A 55-year-old woman who never imagined she’d become a vendor.
Background
In September 2024, the case was referred to us by our partner organization in Issara Institute. The case is a 54-year-old Thai woman who was staying in a shelter in Australia. She requested assistance to return to Thailand. She expressed concern that, due to her age and existing health conditions (including depression), she might not receive continued support once back in Thailand.
Healthcare Access :
She has a national ID card and is presumed to be eligible for healthcare services under the Thai public Health scheme at Song Phi Nong Hospital, where psychiatric services are available. She can access treatment according to her rights.
October – December 2024
The beneficiary returned to Thailand and moved in with her family. AAT staff created a Line group* to stay in touch and monitor her well-being. While she had safe and adequate housing, she had no source of income and was unable to work due to multiple chronic illnesses. AAT staff therefore scheduled a home visit on 10 December 2024.
* LINE is a popular “super app” in Thailand, serving as a central platform for more than just messaging. It is widely used by the majority of the population for daily communication, including text messages, voice calls, and video calls.
Home Visit 1 (December 2024, Suphanburi Province)
The beneficiary was adjusting well and living in safe housing. However, she had no income, which increased her stress and worsened her depression, although she continued to take her prescribed medication. She expressed a desire to earn income by opening a small grocery shop, inspired by her big sister who had successfully run such a shop in the past but later closed it when land was needed to build a house for the beneficiary’s return.
January 2025
AAT coordinated with the Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office (MSDHS) in Supanburi province to request emergency financial assistance as a victim of human trafficking abroad. After a home assessment, the MSDHS determined she did not qualify as a trafficking victim. However, they approved support under the Social Welfare Fund, granting her 3,000 THB, to be disbursed in April 2025.
Home Visit 2 (January 2025)
AAT staff visited the beneficiary again. She still had no income but was continuing treatment for depression through the universal health coverage scheme (UCS), as advised by AAT staff. She reaffirmed her interest in starting a small grocery shop, noting that her niece had previously sold goods successfully in front of their home. AAT staff encouraged her to draft a simple business plan and discuss details with AAT staff. During this visit, AAT staff provided essential household supplies (rice, cooking oil, instant porridge, canned fish, soap, and infant formula for her grandchild) to ease living expenses.
February 2025
The beneficiary confirmed her decision to open a grocery shop as her livelihood. AAT supported her with donated goods worth 10,000 THB (approx. 270 EUR) as start-up capital, including:
- 6 cartons of snacks
- 6 packs of canned fish
- 6 cartons of instant noodles (packs)
- 1 carton of instant noodles (cups)
- 3 cartons of cultured milk
- 3 cartons of chocolate milk
- 3 cartons of cooking oil
- 20 kg of rice
The shop was set up in front of her home.
Current Situation (June 2025)
The beneficiary has now been running her grocery shop for four months. She earns approximately 1,000–3,000 THB (approx. 27 – 80 EUR) per day from sales. With this stable source of income, she has become self-reliant and has expanded her stock with additional items. She also received 3,000 THB (approx. 80 EUR) from the MSDHS, which she reinvested in her shop.
The beneficiary expressed her gratitude to AAT for providing timely support that enabled her to rebuild her life. With a secure livelihood and continuous guidance and encouragement from AAT staff, her mental health has significantly improved, as she no longer worries about daily survival and now enjoys a sense of stability and independence.
