Over the course of 12 weeks from June to September 2016, a group of 25 migrants from Myanmar participated in a training programme implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and its project partners; the National Catholic Commission on Migration (NCCM), Rembrandt Hotel and the Thai Red Cross Society.
Funded by the Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development (SDC), the project aims to promote access to better employment opportunities and conditions for the migrants.
The following is a photo story of a series of modules intended to provide migrants with life skills and hospitality training.
Forty-year-old Nan San Deep had an unusual start to her Sunday morning. At 10am, she is assisting a person who had collapsed onto the ground and tries to rouse her by shouting commands and squeezing her shoulders. Unresponsive, she places her fingers on the victim's carotid artery to detect a pulse.
Her friend meanwhile tries to assist another victim and struggles to turn him onto his side and into the recovery position.
Thankfully, Nan San Deep, her friend and the victims are all well and are taking part in simulation. They are part of a group of 25 migrants from Myanmar who have taken time off to attend a basic first aid training course.
Conducted by the Thai Red Cross, the course targeting migrants is a first for the organization and has been specially tailored to the migrants' specific needs.
"Because it is only a day long, we want to make sure that the topics covered were relevant to the migrants daily work, but do not overwhelm them with too much information."
- Pitchayata Watchawankoo, one of three nurses conducting the training
Bone fractures, dislocated joints, animal bites, bleeding wounds, fainting and choking are some injuries typically encountered in the hospitality and domestic work sectors that the participants are largely engaged in.
The curriculum has therefore been designed to manage these injuries. Participants are taught external wound management, how to make a splint and sling and the Heimlich manoeuvre, in addition to caring for children and the elderly during initial intervention.
Throughout the day, they sit in a semi-circle and listen attentively to the trainers. Theory is interspersed with hands-on interactive activities.
The group participates enthusiastically from start to end, and had fun along the way.
The first aid course is one of 10 modules focusing on working in the hospitality sector that the group has benefited from.
In partnership with the REMBRANDT hotel, These included:
Table Service
Garment Care
Food & Beverage Preparation
Housekeeping
Self-Defense
Basic English and Thai
Despite the fact that the courses require participants to take time off on Sundays to attend them, the migrants see this as an opportunity to invest in their well-being.
All 25 of them completed the programme with an attendance rate of over 80 percent throughout its 12-week duration .
