Mima’s Success

by: Lay Phoprasobchok

September 2024

The Soe Family was in crisis.  

Alcohol and physical abuse had led to the separation of parents, Khin and Mima; and left their three children split between father and mother. 

GCA was introduced first to Mima and two of her children through her community who told us about her struggles to provide housing and food since separating from her husband.

Mima had been unable to work because she could not leave her young children unattended. She soon had run out of resources and had grown so desperate, she considered sending her children back to Myanmar to be cared for by her mother.

Imagine being in such an acute crisis that sending your children back to a war-torn country sounds like a better option than keeping them with you.

GCA knows what it takes to support families in crisis and our Thailand team implemented our researched-based protocols to identify the risk of family separation Mima and her children faced.

Recognizing Needs

Something exciting happened shortly after GCA began offering support to Mima and her children; Mima recognized a need even greater than her own in her community, the need for a local grocery store. Incredibly, Mima was able to establish a small grocery store and began selling fruits and vegetables, earning money to support herself and her two youngest children!

Making Healthy Choices

Mima’s eldest child, Thet, who had been living with Khin, returned to help Mima during his school breaks. Through this contact with Thet, Mima had maintained indirect contact with her estranged husband. Despite Mima’s desire for healthy reconciliation with her husband, Khin did not demonstrate changes in his behaviors. As a result, Mima chose to continue living separately from Khin and continue life as a single mother, striving for safety and security for herself and her children. Thet has also chosen to live permanently with Mima and his siblings.