Background : Economic difficulties of tribal people

        Over the past few decades, economic conditions for the ethnic minorities of northern Thailand have gradually deteriorated, making it difficult for them to maintain their traditionally self-reliant agrarian lifestyle. More and more tribal persons have been forced to go to into the cities to find work -- a change for which they are poorly prepared.

         Approximately 50% of tribal people have received no formal Thai education. Most speak only their tribal language, not Thai, and are thus vulnerable to exploitation when they seek employment outside their villages. Especially at risk are young tribal women, who have such a deep sense of responsibility for the economic support of their families that they are often willing to earn money in any job.

        By the mid-1980s, Dr. Paul and Mrs. Elaine Lewis, American Baptist missionaries to tribal people for more than 40 years and co-authors of the book Peoples of the Golden Triangle, had become concerned about the increasing number of young hill tribe women who were going down to the cities and being tricked or forced into abusive labor situations (including prostitution). They realized that these young women had few economic options available because they had never received an education, and they began brainstorming ways to address this problem.

         The idea gradually took shape of a place that would house the young tribal women while they attended the government sponsored adult school, and attended vocational training. Elaine proposed the idea for such a residential center to the Board of Thai Tribal Crafts (TTC), a non-profit organization she had helped found 20 years earlier. A subcommittee was formed, and seven months of planning ensued.

          It was finally decided to invite Rev. Lauran Bethell, an American Baptist missionary who was then in Bangkok studying Thai, to come and work with the new project in the northern city of Chiang Mai. Rev. Bethell began commuting from Bangkok on weekends to participate in the planning meetings of the subcommittee, and eventually moved to Chiang Mai to begin working as the first Director of the project.

The New Life Center opens

          On May 5, 1987, the first house of the New Life Center opened, with 18 young women. Today, the New Life Center is a legally registered NGO, servicing about 120 girls per year in educational, vocational, and emergency services. The residents represent all six of the major tribal groups in northern Thailand : Akha, Hmong, Karen, Lahu, Lisu and Mien.

          In addition to its residents, the NLC sponsors 100 children living in rural villages, to attend school at age appropriate levels. This scholarship aid includes transportation, uniforms, books and materials expenses. Without these funds, the children would most likely have to go to work to support their families.

The New Life Center Adult School

          When the Center's Chiang Rai Branch opened in May 1997, the Royal Thai Government Department of Education graciously provided teachers for adult education for the Center. However, it became evident over time that the quality of education there was not to the standard available in Chiang Mai. After a number of discussions between the New Life Center and the Department of Education, it was decided that the NLC would open an adult school, in cooperation with the government, which would also be available to the community.

        In November 1998, with a grant of funds from Beter-uit Reizen (Holland), the New Life Center Adult School was opened. It uses the premises of the United Village School, a private Christian school for hill tribe children, which is just across the street from the Center. Presently, the NLC Adult School is the only full-service non-formal education available in the province of Chiang Rai.