Many are lured from their homes with the offer of work in restaurants or factories, then trapped into prostitution. Some are sold by their parents, often unwittingly, to pay debts or buy necessities or luxuries for the family. Thai culture views supporting parents as honorable, no matter how the money is earned. Napaporn and her partner, Supaluck Chaikaew, operate a small sewing business. The two women visit families in the community.
Education can seem like a luxury to many families in the community.
Children are encouraged to assist financially and the trend in the poor areas has been to sell the girls. They have lived with their grandparents in a small house 28 miles from Phayao since their parents divorced 15 years ago. They have not heard from their mother since. His wife earns a little money selling vegetables. Their income is never enough and they frequently borrow money from a local money lender at high interest rates.