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ABOUT US

Who We Are

The Mercy Ranong Foundation (MRF) is a registered Thai foundation in Ranong Thailand, established to support the mostly stateless Moken children of Koh Lao Island in Thailand’s Andaman Sea. Founded by volunteers from Australia and Thailand, our board comprises Thai citizens and representatives from the Moken community, ensuring that our programs are culturally relevant and community driven.

Our work continues the compassionate efforts of Father Joseph Mayer, Sister Maria Chantavarodom, and the Mercy Centre in Bangkok, who have supported the Moken community for over 15 years. In May 2024, recognizing the need to re-focus resources on their primary mission in Bangkok, Mercy Centre entrusted MRF with the responsibility of supporting the Moken children on Koh Lao Island.

While Mercy Ranong Foundation and Mercy Centre share similarities in name and logo, the two organizations are separate, independent and secular entities. However, we continue to collaborate on issues of mutual interest, particularly in supporting the Moken community.

MRF operates an early childhood centre on Koh Lao Island, where Moken children learn the Thai language and alphabet, preparing them for integration into the Thai school system. Many of these children have spent their early years aboard boats with their families and lack formal education. Additionally, we provide safe accommodation on the mainland for Moken and other vulnerable Thai children, enabling them to attend primary, secondary, and vocational schools. (mercyranong.info)

Our programs are supported by esteemed partners, including Enfants du Mekong, the Rotary Club of Patong Beach, the Jan and Oscar Foundation, and Mercy Centre Australia. Together, we aim to empower the Moken children of Koh Lao Island, giving them the opportunity to build a brighter future.

After the tsunami, when the reconstruction work was finished, most aid organizations left the area. Then Fr. Joe found the forgotten Moken village on the island Koh Lao that was by-passed by other aid organizations. The villagers were struggling to recover, most of them malnourished and in bad health and a shockingly high infant mortality. Fr. Joe decided to stay and help the village.  With love, medical attention and proper nutrition from the Mercy team the health of the villagers and their children slowly improved.

With the help of 3 other organisations, he built the preschool for the Moken toddlers so that they could learn Thai and enter the Thai school system and the children could attend the Thai school in the nearby fishing village.

Now, nearly two decades have passed, and Mercy Centre finds itself grappling with a severe funding shortage.

Mercy Centre has reluctantly made the difficult decision to focus their limited resources to their primary mission: caring for the impoverished children of Klong Toey in Bangkok.

This is where we step in, dedicated to supporting Father Joe’s vision and continuing his mission to aid the Moken children and continuing to work together with Mercy Centre.

Expert Team - Our Local Team

Phrong

Kratai

Linda

meet our team

Child Protection

We ask everyone associated with our foundation, staff member, teacher, every volunteer and visitor to respect our children who they are and allow them to grow, learn and reach for their dreams. For our children, safety is paramount.

MRF has in place a Policy for the safeguarding of the children and vulnerable adults under its care.

This document is a summary of the Mercy Ranong Foundation Safeguarding Policyof the children and vulnerable adults under its care. The Policy is intended to provide information and advice for volunteers, sponsors, donors, visitors and media organizations.

The full MRF Safeguarding Policy may be obtained by contacting the Foundation directly by email at [email protected]

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Child Protection

We ask everyone associated with our foundation, staff member, teacher, every volunteer and visitor to respect our children who they are and allow them to grow, learn and reach for their dreams. For our children, safety is paramount.

MRF has in place a Policy for the safeguarding of the children and vulnerable adults under its care.

This document is a summary of the Mercy Ranong Foundation Safeguarding Policy of the children and vulnerable adults under its care. The Policy is intended to provide information and advice for volunteers, sponsors, donors, visitors and media organizations.

The full MRF Safeguarding Policy may be obtained by contacting the Foundation directly by email at [email protected].

The Mercy Ranong Foundation

  • recognizes that child protection and safeguarding are everyone’s responsibility
  • recognizes the unique and individual worth of each child and vulnerable person
  • is committed to nurturing, protecting and safeguarding children and vulnerable persons
  • has a Safe Hiring Policy in place and exercises care in the appointment of all those working with children and vulnerable persons
  • Has a Reporting process that ensures that abuse and inappropriate conduct of staff, volunteers, outsiders and visitors that endangers the children and vulnerable persons, is dealt with immediately to ensure the continuing safety of the children and vulnerable adults.

For visits to the Ranong House and the Koh Lao School and for the protection of our children and the community, Mercy Ranong Foundation has the following Visitor Policy in place:

  1. Requests for visits: Mercy Ranong welcomes visitors but requires that visits must be requested at least one week in advance as most staff are not fluent in English and arrangements must be made to have house staff and interpreters available. Requests must be made by email to Mrs Piyarat (Angie)Thunmapimon (Nassenstein), at [email protected].
  1. Identification: Visitors must present identification (passport or driver’s license), and copies will be made. A permanent record of the visitor registry will be maintained for security purposes.
  1. Conduct: All staff, volunteers, caregivers, visitors, and sponsors must treat children, vulnerable adults, and other staff with respect and dignity. Inappropriate, harassing, bullying, abusive, sexually provocative, or demeaning language or behaviour will not be tolerated.
  1. Accompaniment: Visitors or sponsors are not permitted to take or accompany a child under MRF care out of the facility without an MRF staff member, preferably a house mother or permanent caregiver. All visitors and sponsors must have prior approval from the CPO and sign the Visitor Signatory Form for any external events.
  1. Photography and Videography: Visitors must obtain permission from the accompanying Mercy staff member before photographing or filming a child under MRF care. Images must depict children in a dignified and respectful manner, without showing them in vulnerable or submissive positions. Social media posts must not reveal children's full names or reference their health conditions, such as HIV/AIDS. Asking and/or obtaining email or social media ID of the children is not permitted.
  1. Community Visits: Visitors must ask for permission before taking pictures of individuals and children or entering houses in the Moken village.

The Mercy Ranong Foundation

  • recognizes that child protection and safeguarding are everyone’s responsibility
  • recognizes the unique and individual worth of each child and vulnerable person
  • is committed to nurturing, protecting and safeguarding children and vulnerable persons
  • has a Safe Hiring Policy in place and exercises care in the appointment of all those working with children and vulnerable persons
  • Has a Reporting process that ensures that abuse and inappropriate conduct of staff, volunteers, outsiders and visitors that endangers the children and vulnerable persons, is dealt with immediately to ensure the continuing safety of the children and vulnerable adults.

For visits to the Ranong House and the Koh Lao School and for the protection of our children and the community, Mercy Ranong Foundation has the following Visitor Policy in place:

  • 1.
    Requests for visits: Mercy Ranong welcomes visitors but requires that visits must be requested at least one week in advance as most staff are not fluent in English and arrangements must be made to have house staff and interpreters available. Requests must be made by email to Mrs Piyarat (Angie)Thunmapimon (Nassenstein), at [email protected].
  • 2.
    Identification: Visitors must present identification (passport or driver’s license), and copies will be made. A permanent record of the visitor registry will be maintained for security purposes.
  • 3.
    Conduct: All staff, volunteers, caregivers, visitors, and sponsors must treat children, vulnerable adults, and other staff with respect and dignity. Inappropriate, harassing, bullying, abusive, sexually provocative, or demeaning language or behaviour will not be tolerated.
  • 4.
    Accompaniment: Visitors or sponsors are not permitted to take or accompany a child under MRF care out of the facility without an MRF staff member, preferably a house mother or permanent caregiver. All visitors and sponsors must have prior approval from MRF staff and sign the Visitor Signatory Form for any external events.
  • 5.
    Photography and Videography: Visitors must obtain permission from the accompanying MRF staff member before photographing or filming a child under MRF care. Images must depict children in a dignified and respectful manner, without showing them in vulnerable or submissive positions. Social media posts must not reveal children's full names or reference their health conditions, such as HIV/AIDS. Asking and/or obtaining email or social media ID of the children is not permitted.
  • 6.
    Community Visits: Visitors must ask for permission before taking pictures of individuals and children or entering houses in the Moken village.

Accreditation

The Mercy Ranong Foundation is an officially registered Thai Foundation, established on the 5th of November 2023 in Ranong, Thailand. The Foundation is regulated under the Thai Ministry of the Interior and the Thai Civil and Commercial Code

Mercy Centre Australia is an officially registered Australian Charity, established in 2012 and registered and regulated by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)

How do I know my money goes directly to the children?

  • Integrity is one of our foremost priorities.
  • Whether your donations or sponsorship contributions are directed straight to the Mercy Ranong Foundation or funnelled through Mercy Centre Australia for tax benefits, rest assured that all funds are meticulously channelled through a government-registered foundation.
  • Both domestic and international foundations, including ours, are bound by rigorous governmental regulations. These mandates necessitate annual financial reporting, annual audits, and inspections as deemed necessary.
  • We are unwavering in our commitment to maintaining an unblemished reputation, free from any trace of doubt in the minds of our valued partners, donors, and sponsors.
  • For complete transparency, we are more than willing to provide financial reports to donors and sponsors upon request. Your trust is of paramount importance to us, and we are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of accountability and integrity in every aspect of our operations.
  • The Mercy Ranong Foundation is an officially registered Thai Foundation, established in Ranong on the 5th of November 2023. Mercy Centre Australia (http://mercycentreaustralia.org) is registered and regulated in Australia under the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)

Who Are the Moken People?

The Moken, often referred to as "Sea Gypsies" or "Chao Ley" in Thai, are a vulnerable group of indigenous sea nomads. They gained international attention for their remarkable ability to sense the impending 2004 tsunami and seek safety.

Very few Moken perished. But their boats, as fishermen essential for their survival, were smashed and their villages destroyed. Although their villages have been rebuilt, and most boats have been replaced, things have changed for the worse for the Moken

Where before they could move around freely in the 800 islands known as the Mergui Archipelago, which stretches from Myanmar in the north to Phuket in the south, their movements have been restricted by governments. Being illiterate and stateless, their villages have been taken over by unscrupulous landowners, fish stocks in their traditional fishing grounds have been depleted by commercial fisheries and they are being abused, discriminated, and taken advantage of by Thais, Burmese, and the Burmese military.

As a result, they are now living in poverty as a marginalized group of people. No longer can they roam the seas freely, without borders, a peaceful people living a subsistence existence, having minimal impact on the environment, and only wishing to be left alone.

Koh Lao Island

Kho Lao is about 30 minutes by boat south of Ranong and, of the three islands where the Moken live, it is the closest to the city of Ranong and its bustling port. The Moken village there is situated on a narrow strip of muddy gravel beach which is usually covered by plastic waste and garbage floating down from the port of Ranong. The village and its inhabitants are dirt poor. There is no supply of clean drinking water, no electricity, and no adequate arable land to grow any vegetables

It is doubtful if tourists will ever visit the Moken village on Koh Lao, with their poor ramshackle huts and the dirty muddy gravel beach.

This is where the children live.

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The Mercy Ranong Foundation
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