On 6 April 2026, World Vision Foundation of Thailand, in collaboration with a network of Christian non-governmental organizations, convened a Church Partnership Planning Meeting at the World Vision Foundation of Thailand Training Center. The meeting aimed to enhance operational effectiveness, reduce duplication of efforts, and strengthen collaborative synergies among organizations engaged in development and child protection work within the Thai context.
The meeting served as a platform for participating organizations to exchange overviews, approaches, and experiences related to Church Partnership initiatives. Participants also jointly reflected on lessons learned, successes, challenges, and best practices in working with churches. This convening marked an important starting point for building strategic collaboration among Christian NGOs, with a shared vision to define common directions and initiate the development of a joint cooperation framework for future implementation.
Representatives from the following organizations and institutions participated in the meeting:
the Master of Religion and Ethics for Sustainable Development (MURESD), Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University; Compassion Thailand Foundation; Christian Foundation for the Blind in Thailand; A21 Thailand Foundation; Operation Blessing (Thailand) Foundation; CBN Thailand; Step Ahead Foundation; and the World Vision Foundation of Thailand.
During the meeting, participants reached a consensus to establish a Church Partnership Working Group, with an initial focus on collaboration with churches in the area of child care and child safeguarding and protection. The working group jointly defined its goals, objectives, target groups, and preliminary operational approaches in a concrete and systematic manner.
In the initial phase of implementation, the working group will prioritize the design of mechanisms for advocacy and promotion in partnership with churches, including:
- The development of minimum standards for child safeguarding and protection within churches;
- The design and development of capacity-building curricula for churches on key issues, with particular emphasis on child safeguarding and protection, which is expected to take approximately six months to complete.
In the subsequent phase, the working group will implement pilot projects based on the jointly developed model and gradually expand successful approaches for nationwide implementation.
This collaboration reflects the strong commitment of Christian non-governmental organizations to work in an integrated and coordinated manner to improve the quality of life of children and families in Thailand. Through strengthening the role of churches and Christian networks as key development partners, this initiative contributes to sustainable social development and the long-term well-being of children across the country.
