What Would You Do?
GCA Thailand
Shared June 2026
You may recognize this lovely family from our 2025 Annual Report! The love and connection conveyed by this photo is palpable and we think it beautifully captures the strong bond of a family who is deeply committed to one another.
The story behind this photo is compelling and is sure to leave a lasting impression, and perhaps even leave you asking yourself how you would respond in this situation.
What would you do?
The lovely woman in the center is Thae Thae. When we first met Thae Thae almost six years ago, she was a single mother, caring for her four children and processing a great deal of trauma. Her oldest daughter, Jue Jue, had a child of her own who she was struggling to provide for. Thae Thae saw the need to get her granddaughter help and GCA was able to provide formula and medication for the baby.
Eventually, the weight of motherhood became too much for Jue Jue to bear. She felt she could no longer care for her child, and abandoned the baby in Thae Thae’s care. At the time, Thae Thae’s own youngest child was the same age as her grandchild, thus doubling the infant care she had to suddenly provide. Because of our strong relationship with Thae Thae, GCA was quickly able to step in and provide extra food and formula, as well as cover the family’s rent and household essentials.
This was a dark time in Thae Thae’s life.
She often blamed herself for her family’s situation, believing she had failed as a mother and wife. This emotional burden led to severe depression, and at times, suicidal thoughts. In the midst of this struggle, two more grandchildren came to live with her; which brought the total number of children in Thae Thae’s care to six. With this responsibility, working outside the home became impossible. GCA remained by her side. We saw that Thae Thae was deeply committed to her family, and we were deeply committed to her!
Now, nearly six years later…
Thae Thae’s situation has drastically changed. When we took a step back and analyzed this long-term relationship, we were astonished by the progress this family has made! We are so encouraged to see that significant healing has occurred for Thae Thae. She is now better equipped to face family challenges and has developed a deeper understanding of her children. They are *all* attending Thai school, and she has begun working again, earning some income.
Thanks to her incredible, hard-fought progress, GCA has been able to phase out support for food and household supplies. Thae Thae is doing her best to become self-reliant, and her efforts have paid off. We are honored that she continues to communicate openly with us about what she can provide for her family and what she needs help with.
We hope you can feel the love and familial support these pictures show. We hope you can see the deep connections between the children and Thae Thae.
Giving to GCA helps ensure that we can form meaningful relationships with families and stay committed to them in the same way they are committed to each other.
