Boothbay-based Friends of Thai Daughters (FTD) and Newcastle-based Mexicali Blues partnered recently in Northern Thailand. Julie Lamy of FTD and Chauncey and Caleb Erskine of Mexicali Blues met in Thailand at the end of January to create a video featuring the lives of the young girls and women who are part of FTD’s program in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

With GoPros in hand, the Erskine brothers gathered footage throughout a whirlwind visit to Northern Thailand. Chauncey and Caleb’s friend, Ben Hoagland from South Bristol, took photos. The FTD and Mexicali Blues crews visited two villages near the Thai border with Myanmar in the Golden Triangle. Three of FTD’s daughters, Mee, Ratree and Som-o, came along on the trip to their home villages. After visiting the two villages, the film crew headed back to Chiang Rai to pick up the rest of the daughters from school. After returning to the FTD safe house, the Sunflower House, everyone jumped back in the FTD pick up truck to head to the Chiang Rai night market to celebrate the exciting and exhausting day.

The concept for this video evolved a few months ago when Lamy saw a video produced by Mexicali Blues highlighting the process and relationships involved in producing Mexicali Blues’ textile products from India. The video was shot and produced by Chauncey Erskine. Since Mexicali Blues co-owner, Kim Erskine, serves on FTD’s board, the possibility of collaboration emerged. Both Kim Erskine and Lamy felt Chauncey would be a perfect fit for sharing FTD’s world in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

Chauncey will edit the video over the coming months while on a tour of Southeast Asia including a stop in Bali to make another video for Mexicali Blues. The FTD video will debut at Friends of Thai Daughters annual fundraising event, The Sunflower Celebration. The event, scheduled for Thursday, June 16 in Wellesley, Massachusetts, will also feature Maine musicians Inanna Sisters in Rhythm. FTD plans to partner with area hotels to offer discount lodging for its Maine friends.

Friends of Thai Daughters (FTD), is an NGO helping young girls at risk of being trafficked in Northern Thailand. The program is working to grow thoughtfully over the next few years to reach more young girls at risk. For more information on FTD or the Sunflower Celebration, visit www.friendsofthaidaughters.org or email Julie@friendsofthaidaughters.org.