The Thai Daughter-in-Law, Farang Son-in-Law Clinic began operating on Wednesday (22/8) afternoon at the Rattanapa Center for Women’s and Family Development in Khon Kaen city. It's a pilot learning centre set up by government social development ministries.
The training centre is to advise and help Thai wives with foreign husbands in Isaan, northeastern region. The area has more women from Thailand marrying foreigners than other areas in the country.
Bangkok Post reported that the staffs would give them tips on how to adjust to their new life with a foreign husband, and what they could expect if they go to live overseas.
Social Development and Human Security Minister Anantaporn Kanjanarat noted at the opening of the clinic in Muang District that better understanding of new languages and culture were needed for women in this position.
"It could help reduce the risk of a breakup after marriage, or after they move to a new country," Kanjanarat said. He also said that the clinic is the beginning of a change in attitude about family.
Many Thai wives attended the opening with their farang husbands. Farang is Thai's word to describe a person of the white race or European ancestry.
The training centre will be run by the human security ministry and advised by experts from the departments of foreign affairs, health and justice, as well as Khon Kaen University.
In 2010, 27,357 foreigners were living in the northeastern region, 90% of them living with their Thai wives, based on statistical research by the College of Population Studies at Chulalongkorn University released last year.
In 2004, half of the 19,594 women from the region who were married to foreigners lived in Udon Thani, Khon Kaen or Nakhon Ratchasima, the researchers said. The majority of foreign husbands came from Europe, North America, Australia or New Zealand.
The researchers’ findings were based on figures from the National Statistical Office and the National Economic and Social Development Board.
Source: Bangkok Post, Chiang Rai Times