Sothalen, was just 8 months old when her parents left Cambodia. Unable to provide their family, her parents left her behind, in the care of relatives, to find work in Thailand. Now a teenager, Sothalen tearfully describes how her life would be different if she had her parents’ regular presence and support. As a mother, my heart breaks for her and her family. Her parents left her behind in the hope of giving her a better future, instead, we see through our daily work and confirmed in our research, children like Sothalen, often experience loneliness, lower educational attainment, and negative physical and mental health outcomes.
An estimated 23.6 million migrants from Southeast Asia live outside their home countries. This shapes their communities’ social and economic landscape. With nearly 1.3 million child migrants in ASEAN, there is a pressing need to pay attention to the vulnerabilities of young migrants and their families.
World Vision believes that having a sense of belonging is foundational for establishing resilient and thriving communities. Our support is vital for individuals and families, those in transit, those adjusting to unfamiliar environments, and those left behind.
In 2023 alone, World Vision supported 204,143 children, like Soathalen, who are affected by migration in East Asia. We are committed to developing sustainable solutions to improve their education, health and protection. Through our ongoing efforts, we continue to create pathways for migrants to thrive and contribute positively to their new communities.
This International Migrants Day, let us recognise the importance of building supportive communities for migrants and commit to ensuring that every migrant, no matter where they come from, or where they are going, feels a sense of belonging and connection.
Learn more about the issue of migration and its impact on children in East Asia
https://lnkd.in/gpKs9nDu
Read about the importance of building community for migrants
https://lnkd.in/g5VhK-4S
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