RADION International
Encyclopedia
RADION International, generally referred as RADION is a Christian humanitarian relief & development agency dedicated to serving the most vulnerable & marginalized communities. It currently works amongst hill tribe communities in Thailand spanning across 120km in land distance. It has its international headquarters in Singapore supported by an country office in Chiang Mai, Thailand and a field office in Phetchabun, Thailand.
The organization works to reach oppressed and needy communities through practical actions such as community development works and direct relief. The organisation's ministry extends to all, regardless of age, gender, color or creed, without discrimination , allowing these actions to stand witness to God’s love for the people.This work aims to be a catalyst for change, transforming broken lives empowering the people to touch others in return.
The work started as an informal blog under the name of New Life Outreach gaining its initial support base and it was later formally registered as a social enterprise
in Singapore. In 2009, RADION International was inaugurated as a full fledged Charity(Non-profit organization) in Thailand under the name of RADION INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION.
Rather than focusing on providing one particular service, services are seamlessly integrated to create a self-sustaining cycle of empowerment and relief that works to break the cycles of poverty and domestic violence. RADION's local staff manage all facets of the project, from the micro-enterprises, to facilitating rehabilitation for street children, to organizing and orchestrating mass humanitarian relief missions.
RADION ENTERPRISE manages a string of small viable businesses designed towards sustainability beyond the project; generating streams of income to augment overhead costs. With strong community involvement and being backed by micro-enterprises, the project is not only sustainable but also has the potential to duplicate itself as it matures. The monetary benefits of the micro-enterprises will continue over time due to the self-sustaining model that RADION ENTERPRISE has created. Programs can be operated and sustained by local staff independently allowing victims to bring about sustained social change within these communities.
The Relief component focuses on addressing pressing humanitarian crises of Hmong-Lao refugees and destitute Hmong-Thai villagers and children.
RADION runs the following programs:
SHOPHOUSE!, which is a microbusiness that aids victims of domestic violence
by providing jobs, work skills training, rehabilitation in a safe environment, and opportunities to attain financial independence.
STREETKIDS!, which is an intervention and rehabilitation program for children aged 8 to 16 from high-risk backgrounds such as poverty
, substance abuse
, gangs, physical abuse
and neglect.
Humanitarian Crisis Relief programs to aid refugees and extremely impoverished villagers by providing essential food, medical and other relief. RADION also provides immediate response to disasters and crises impacting the communities.
RADION International is currently the only non-governmental organization
serving the Hmong
hill-tribe village of Khek Noi
—the largest Hmong community in Thailand
.
The Empowerment component focuses on building capacity within the Hmong-Thai villages to achieve self-sustainability.
Providing direct assistance to rural villagers with focus on households in need, special attention is given to elderly(abandoned/destitute) and special needs families (HIV/ostracized). Food rations are regular distributed to more than 100 families after a thorough needs assessment by the assessment team.
STREETKIDS! Program
This is a 24/7 rehabilitation shelter for children at risk, taking in primarily children ranging from 6 to 16. The STREETKIDS! program provides at-risk children an environment of acceptance & love, more importantly a second opportunity to return back to school to resume education.
Mass excursions are organized every quarter where reaching more than 60-100 destitute village children in each event. The educational outings creates strong bonds through personal contact, building trust and bridges in our developmental work in the village while allowing the needs assessment team to narrow and assist children from high-risk families.
Community Development Projects
• RADION Shophouse!
• Phetchabun Integrated Farm
Hmong Lao Refugees totaling 8900
a. Phetchabun Refugee Camp (8200 refugees)
b. Nong Khai Detention Center (158 refugees)
c. Refugee Settlement (450 refugees)
Each site has different pressing needs as such outreach operations vary in scale and intensity from basic MILK! Missions(children nutrition augmentation missions), FRUITS! Mission (family food augmentation mission) to first-aid training.
Jan 2009 : Disaster Relief & Medical Support
RADION International responded when the Thai government called for additional support during the cold snap disaster in 2009. RADION International provided medical assistance to 8 villages within a 120km radius from RADION's field office in Phetchabun.
PROJECT LIVES! goes towards aiding a community of 14,000 impoverished hill tribesmen in Phetchabun and helping the community overcome social problems such as drug abuse, domestic violence and child neglect though RADION's community development & village outreach projects.
The campaign also serves as a platform to encourage youths and Singaporeans to step out to make credible difference to the less fortunate community through culturally sensitive approaches.
.
The organization works to reach oppressed and needy communities through practical actions such as community development works and direct relief. The organisation's ministry extends to all, regardless of age, gender, color or creed, without discrimination , allowing these actions to stand witness to God’s love for the people.This work aims to be a catalyst for change, transforming broken lives empowering the people to touch others in return.
History of RADION International
RADION International' has its humble beginnings in July 2007 in Chiang Mai when Eugene Wee invited Benjamin Goh to join hands to start a work reaching people in the "gap" areas-people groups that are unreached and under-served by NGOs due to issues such as geographical distance, political implications or simply social stigma that deprived these communities from receiving basic assistance.The work started as an informal blog under the name of New Life Outreach gaining its initial support base and it was later formally registered as a social enterprise
Social enterprise
A social enterprise is an organization that applies business strategies to achieving philanthropic goals. Social enterprises can be structured as a for-profit or non-profit....
in Singapore. In 2009, RADION International was inaugurated as a full fledged Charity(Non-profit organization) in Thailand under the name of RADION INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION.
A unique approach to community development
RADION’s operations are unique as it pivots itself on local expertise and the experiences of victims of domestic violence to drive their programming to serve the community. Through this “care for others” model, the staff is empowered to embark upon a dynamic journey of rehabilitation while creating social change. In addition, having these women coordinate programming to serve their own community helps to battle the negative cultural stigma of victim-blaming which hampers rehabilitation.Rather than focusing on providing one particular service, services are seamlessly integrated to create a self-sustaining cycle of empowerment and relief that works to break the cycles of poverty and domestic violence. RADION's local staff manage all facets of the project, from the micro-enterprises, to facilitating rehabilitation for street children, to organizing and orchestrating mass humanitarian relief missions.
RADION ENTERPRISE manages a string of small viable businesses designed towards sustainability beyond the project; generating streams of income to augment overhead costs. With strong community involvement and being backed by micro-enterprises, the project is not only sustainable but also has the potential to duplicate itself as it matures. The monetary benefits of the micro-enterprises will continue over time due to the self-sustaining model that RADION ENTERPRISE has created. Programs can be operated and sustained by local staff independently allowing victims to bring about sustained social change within these communities.
Community Empowerment and Crisis Relief Program
RADION's Community Empowerment and Crisis Relief Program (CECRP) serves a combined population of about 17,000 people, consisting of Hmong-Thai villagers and Hmong-Lao refugees.The Relief component focuses on addressing pressing humanitarian crises of Hmong-Lao refugees and destitute Hmong-Thai villagers and children.
RADION runs the following programs:
SHOPHOUSE!, which is a microbusiness that aids victims of domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
by providing jobs, work skills training, rehabilitation in a safe environment, and opportunities to attain financial independence.
STREETKIDS!, which is an intervention and rehabilitation program for children aged 8 to 16 from high-risk backgrounds such as poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, substance abuse
Substance abuse
A substance-related disorder is an umbrella term used to describe several different conditions associated with several different substances .A substance related disorder is a condition in which an individual uses or abuses a...
, gangs, physical abuse
Physical abuse
Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm.-Forms of physical abuse:*Striking*Punching*Belting*Pushing, pulling*Slapping*Whipping*Striking with an object...
and neglect.
Humanitarian Crisis Relief programs to aid refugees and extremely impoverished villagers by providing essential food, medical and other relief. RADION also provides immediate response to disasters and crises impacting the communities.
RADION International is currently the only non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
serving the Hmong
Hmong people
The Hmong , are an Asian ethnic group from the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Hmong are also one of the sub-groups of the Miao ethnicity in southern China...
hill-tribe village of Khek Noi
Khek Noi
Khek Noi, Khao Kho is a tambon or sub-District of Khao Kho District , Phetchabun Province, Thailand....
—the largest Hmong community in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
.
The Empowerment component focuses on building capacity within the Hmong-Thai villages to achieve self-sustainability.
Ongoing programmes
Hill Tribe Village Outreach + Expanded (120km in radius)Providing direct assistance to rural villagers with focus on households in need, special attention is given to elderly(abandoned/destitute) and special needs families (HIV/ostracized). Food rations are regular distributed to more than 100 families after a thorough needs assessment by the assessment team.
STREETKIDS! Program
This is a 24/7 rehabilitation shelter for children at risk, taking in primarily children ranging from 6 to 16. The STREETKIDS! program provides at-risk children an environment of acceptance & love, more importantly a second opportunity to return back to school to resume education.
Mass excursions are organized every quarter where reaching more than 60-100 destitute village children in each event. The educational outings creates strong bonds through personal contact, building trust and bridges in our developmental work in the village while allowing the needs assessment team to narrow and assist children from high-risk families.
Community Development Projects
• RADION Shophouse!
• Phetchabun Integrated Farm
Past programmes
2007-2009 : Outreaches spanning 600km across Thailand, providing Hmong Lao refugees with humanitarian aid.Hmong Lao Refugees totaling 8900
a. Phetchabun Refugee Camp (8200 refugees)
b. Nong Khai Detention Center (158 refugees)
c. Refugee Settlement (450 refugees)
Each site has different pressing needs as such outreach operations vary in scale and intensity from basic MILK! Missions(children nutrition augmentation missions), FRUITS! Mission (family food augmentation mission) to first-aid training.
Jan 2009 : Disaster Relief & Medical Support
RADION International responded when the Thai government called for additional support during the cold snap disaster in 2009. RADION International provided medical assistance to 8 villages within a 120km radius from RADION's field office in Phetchabun.
Annual PROJECT LIVES! Awareness Campaign
Every year, RADION organises an annual awareness campaign that rallies Singaporeans and businesses alike to come together to make a difference to the lives of the needy in Thailand by sending a container filled with relief items to reach the people in need.PROJECT LIVES! goes towards aiding a community of 14,000 impoverished hill tribesmen in Phetchabun and helping the community overcome social problems such as drug abuse, domestic violence and child neglect though RADION's community development & village outreach projects.
The campaign also serves as a platform to encourage youths and Singaporeans to step out to make credible difference to the less fortunate community through culturally sensitive approaches.
.
Campaign Partners
RADION receives support from private and corporate partners, including:- CrocsCrocsCrocs, Inc. is a shoe manufacturer founded by 3 friends - Scott Seamans, Lyndon "Duke" Hanson, and George Boedecker, Jr. - to produce and distribute a foam clog design acquired from a Quebec company called Foam Creations. The shoe had originally been developed as a spa shoe. The first model...
, which donated several hundred pairs of footwear. - StarhubStarHubStarHub Limited is a full-fledged telecommunications company providing a full range of services over mobile, internet and fixed platforms in Singapore...
, which donated school bags & stationary - The Pan Pacific SingaporeThe Pan Pacific SingaporePan Pacific Singapore is a hotel located in Marina Centre, Singapore and operated by the Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts. It has 37 floors, the tallest among the three hotels which are part of the Marina Square development, the other two being the Marina Mandarin Singapore and The Oriental Singapore...
, which contributed retail space to serve as a collection centre for a RADION donation drive in February 2009. - SyngentaSyngentaSyngenta AG is a large global Swiss agribusiness company which notably markets seeds and pesticides. Syngenta is involved in biotechnology and genomic research. The company is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in total sales in the commercial agricultural seeds market. Sales in 2010 were...
, which supported agricultural development projects - The Salvation ArmyThe Salvation ArmyThe Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
Singapore, which contributed relief items. - Habitat for Humanity Singapore, which partnered with RADION to conduct a collection drive.
- FS Freight Systems Pte. Ltd.
- Crabtree & EvelynCrabtree & EvelynCrabtree & Evelyn is an American retailer of body and home products with stores globally. According to its website, Crabtree & Evelyn uses over 160 “natural botanical ingredients” in its skin care products. It is wholly owned by KLK, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad., a Malaysian company that also owns...
, which donated essential toiletries. - Project Kyrie, which contributed part of the cost of freight of a 40-foot container from Singapore to Thailand, carrying donated relief supplies such as food, toiletries, and clothing.
- Woleco, contributed hygiene items.
Supporters
- Afiko Delivery, which is contributing S$1 out of every S$50 of revenue towards RADION.
- colinsphotograffi, which contributes 10% of profits & photography services for RADION's marketing and communications materials.