RADION International
RADION International is a Singapore-registered Christian humanitarian relief and development non-government organization. RADION's core work primarily focuses on both short-term aid, and long-term assistance to underprivileged and marginalized communities in Asia. RADION International, headquartered in Chiang Mai, Thailand, serves communities across Thailand.
RADION has also been involved in short-term projects in disaster areas such as Myanmar, Laos and The Philippines.
RADION's programs cover child rescue and protection, community development and disaster recovery, with the bulk of its work dedicated to aiding vulnerable and at-risk children, and looking upstream to strengthen social safety nets in target communities.
Most of its donors are Singaporeans and Thais.
Founding
RADION International was founded in 2007, starting as two-man team based in Thailand. The Singaporean founders of RADION had learned of the plight of some 8,900 Hmong from previous humanitarian missions and were inspired to provide aid to the critically needy among the refugees. The Hmong, who had sought asylum in Northern Thailand following the events of the regional conflicts in Laos, had fallen into extreme poverty, with children becoming a particular high-risk group.The organization designed most of its programs to address the needs of these children and their families, which founders say necessitate long-term efforts of some "20-to-40 years".
As of 2024, the organization has grown in size and scope of influence and currently claims to impact more than 7,000 lives a year.
RADION is governed by an International Board of Directors, including both Singaporeans and Thais, with Mr Peter Phan as Chairman of the Singapore Board. The organization is led by Executive Director Eugene Wee, who is also one of the founders.
Organizational Philosophy
The organization is founded on Christian values. According to its founders, RADION's name originates from the combination of two words, "RADIATING" and "MISSION". It strongly believes in reaching vulnerable and needy groups through practical actions and being a catalyst for change within these communities.The motto of RADION is '"Every Life Matters"'''''
Long-term Focus
RADION targets communities that are underserved due to political, geographical or social constraints. The organization provides aid and promotes community development through a two-pronged approach: administering programs to beneficiaries, while looking upstream to strengthen social safety nets.The organization is currently the only non-governmental organization serving the Hmong hill-tribe village of Khek Noi — the largest Hmong community in Thailand.
Impact and Accolades
Impact
RADION is one the early advocates for Asset Based Community Development (ABCD), serving with the community, and working alongside grassroots leaders to bring about change. Through its various initiatives, RADION has brought about significant transformation to the marginalized communities it serves.Since its inception, RADION's community development initiatives and successful collaboration with local leaders has brought juvenile substance use down from 25% in the early years to the current 8%
In the past, the STREETKIDS! program also saw a 66% rehabilitation success rate for juvenile drug users on the program.
RADION also continues to equip the community with essential knowledge and skills, with the result that many beneficiaries are now equipped to uplift their own communities.
In recognition of its significant contributions, RADION has been awarded with the following:
Awards
- Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council
- Recognition award from Social Development Office, Royal Thai Embassy
- named Outstanding Brand by BrandAlliance
Key Initiatives
RADION runs a number of long-term as well as short-term programs in Asia, with most of its efforts targeting under-reached communities in Northern Thailand. The number of initiatives have grown over the years, in response to the evolving needs of their beneficiaries on the ground.1. StreetKIDS! Rehabilitation Shelter (STK)
A rescue and rehabilitation program for children from high-risk backgrounds. The program provides education, nutrition, healthcare, emotional support and character development for these children. Beginning in 2008, the StreetKIDS! program served at-risk children of primary school-going age but soon grew to include youth. It now shelters children up to the age of 21. In 2012, the StreetKIDS! program also broadened to include a rescue arm which provides direct assistance to children who are at risk of being trafficked as well as victims of abuse.The program currently operates in two centres located in Thailand - Dream Center set up in 2016, and Hope Center, built in 2022.DREAM Center - a shelter for children of primary school-going age brought into the StreetKIDS! program and the base for its rescue arm. The DREAM Center also serves as a community hub and training centre for the Hmong hill-tribe village of Khek Noi where it is located.HOPE Center - an integrated trauma care and family service center, which extends support to older child survivors and families who require counselling and therapy. The HOPE Center provides needs assessment, trauma first-aid, counselling and treatment which are open to the public.The HOPE Center works on a subsidised and pay it forward model, allowing full-paying patients to offset treatment costs for other lower income families.
2. Community Development
Over the years, RADION has made inroads by nurturing social enterprise and other community-based initiatives with the aim of addressing issues of poverty, domestic violence, substance abuse and lack of healthcare among rural communities. These include:- Project SHOPHOUSE - One of RADION's earliest initiatives which provided low-cost internet access to needy students.
- Integrated farm project - sharing of farming technologies in areas of animal husbandry, agriculture, aquaculture and bio fuel development.
- Social Enterprises for Victims of Domestic Violence - providing jobs, work skills training and rehabilitation in a safe environment to empower womenfolk towards financial independence and self-sufficiency.
- Advocacy - to educate youth in an effort to break the vicious cycle of poverty, violence and drugs, and
- social enterprise - to provide practical work-skill training and safe shelter for victims of domestic violence.
3. Village Outreach Program (VO)
A dignity program that provides nursing care, nutrition and emotional support to critically needy, disabled and terminally-ill beneficiaries in the community.4. HOPE Scholarship
A scholarship programme started in 2020, in response to the economic downturn post COVID-19 pandemic, where countless Thai families lost the ability to continue funding their children's university education.The HOPE scholarship provides a bursary to high performing students who have a clear goal of contributing back to their communities after graduation.
Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Relief
RADION provides long-term as well as short-term assistance to needy communitiesProject LIVES! - This annual humanitarian relief and awareness campaign operating out of Singapore was first started in 2007 and sought to aid targeted communities by providing relief items through community action.
DREAM Center - RADION provides direct assistance to all rural villages within a 120 km radius of its DREAM Center in Phetchabun, Thailand in the event of natural calamities or disasters that occur in the area. The DREAM Centre also serves as the base from which partner organizations provide medical screening and aid to the village.
The organization also carries out short-term crisis relief as follows:
Humanitarian Relief - projects targeted at channeling timely life-saving support to underserved communities in the event of natural disasters or calamities.
Disaster Recovery - projects which aim to provide mid-term assistance to communities impacted by disasters through the provision of livelihood options and economic recovery.
Past Crisis Relief Projects
' - Pioneered outreaches spanning 600 km across Thailand, providing food and first-aid training to 8900 in 3 different areas: Phetchabun Refugee Camp, Nong Khai Detention Center, Refugee Settlement- '