Meet our Child Protection Expert based in Bangkok, Thailand. We are excited for our supporters to “meet” more members of our team and learn more about the work our staff around the world does.

Please introduce yourself and explain the role that you play at RefugePoint.

As a Child Protection Expert at RefugePoint, my work mainly revolves around children. I am like an advocate for children. 

In my role, I conduct child protection assessments for orphaned, separated, and other at-risk refugee children. These assessments are designed to identify the services and solutions that these children need, and to make referrals to ensure that they benefit from the recommendations. It is a very intensive process, including home visits and numerous interviews with the child and other significant individuals in the child’s life, including family members, neighbors, teachers, etc.

These assessments, known as Best Interests Determinations (BID) and Best Interests Assessments (BIAs) do just as their name implies – they ensure the child’s best interests.

What does your typical day look like?

I work in Bangkok, Thailand, and my schedule varies depending on the week. I usually work one week from the office and another in the refugee camps. When working from the office, I wake up at 5:30 am, say my prayers, prepare breakfast, and get ready to go to the office. I prefer going to the office early because it tends to get very hot outside. When I am in the office, I mostly work on the child protection assessment reports. 

During the weeks that I go to the refugee camps (mission weeks), there is usually more work involved because I work directly with refugees. Since the camp is far away, I have to spend the entire week there. During the day, I conduct interviews with refugees (including children, the parents and other people who are close to the child such as relatives, school teachers, local leaders and agency staff.

The interviews are mainly to assess the situation of the child and to determine the best possible intervention (i.e. resettlement or protection) for the child. The reports are usually structured and include current care arrangements of the child, their relationships, history prior to flight and separation, the living conditions, and health concerns.

We then carry out an analysis on the views of the child, those close to the child, the child’s safety and development and identity needs and then make a recommendation. Interviews typically last up to 30 minutes for children below 15 years. Above 15 years,  the interview can take up to 1 hour as they are able to express themselves well. We also conduct home visits and invite parents or caregivers for the interviews. 

After a whole day of conducting interviews, I usually start drafting reports, determining the gaps/missing information, and preparing for the next day’s interviews. The interviews are normally scheduled after referrals from other team members. Once I receive the referrals I check for information available in their physical files or the database. I then schedule the interviews in advance. 

The work in Thailand is unique in that the resettlement happens in real-time. Once we process  cases for resettlement, they are referred to a partner organization for next steps. Presently, there are over 90,000 asylum seekers and refugees in Thailand. 

Why did you choose to become an Expert?

I have been an Expert for the past 11 years. I joined the RefugePoint deployment program in 2013 and have worked in nine countries since then. When I decided to become an Expert, I was looking for an opportunity to gain further experience. My former boss advised me to think about it critically because it would take me away from my family for a long time. 

As an Expert, you are often sent on missions to different locations for a minimum of three months: some deployments last up to two years or more depending on the needs of the operation and funding availability. Once that mission is completed, you are often relocated to a new location, potentially thousands of miles away.

My daughter was nine years old at the time, and it was very difficult. I almost quit. But now I love it. My daughter is now 20 years old, and I have been an Expert for 11 years. I would advise anyone interested in being an Expert to consider how it would affect their desire to have a family.

How do you find fulfillment in being an Expert?

My current assignment is unique as the operation conducts group resettlement processing (refugees are identified based on certain defined characteristics) which is faster compared to individual processing. Once the interviews have been conducted, the clients depart soon after. So, being in a position where I see change happen immediately and knowing that I am part of the change is exciting. 

But, that is not true in all locations. I have worked in locations where the resettlement process takes time. Finding a balance, being able to maneuver when you get to a new place, overcoming those challenges, and finally having a successful mission is thrilling.

A successful mission is one where I’m able to, for instance, clear the backlog of cases. In other locations it could be putting systems in place, for instance, in Malawi where I help set up the child protection systems.

What do you do in your free time?

In my free time, I like to walk to clear my mind. My favorite place to walk is during the early morning along a nearby bridge. At that time, the scenery is very beautiful especially when the sun is rising behind the houses in the river. 

One significant practice in Thailand is that in the morning, the monks come out to receive alms from people. It is believed that if you give alms to the monks, you receive blessings, and your day will go well. Some locals sell food and merchandise and hire traditional attire for the ceremony. I also enjoy connecting with my family and friends back home.