Chiang Mai Consultation 2005

2nd Asha Forum Asia Consultation & Training
March 18 - 22, 2005, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Our second Asia consultation was an amazing success!

Over 100 participants came from at least seventeen countries. Seventeen speakers provided training in four areas: Advocacy, Education & Awareness,  Funding, and Restorative Process. We celebrated all the significant progress made since our first consultation in February 2004. The four working groups identified obstacles, improved coordinated plans to help children at risk of sexual abuse, and included new participants to increase impact.

Jan, a psychologist and author on her way to help with tsunami relief in Sri Lanka, commented: "I'm indebted to you for bringing all this together that will help in my work... we need you."

Participants appreciated both the contacts and the content of the sessions, and we are looking forward to providing more of these types of training and consultations in the future.

5-Year Goals of The Asha Forum Asia’s four Working Groups:

Advocacy Working Group:
• Increase protection of children at risk of sexual abuse.
• Raise awareness of all forms/ types of sexual abuse at all levels.

Education & Awareness Working Group:
• Identify existing material, training and trainers to educate children and families, churches and Christian organizations, and communities, in specific target areas.

Funding Working Group:
• Ensure Asha members have sustainable funding to achieve Asha Asia goals.

Restorative Process Working Group:
• a) Develop a network of international church members with restorative process skills who could serve with local church-based ministries and/ or organizations. b) Train other networks to do the same. c) Track the movement/ migration of our trained & experienced volunteers and introduce them to opportunities at their next posting.
• a) To have visitor policies that are proactive in protecting Asian children from any potential harm or re-exploitation. b) 60 % of The Asha Forum Asia members adopting policies c) Visitor policy serving as step toward global Asha Forum adoption.

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Grants Available to Achieve Asha Forum Asia Goals

The Asha Forum has acquired some funding to help participants achieve Asia regional objectives. The following grants are available:

• Asha Forum Asia National/ Local Follow up Consultations - Grants of 50% of the costs of a national or local consultation if organizers meet criteria specified in the grant guidelines. Grants are from $200 to $600 USD.
• Achieving Asha Forum Asia Working Group Outcomes - Grants from $300 to $7000 USD, totalling up to 70% of total project costs are available to help The Asha Forum Asia working groups and national/local alliances achieve working group objectives.

For grant guidelines and an application, email .

Cirencester 2005  Chiang Mai 2005  KL 2004  DC 2003  Zwolle 2002  Yokohama 2001