Education Programme for Daughters and Communities Centre in the Greater Mekong Subregion (DEPDC/GMS) is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation based in Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand. The community-based organisation has a diverse 25-year history and currently works primarily to prevent and to protect children and youth from being trafficked into exploitative labour conditions.
The organization’s projects provide crucial preventative measures of education, vocational and life-skills training, protection and accommodation, family and community outreach services, and leadership development to at-risk children and youth in the Greater Mekong Sub-region.
The Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) is comprised of the six countries through which the Mekong River flows: Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Guangxi and Yunnan Provinces in Southern China. Human trafficking in Northern Thailand is prevalent due to numerous populations of minority ethnic groups, many of which lack Thai citizenship. Historically, these people have suffered extreme poverty, because they lack access to formal education and health care and they have little political power. As a result, many are marginalized and are compelled to seek financial alternatives in order to survive.
Many families therefore resort to selling their children into exploitative labour conditions, frequently with the promise that their children are going to work in a decent, safe workplace. Thailand is a country of origin, transit, and destination for trafficking victims, and with the near future opening of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community in 2015, the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) will inevitably remain a major hub for the trafficking of children.
Because the human trafficking process is far reaching and its causes are deep, our mission aims to help the most at-risk children, and their families and communities, in order to decrease the conditions and factors that make them vulnerable to trafficking. The organisation operates a range of projects which facilitate this mission at three distinct sites, strategically located within Thailand’s northern most province of Chiang Rai, in the districts of Mae Sai, Mae Chan, and Chiang Khong. Each project site functions differently, but all work toward the common goal of reducing the psycho-social risks and dangerous conditions which leave children and youth vulnerable to trafficking in the region.
Watch a short introductory video to learn more about how our organization was founded and what we have been doing since 1989.
DEPDC / GMS 
Your site is so interesting, I came to it thru the international volunteer org. my daughter signed up for. Thank you, I will keep up with your group.
I understand how difficult it can be for the volunteers helping to bring some order into the children’s lives. We from the Western world take things for granted because of the lack of understanding of just how serious the manipulation of helpless children is. Without the support of the volunteers, these children would never have the opportunity to improve their lives through education. I commend all the volunteers involved in this project. Keep up the good work and know that without your support these children would never have the opportunity to improve their lives.
Raymond, from Singapore
Dear DEPDC/GMS Management,
I researched your activities that are awesome. Congratulation.
Secondly, How can i become a part of your organization.
Hoping to have a prompt response from you.
Regards,
Gulfam Paul
Hi,
My name is Youngbee Dale, and I saw your posting on my facebook page. I would love to interview you and find out more about your organization. If you are interested, please email me at (email hidden).
Thank you
Youngbee Dale
Human Rights Examiner
Global human trafficking roundup
I think your organization is doing great work. I hope to visit one of your centers during 2013.
Dears, thanks for what you are doing for all children’s . God bless you ….. Regards
Hi, I am the founder.
Thank you so much for all of you who leave all comments here. If you would like to know more about our current plan and strategy you can also contact directly to me at my email: sompop@ gmail.com or my Facebook at : Sompop Jantraka .You can also search from google search about me type ” sompop Jantraka “
Hi DEPDC,
Some friends and I put together an Anti Human Trafficking Mixtape.
I thought I would share it with you, in case you wanted to use it for anything.
It’s free. Hope it helps.
Here’s the link:
http://creatorsthatcare.com/mixtape/
in His grace,
Brandon Falk