Social Inclusion

For the vulnerable, this is a serious social exclusion and injustice. It reflects an unequal social structure that causes them many disadvantages and damages their sustenance, quality of life, living environment, economic growth, educational opportunity, and also access to healthcare as well as other resources. All has terribly become chronic social problem.

Tackling this critical issue, the College of Local Administration of the Khon Kaen University, in cooperation with the network organisations and with the support of the KAS Office in Thailand, initiated this research project to seek for the collaboration of public and private sectors, civil society, and also educational institutions in order to eliminate the undesirable existence of problem and to empower the vulnerable. The project started in the northeastern region of Thailand, especially in seven sub-districts of Khon Kaen Province and contained two main phases. 

First, it sought to investigate insecurities or risks of the vulnerable population in the surveyed area in order to build an understanding about the current situation of the vulnerable population and, especially, to identify the areas of interventions. Second, it generated and examined the interventions, which addressed multi-dimensional insecurities of the vulnerable population found in the first phase. This research managed to identify three most common insecurity issues: economic, health, and housing. These insecurities of the vulnerable people needed family support and government assistance as they would be the most crucial mechanisms that helped reduce the risks and the impact of these insecurities.

In the next steps, an integrative partnership among Khon Kaen University, government, and local community will be set up to explore plausible interventions and roles in empowerment and social protection of the vulnerable population in a given area. Interventions aims to ultimately enhance the vulnerable population’s ability and drive them out of the cycle of vulnerability. 

The results from the survey and investigation as well as suggestions for policy development were also compiled and summarised into two episodes of the documentary. The integrative partnership or the related organisations can refer to them as the important materials for further studies and policy design.