Started in 2006, SHE (Self Help and Empowerment) is a Christian charity committed to helping women and children at risk in Thailand, many of whom are trapped in the commercial sex trade. SHE is dedicated to providing employment, vocational training and counseling for women who want to help themselves out of this industry. All proceeds go directly to helping them find employment, community, friendship, restoration, and above all restoration of their own value.
Mark, Sharon, and visiting teams spend most nights building relationships with women working in the hundreds of bars in Phuket, Thailand. Once a relationship is established after a few visits, Mark & Sharon share the vision of SHE with the women and let them know that there is a way out: they can have a salaried job making jewelry with SHE if they are interested. The only condition of employment is that they must quit their job at the bar completely.
The SHE centre is as busy as ever, the jewellery project is going well and we are selling the cookies and chocolates in a growing number outlets in Phuket. Over the past few months we have hosted some great teams and we are looking forward to the next team from YWAM who arrive at the end of the month.
We are also very pleased to welcome back 3 of our Ladies who recently graduated from the YWAM DTS school in Chiang Rai. They have all returned as SHE staff to help with the growing ministry.
This programme was started to help the many girls who work in the bars and clubs giving alternative employment and retraining. Girls such as these are trapped by poverty and have no alternative but to take to the streets at night.
Please browse through the beautiful hand made jewelry in our online store by clicking below...
Mark and Sharon Biddell are the co-founders of SHE. They and their four children, ranging from the ages of 6-16 (Jake, Luke, Joshua, and Sophie), moved from the UK to Thailand in May of 2006. They have worked in full-time missions now for over 10 years focusing on community development projects. Mark says “we have been based in various places over the years from Newcastle UK, working with Mercy Ships and specifically the Africa Mercy, field assignments in Togo, Benin and Ghana in Africa and also twice in the USA completing training schools with YWAM”. Their sending church is Lymington Baptist church in the UK where they both came to know the Lord and they are now active members of Phuket Christian Centre here in Thailand.
For more news and updates on the Biddell family, please visit www.biddellnews.com.
I love Mark and Sharon so much
because they change my life, and I do not want to leave them. I want to
stay with them forever. I am happy to make jewelry with SHE. And I
happy to see so many team come here. That be family. 
-- Glon, 25
I use believe in Buddha, but now
I believe in God. He showed me his power and helped me change my life.
"[Working in the bar] was hard with my soul, because we have to go with the customer. I am feeling bad, because sometimes we want money and have to go with customer, and that is hard. But when we here at SHE we have salary. No money in the bar if I no go with customer - I have no money. Here not a lot of salary but on my soul it feel good. Here- [putting hand over her heart] feel better.
"When working at the bar sometimes sad because we have no
customer and we sad- no money no nothing, no friends. I had lot of
friend, but not good heart. You can find many friend but no good
friend. SHE make me have lot of best friend. Good heart.
-- Wan, 24
I do not like working at the bar.
Many, many men, I don't like that. Sharon and Mark go talk about making
jewelry and ask me if I want to work with them. First, I say I have to
think about jewelry. I work more and more at bar. I be tired. I want to
stop. The bar no good. I left bar for one month, have no job no money.
Then I think I have Sharon. I call Sharon and tell her I want to work
with her. Then I come to work at SHE.
"Yes, I like to work here, many friends here. I love Sharon
and Mark. I do not want to go away. I love here, I want to work here.
-- Kae
