Ashton Skobel

Howdy, my name is Ashton Skobel, and I had the wonderful opportunity to intern for Dton Naam in Bangkok, Thailand during the summer of 2018!

Job Description

Requirements & Qualifications

“We are looking for university interns that are willing to walk alongside these Thai individuals, whether it’s going weekly into red light districts-building trust and friendships with sex workers; or by teaching daily classes to the young Thais that have already joined the recovery program; and/or helping them in the job training site which is our cafe/bakery. -- Our work is intense, stretching, and difficult, yet it is also a joyful, beautiful privilege to walk alongside these Thai individuals. This internship will change you in more ways than you can imagine.” (GoNow, 2017.)

Achievements

This internship allows for many different avenues of personal growth. I have gotten to implement many practical work skills such as advertisement, promotional design, and event planning. Some of the projects I have assisted in running include an educational fundraiser and a live music night. There are also opportunities for growth in relational ministry through walking alongside these individuals afflicted by the sex industry. These include, but are not limited to,  teaching life skills and religious classes as well as outreach in the red light districts of Bangkok. 

Dton Naam is "interested in applicants with a solid faith in Christ who are studying social work counseling, art courses, education or business," that can describe themselves as “emotionally and spiritually mature [and] willing to enter into the difficult stories of our people.” (GoNow, 2017.)

Benefits & Opportunities

Interning in one of the largest international cities in the world allows for many opportunities for both recreation and networking. Interns have weekends off and are given one long weekend off to have time to yourself, explore Bangkok, or travel. In my free time, I got the opportunity to visit the beautiful beaches in Thailand, check out Bangkok markets, and tour the mountainous city of Chiang Mai. There are also many opportunities to network relating to international ministry. Staff members have all different types of backgrounds in a variety of different ministries organizations and places, having especially close connections with many ministries involving human trafficking and prostitution. Room and board is arranged for you, and rent is really cheap in Bangkok (so is food and pretty much everything else)!

Dton Naam Ministries offers boys and transgender sex workers the opportunity to leave prostitution and helps them to rebuild their lives holistically by providing education, healthcare, counseling, and vocational skills training. (Dton Naam, 2015.)

About Dton Naam

Dton Naam is a nonprofit organization that works to give workers in the sex industry a chance to leave by walking with them to make healthier life decisions by providing them with opportunities for the education and skills they need to rebuild their lives. The organization focuses on the empowerment of the individual, encouraging the use of their own resources while providing assistance and counseling where needed.

Bangkok is a large international hub for prostitution with every race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality involved in its existence. The industry is built on a messy history of culture and familial expectation from all over the world colliding in this one city. Dton Naam focuses on helping male and transgender ("ladyboys") prostitutes as there are already a few organizations helping women. Currently, Dton Naam is the only nonprofit offering help to these male and ladyboy individuals.