ATD Fourth World has been active inAsia for a number of years,initially through the PermanentForum on Extreme Poverty in theWorld. Since 1980, full-timevolunteers in Asia continue todeepen their understanding of theconditions that surround the livesof those in extreme poverty.

The Friends of ATD Foundationin Thailand was set up in 1992 andregistered under Thai law in orderto create a formal structure fortheir work. It is currently chairedby Dr. Narumol Nirathron,professor at the Faculty of SocialAdministration, ThammasatUniversity. In November 2004,ATD Fourth World received fromthe Ministry of Labour thepermission to operate in Thailandas a branch of a foreign Non-Governmental Organisation.In the Philippines, ATD FourthWorld is declared at the Securityand Exchange Commission(SEC) since 1996.ATD Fourth World’s work in theregion is formed around threeprinciple objectives:

➜To support families livingin poverty to turn their livesaround, by strengthening theirself-awareness and self-confidencethrough cultural and artisticactivities, and by finding new waysforward by building on familysupport.

➜To increase public awarenessof the positive contribution that theexperience and knowledge ofpeople living in poverty can makein the search for ways of creating afairer society.

➜To advocate for greaterattention to the situation offamilies living in extremepoverty and give themopportunities to take part inevents organized by the UnitedNations, UN agencies and otherinternational organisations.

Asia

Street Libraries are held in fourcommunities in Manila providingchildren with access to learning.For small children it helps toprepare for primary school. Anannual Festival of Learninglasts 5 to 6 weeks during summerholiday including preparation andevaluation. It is the chance forchildren and young people toproduce something beautiful ofwhich they can be proud andgain in confidence. It may alsobe the occasion to enjoy outingsto places they have never visited:an art museum or an interestingpart of their city they rarelyfrequent. For the last few years, afacilitation group, mainlycomposed of mothers and youngwomen from the 4 communitieshave been involved in theplanning, facilitating andevaluation of street libraries andthe festival of learning event.They receive training to enhancetheir skills in facilitating activitiesfor the children. The facilitatorsfrom the communities havediscovered new skills anddeveloped a real partnership from

working together with the teamof full-time volunteers andfriends.

In 2007, people from severalcommunities were particularlyconcerned about efforts to evictand relocate many poor familieswho are “squatting” in differentareas of Manila. They spoke oftheir fear for those who do notmanage to support themselvesand their families in suburbsdistant from where they used toearn a livelihood. The AdultForums, held every 3 weeks,provide a space for adults fromthe communities, friends andfull-time volunteers at the ATDFourth World office to discussconcerns and topics and toshare news. The Adult Forumsgave participants a vehicle toshare their experiences andfears of eviction, unifying them,building solidarity among thosefrom different communities,and helping them to have aclearer picture of the issue.They were also able to discussissues regarding relocation with

Empowering families by enabling access to Knowledge and Expression

In Bangkok, ATD Fourth Worldhas been running street librariesin Saphan Phut since 1988, aslum community of about 80families. For several years,residents had voiced their wishfor a Community Centre to beused for: activities with thechildren; shelter when they areplaying, reading, or doing theirhomework; community meetingsand celebrations and to welcomeguests respectfully. Even thoughthe Community Centre projectstemmed from the communityitself, the challenge remained tostrengthen solidarity within thecommunity and to unite peoplein taking responsibility for theproject. During the planning

phase, a resident explained thatas they lived in constant fear ofeviction, “There is no solidarityamong the community. If weweren’t afraid of being evicted, oursense of unity would probably growstronger.” The Air FranceFoundation, which has supportedATD Fourth World projects inother countries, funded thebuilding of the Centre. ATDFourth World’s role was tofacilitate the partnership betweenthe architect and members of thecommunity – male residents tookan active part in its construction– and liaise with the communityto ensure the project met theirexpectations and needs. It alsoinvolved inviting local Thai

organizations working with poorcommunities where similarprojects had succeeded to sharetheir experience with thecommunity, who in turn invitedSaphan Phut residents to see howprojects had helped buildsolidarity within theircommunity. The Centre wassuccessfully completed andinaugurated on 2 December2007.

“ It is a way to help, give joy,

speak with the children and talk

with their parents and to have

exchange about our life.  I can

share my life with them.”

A mother, part of the facilitation

team in Manila.

public authority representatives.Participants see the building ofpartnerships between familiestargeted for eviction and publicauthorities as a possible futuredirection for the Forums towork towards better outcomesin relocation projects foreveryone.

In October 2007, an activeparticipant in the Adult Forum,who previously lived in acommunity under a bridge inManila, was invited to share his,as well as other Forumcontributors’, experience ofeviction and relocation to thesuburbs as part of a delegation

taking part in a seminar in Paris,France. Other members of thedelegation were a facilitator fromthe Festival of Learning and theExecutive Director of thePhilippines Red Cross, who waspreviously Secretary of theDepartment of Social Welfareand Development.

Strengthening solidarity within the community

In the Philippines, October 17was proclaimed National Day forOvercoming Extreme Poverty in1993 with the inauguration of areplica of the CommemorativeStone to the victims of extreme

poverty in Rizal Park, Manila.For October 17 2007, ATDFourth World was invited to takepart in a core-group organizingthe National Week forOvercoming Extreme Poverty. Apublic event was organized withthe United Nations and theNational Commission onCulture and the Arts (NCCA),for which ATD Fourth Worldtook responsibility for draftingthe programme, which gathered2800 people at Rizal Park.

In addition, two members ofATD Fourth World in Manilawere asked to join theInternational Movement’sdelegation in New York to submitthe signatures from theCampaign to the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, as part

of the celebration of the 2007International Day for theEradication of Poverty. ThePresident of the InternationalMovement ATD Fourth World,Nina Lim Yuson, Filipina, and

Susie Devins, then deputydirector general, led thisdelegation. One of the delegates,a young street library facilitator,who had previously benefitedfrom the activities in hiscommunity as a child, was askedto speak and read the pledgealongside the Secretary-Generalat the official UNCommemoration, organised inlink with Millennium Campaign’sStand Up event.

In Thailand, 17 Octobercelebrations are held inpartnership with UN agencies inBangkok (United NationsEconomic and SocialCommission for Asia and thePacific - ESCAP). In August2007, a delegation of ATDFourth World members met the

Minister of Social Developmentand Human Security of Thailandleading to the 2007commemoration being held inpartnership between the Ministryand ATD Fourth World, and a

second event being held withESCAP. ATD Fourth Worldensured people experiencingpoverty were at the centre of bothevents: a Singtho Groupperformance (lion dance) byresidents from the Bangkok Noicommunity, testimonies fromslum dwellers and a Taporisilhouettes exhibition: “Listen tous and we’ll change the worldtogether!”

In 2008, a seminar was heldentitled ‘Inclusive Society:Human Rights-BasedApproach to the Eradicationof Poverty’, coinciding with the60th anniversary of the UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights. Itwas organized in partnershipwith UNESCO’s Regional Unitfor Social and Human Sciences

Raising public awareness – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, October 17

in Asia and the Pacific(RUSHSAP), The Friends ofATD Foundation and ATDFourth World in Bangkok.Delegates living in extremepoverty from the Bangkok Noiand Saphan Phut communitiesstressed the challenge ofaccessing their right to housingwhich allows them to earn aliving without permanent fear ofeviction.

“Listen to us and we’ll changethe world together” –TaporiSilhouette ExhibitionIn 2006 and 2007, the TaporiSilhouettes Campaign enabledchildren from around the worldto express feelings about theirlife, their responsibilities andexpectations for the future. InManila, ATD Fourth Worldexhibited silhouettes andmessages of children from thePhilippines, Thailand and Franceat several locations in the city,including the Museo Pambata,National Museum and theNational Library. This has led toan invitation from the NationalLibrary to enable facilitatorsfrom the communities where

Street Libraries are run toparticipate in storytellingtraining.

“ It was truly a beautiful event,

because my child was there and

her work was on display.  Many

parents from our community

were very happy and proud that

their children’s work was

exhibited in the Museum.  It also

helped some parents understand

that ATD Fourth World is an

international movement.”

A mother from communitywhere Street Libraries are heldat the opening of the Taporiexhibition at the MuseoPambata, Manila.

In 2007, the InternationalMovement ATD Fourth Worldorganised a series of meetingswith people living in poverty inorder to ensure that theirknowledge and opinions directlyinform the Draft GuidingPrinciples on Extreme povertyand Human rights. Aconsultation event was held inBangkok with Professor Yokota,expert of the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotionand Protection of Human Rights,community members, ATDFourth World volunteers andfriends. Following this meeting,a member of the Friends of ATDFoundation invited ProfessorYokota to address a lecture atChulalongkorn University. Hedeveloped the strong linkbetween the fight against extremepoverty and reaching humanrights for all.

In October 2007, a Thaidelegation was also part of agroup who travelled to Geneva,

Switzerland to meet DoruCostea, the president of theUnited Nations Human RightsCouncil , to present her with thefindings of ATD Fourth World’sworldwide consultations.

Books, publications:

“Gold Under theBridge”, writtenby Filipina full-time volunteerMarilyn Gutierrez,illustrating the lifeof a family livingunder the bridge ina district southeastof Manila.

Translation inThai of the book“Joseph” byAnneliesWuillemin

Consultation on the UN Draft Guiding Principles: The rights of the poor

International Movement ATD Fourth WorldAsia RegionMarie-Claire Droz, Patricia and Claude Heyberger84/1 Soi Kingplu, Sathorn Soi 11Bangkok 10120 - THAILANDregion.asia@atd-fourthworld.org

Tel: 00 66 2 286 57 49

International Movement ATDFourth World107, avenue du Général Leclerc95480 Pierrelaye, Francewww.atd-fourthworld.org

www.atd-fourthworld.org/Contact-us.html

Tel: 00 33 (0)1 34 30 46 10Fax: 00 33 (0)1 30 36 22 21