In each newsletter Sompop delivers a personal message about DEPDC's activities. Here are his words from our latest newsletter.

The end of the year has always been a time to reflect back on our challenges and successes and use these experiences to plan for the future at DEPDC. Now that I have been involved in trafficking prevention for 17 years, the time has also come to look at the impact our work is having throughout the Mekong region. Starting in 1989 with just 19 daughters, DEPDC has grown to include formal and non-formal education for at-risk people of all ages, as well as child rights and protection services and a new thrust to form an extensive grassroots regional network through Mekong Youth Net.

My daughters who have been with me from the first year of the program are now running DEPDC practically without me! My confidence in the staff and administrators at DEPDC and the pressing needs for trafficking prevention and protection programs in other Mekong countries lead me to a difficult but exciting decision – as of January 15, 2007, I have resigned as director of DEPDC in order to pursue anti-trafficking programs throughout the Greater Mekong Sub-region.

I leave DEPDC in the capable and experienced hands of Ms. Alinda Wettasin, a trusted and hardworking friend who has been with me for 17 years and knows the organization inside and out. As I try to expand the anti-trafficking work of DEPDC to Thailand's neighboring countries through the Mekong Youth Net, I will remain DEPDC's founder and a consultant to Ms. Alinda, continuing to be active at our centers. My decision to leave the directorship is not a break with DEPDC, but a chance to use these 17 years of experience in Thailand to help the daughters and sons of Laos, China, and Myanmar.

This is a very exciting time for the children, staff, and youth leaders at DEPDC. I ask for your continuing support and interest in anti-trafficking work during this time transition and expansion. DEPDC will continue its work to help children and women protect themselves from exploitation with the guidance of Ms. Alinda and support from our partners around the world.

Let me take this opportunity to thank and send my greetings to all the funding agencies, private donors, friends, media contacts, supporters, visitors, volunteers, academics, researchers, intern students, GO’s, and other NGO’s who have shared all the successes of DEPDC since 1989 until today. Thank you again.

Sompop Jantraka

Founder and Director, DEPDC