Wanita: Giving Women in the Conflict-ridden Deep South a Fighting Chance

The Deep South of Thailand has been riddled with violent unrest since the 20th century. According to the non-profit international development organisation Asia Foundation's executive summary, titled "The Contested Corners of Asia," the conflict in the region decreased in the 1980s then built up again in the late 1990s, but it was only acknowledged in 2004 after "the number and scale of violent incidents rose rapidly."

The long-standing conflict in the Deep South is traced to the strained relationship between Thailand's nation state and its minority population of Malay Muslims, although the foundation emphasised that the unrest is "not purely one-dimensional."

As seen in the history of war, women and children are made collateral damage and suffer the devastating consequences that these conflicts bring. Social enterprise Wanita's founding was stemmed in the mission to further women leadership towards empowerment in the communities of the Deep South. According to the Asean Commission on the Promotion and Protect of the Rights of Women and Children's progress report, "On Women's Rights and Gender Equality," the region has seen the deaths of more than 3,000 and injuries from more than 11,000. Among women, 3,000 have been made widows by the conflict, while over 8,000 children have been orphaned.

In the same report, Wanita was used as a case study for scaling women leadership and market development in the area by helping women find empowerment through becoming local community leaders and entrepreneurs. This partnership project was supported by Oxfam and the Unilever Foundation (Thailand) through funds and technical support, with coordination from government agency Deep South Coordination Center.

The women under Wanita received mentorship, as well as leadership and entrepreneurial training to become their own entrepreneurs, producing local snacks and products like handicrafts for the public.

The project was deemed successful, with women's incomes significantly increasing by 32%; majority or 74% of the women also reported that they "felt more confidence to run their businesses after they participated in the project's incubation process." The report added that the project has reached at least 15,000 local women. 

Its online website officially kicked off in 2016 so that women can expand their sales and promote their products further to consumers. Some of Wanita's products are unique souvenirs like banana bark-covered notebooks, dreamcatchers, food like crispy saba banana, and beautiful hand-made fashion items like woven, dyed, and patchwork baskets, bags, boxes, wallets, and more.

To support Wanita, you may browse its products on its website and order via Facebook, through the number 086-054-6930, or the email [email protected].