Regina Center
improving lives one stitch at a time
About me
The Regina Center started in 1983 with the main purpose of helping support women and young girls so that they can work at home or in their community. This allows them to live with their families and not have to migrate to Bangkok or big cities to earn money. The Regina Self-Help Center has training courses in tailoring, purse and bag making, weaving, embroidery and t-shirt production. Producers depend on sales of these crafts to promote the welfare of their families.
Our History
In 1981 the Good Shepherd Sisters came to Nongkhai, Thailand. Working at first in the refuguee border camps, they gained a good understanding of the local people. Also, having worked in Bangkok since 1965 with the women who had migrated to the city from the rural areas, they understood the pressures on rural families in trying to satisfy their most basic needs. It was clear to the Sisters that these people, disadvantaged in so many ways, had no choices available to them. Lacking an education or training of any sort, employment opportunities were limited.
From thesee conserns, the Regina Center was born. The project is divided into three branch locations in the town of Nongkhai, village of Huai Sai, and the Isan Weaving Project. The Isan weaving project is located near the town of Nongkhai at the Nongkhai Village Vocational Training Center. These centers were chosen for the convenience of supporting work distribution and reaching out to the workers. They are all in the Nongkhai Province of Thailand.
The women involved in the project are trained to take responsibility for management in all areas related to craft production, decision–making, accountanting , invoicing, quality control, packing, salaries and supervision. This teaches them to start a small business on their own when an opportunity occurs.
Our Video Story
Below is a short clip that tells our Regina Center story. We would like to thank SERVE for making this video.
SERVE is and Irish volunteer group that sends volunteers to work with us. They are also a big supporter of our center with their Flip-Flop Friday fundraiser. Have a look!
