Education extends beyond academics when it comes to safeguarding vulnerable children from hidden dangers.
Ahead of the new academic term, Stella Maris of the Diocese of Chanthaburi conducted a spiritual renewal and child protection workshop for 72 teachers and staff at Daracharas School in Bang Khla District, Chachoengsao Province, east of Bangkok.
Titled “Staying Alert to Nearby Dangers to Protect Students,” the Oct. 18 initiative sought to equip faculty with tools to identify early warning signs of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, and digital scams.
“Father Soodjen places a high priority on child protection. The goal is to empower children with knowledge to protect themselves, while ensuring that adults within the school are prepared to remain vigilant, listen, and coordinate necessary support,” said Apinya Tajit, deputy director of Stella Maris for seafarers and migrants within the Diocese of Chanthaburi.
The workshop was spearheaded by Father Soodjen Fonruang, who serves as the licensee representative, manager and chairman of the executive board at Daracharas School while also directing the maritime ministry for the Diocese of Chanthaburi.
Father Soodjen has long led pastoral care and material assistance for local fishers, port workers and displaced populations, including Rohingya refugees, along Thailand’s eastern coast.
Extending this pastoral work to Catholic education, he spearheaded the training series in Bang Khla, a district that has recently endured severe and prolonged flooding.
The teacher workshop marked the second phase of a broader initiative, following a preliminary training session for Daracharas students on Sept. 18. By educating both pupils and educators, the program seeks to integrate child protection into daily school operations and pastoral care.
Apinya, who led the session as guest speaker, also assists Father Pairat Sriprasert, national director of Stella Maris Thailand, and sits on the lay committee for Talitha Kum Thailand, a network dedicated to ending human trafficking.
Honored by the U.S. Department of State as a “TIP Report Hero” in 2022, Apinya brought more than two decades of field experience coordinating with the Royal Thai Police, the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.
She presented educators with information on the tactics used by human traffickers and online perpetrators to manipulate minors.
She emphasized that prevention at the grassroots level can spare children from severe trauma while reducing the social and judicial burdens associated with long-term rehabilitation and law enforcement operations.
The training covered four key areas: identifying trafficking and online grooming through deceptive recruitment and coercion tactics; countering digital scams and cyber threats, including false high-income claims and gaming fraud, through the principle of “Stop, Think, Verify”; recognizing bullying, sexual exploitation, nonverbal warning signs, cyberbullying and the misuse of private imagery; and providing trauma-informed support through confidential documentation, avoiding victim-blaming and coordinating rapid referrals with local authorities such as the Provincial Office of Social Development and Human Security.
“Teachers serve as a vital force in prevention. They are closest to the children, able to notice subtle shifts in behavior, and capable of fostering a safe environment where youth feel comfortable speaking up,” Apinya said.
The initiative at Daracharas School is part of a wider pastoral effort by Stella Maris to build protective networks across Thai Catholic educational institutions.
On Oct. 3, Stella Maris collaborated with Sister Marie Agnes at St. Paul Convent School in Sri Racha to train approximately 120 private school administrators.
On Oct. 14, a specialized session was conducted for international students at Saengtham College’s Xavier Campus in the northern Diocese of Chiang Rai.
For Catholic educators, child protection is not merely an administrative policy but a duty rooted in the teachings of Christ and the Church’s social mission.
“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” — Matthew 18:5
By training teachers to become “trusted adults,” the school aims to ensure that vulnerable children, particularly those suffering silently or facing online coercion, are met with compassionate listening and swift action.
Through practical classroom integration, age-appropriate guidance, and network partnerships, Daracharas School continues efforts to turn the Gospel’s call to love into concrete protection for children.
