Thailand Research Fund - Alternative Activity Research (AAR).

The Thailand Research Fund (TRF) is a national body that provides budgetary support to young researchers, aiming to build research capacity in Thailand.

In the Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, Songkhla provinces of South Thailand, the TRF runs a programme called ‘Alternative Activity Research’ (AAR). This programme aims to support women and children who have been affected by the armed conflict in this region since 2004, by supporting research on the problems that affect them. The conflict has left a great deal of orphans and widows, who face not only the trauma of losing loved ones but also economic problems. The AAR helps to establish women and youth groups to try and build a network amongst themselves and to help with their economic situation. In this programme, TRF acts as a trainer and consultant.