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Formation | 2007 |
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Founder | Eugene Wee, Benjamin Goh |
Type | Non-governmental organization |
Focus | Vulnerable & Marginalized Communities |
Location | |
Area served | Thailand Laos Singapore Philippines Myanmar Pakistan |
Method | Child rescue, Advocacy, Rehabilitation, Humanitarian Relief, Disaster Recovery, Community Development, Education, Livelihood development |
Website | www |
RADION International is a Singapore-registered Christian humanitarian relief and development non-government organization (NGO). RADION's core work primarily focuses on both short-term aid, and long-term assistance to underprivileged and marginalized communities in Asia. RADION International, headquartered in Chiang Mai, Thailand, serves communities across Thailand.
RADION has also been involved in short-term projects in disaster areas such as Myanmar, Laos and The Philippines.
RADION's programs cover child rescue and protection, community development and disaster recovery, with the bulk of its work dedicated to aiding vulnerable and at-risk children, and looking upstream to strengthen social safety nets in target communities.
Most of its donors are Singaporeans and Thais. [1]
RADION International (aka RADION) was founded in 2007, starting as two-man team based in Thailand. The Singaporean founders of RADION had learned of the plight of some 8,900 Hmong from previous humanitarian missions and were inspired to provide aid to the critically needy among the refugees. The Hmong, who had sought asylum in Northern Thailand following the events of the regional conflicts in Laos, had fallen into extreme poverty, with children becoming a particular high-risk group.
The organization designed most of its programs to address the needs of these children and their families, which founders say necessitate long-term efforts of some "20-to-40 years". [1]
As of 2024, the organization has grown in size and scope of influence and currently claims to impact more than 7,000 lives a year. [2] (as reported in their corporate video)
RADION is governed by an International Board of Directors, [3] including both Singaporeans and Thais, with Mr Peter Phan as Chairman of the Singapore Board. The organization is led by Executive Director Eugene Wee, who is also one of the founders.
The organization is founded on Christian values. According to its founders, RADION's name originates from the combination of two words, "RADIATING" and "MISSION". [4] It strongly believes in reaching vulnerable and needy groups through practical actions and being a catalyst for change within these communities.
The motto of RADION is "Every Life Matters"
RADION targets communities that are underserved due to political, geographical or social constraints. The organization provides aid and promotes community development through a two-pronged approach: administering programs to beneficiaries, while looking upstream to strengthen social safety nets.
The organization is currently the only non-governmental organization serving the Hmong hill-tribe village of Khek Noi — the largest Hmong community in Thailand. [5]
RADION is one the early advocates for Asset Based Community Development (ABCD), serving with the community, and working alongside grassroots leaders to bring about change. Through its various initiatives, RADION has brought about significant transformation to the marginalized communities it serves.
Since its inception, RADION's community development initiatives and successful collaboration with local leaders has brought juvenile substance use down from 25% in the early years to the current 8% (as reported in their 2024 Ministry Report video)
In the past, the STREETKIDS! program also saw a 66% rehabilitation success rate for juvenile drug users on the program.
RADION also continues to equip the community with essential knowledge and skills (e.g. training of first responders in first-aid and mental health), with the result that many beneficiaries are now equipped to uplift their own communities.
In recognition of its significant contributions, RADION has been awarded with the following:
RADION runs a number of long-term as well as short-term programs in Asia, with most of its efforts targeting under-reached communities in Northern Thailand. The number of initiatives have grown over the years, in response to the evolving needs of their beneficiaries on the ground.
A rescue and rehabilitation program for children from high-risk backgrounds (i.e. poverty, substance abuse, gang-related activity, physical / sexual abuse and neglect). The program provides education, nutrition, healthcare, emotional support and character development for these children. Beginning in 2008, the StreetKIDS! program served at-risk children of primary school-going age but soon grew to include youth (from 2011). It now shelters children up to the age of 21. In 2012, the StreetKIDS! program also broadened to include a rescue arm which provides direct assistance to children who are at risk of being trafficked as well as victims of abuse.
The program currently operates in two centres located in Thailand - Dream Center (Phetchabun) set up in 2016, and Hope Center (Chiangmai), built in 2022.
Over the years, RADION has made inroads by nurturing social enterprise and other community-based initiatives with the aim of addressing issues of poverty, domestic violence, substance abuse and lack of healthcare among rural communities. These include:
It currently runs the Community Development Program (CDP) - a consolidated, holistic programme with a two-pronged approach focusing on:
A dignity program that provides nursing care, nutrition and emotional support to critically needy, disabled and terminally-ill beneficiaries in the community.
A scholarship programme started in 2020, in response to the economic downturn post COVID-19 pandemic, where countless Thai families lost the ability to continue funding their children's university education.
The HOPE scholarship provides a bursary to high performing students who have a clear goal of contributing back to their communities after graduation.
RADION provides long-term as well as short-term assistance to needy communities
Project LIVES! - This annual humanitarian relief and awareness campaign operating out of Singapore was first started in 2007 and sought to aid targeted communities by providing relief items through community action.
DREAM Center - RADION provides direct assistance to all rural villages within a 120 km radius of its DREAM Center in Phetchabun, Thailand in the event of natural calamities or disasters that occur in the area. The DREAM Centre also serves as the base from which partner organizations provide medical screening and aid to the village.
The organization also carries out short-term crisis relief as follows:
Humanitarian Relief - projects targeted at channeling timely life-saving support (e.g. food, shelter, medical care and crisis support) to underserved communities in the event of natural disasters or calamities.
Disaster Recovery - projects which aim to provide mid-term assistance to communities impacted by disasters through the provision of livelihood options and economic recovery.
RADION International has worked with and is supported by the following sponsors and partners:
3M | DKSH | Noel Gifts |
Active Cool | EM Services | Pan Pacific Singapore |
Afiko Delivery | Far East Packaging Industrial Pte Ltd | Pattaya Garden Restaurant |
Afton Chemical | GGN Grenature Grains | PeraMakan |
APL | GoGo Van | Scoot |
Beacons Pharmaceuticals | Green with Envi | Seatrade |
Biotronik | Hermitage Wine | SilkAir |
Bridge Learning | Hilton Garden Inn | SKS Books |
Cathay Pacific | iFLY Singapore | Starhub |
Ceva Logistics | INTASE | Syngenta |
Chinatown Heritage Centre | Keppel Club | The Dental Studio |
Colins Photograffi | LC Development | Tiffany Chairs Rental |
CON-LASH | LION Corporation | Trusted Services |
Conrad Singapore | Mitsuk OSK Lines (MOL) | Welch Allyn Singapore |
Crocs | MSA Singapore | York Hotel |
CTC Global | NCL |
Cornerstone Community Services | Project Kyrie |
Cru Singapore | Project Light |
FoodBank | RauLife |
Habitat for Humanity | The Salvation Army |
Salt & Light | The Thought Collective |
Our Daily Bread Ministries | Youth Guidance Outreach Services (YGOS) |
Lee Foundation (Singapore) | Gracefield Foundation (Singapore) |
HealthEX | Singapore Management University (SMU) |
SCAPE Singapore | National University of Singapore (NUS) |
Rotary Club Pandan Valley |
Paya Lebar Methodist Church | Lighthouse Evangelism Church |
Trinity Christian Center | Faith Community Baptist Church |
Wesley Methodist Church | Covenant Evangelical Free Church |
Grace Assembly of God | Bethesda Frankel Estate Church |
Changi Baptist Church | Singapore Bible College |
National Youth Council (Singapore) |
Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (Singapore) |
Royal Thai Embassy (Singapore) |