Dear Donors and philanthropists,
EDF Scholarship Program started in 1988 with goal to provide education opportunities and improve the quality of life of less fortunate Thai children. Assist them to develop necessary life skills and to gain valuable knowledge they can use throughout their lives; free themselves from the cycle of poverty and help in the betterment of their own families, rural hometowns and the country as a whole.
For over 30 years, with continuing support from caring donors both in Thailand and abroad, EDF has delivered scholarships to the total number of 382,048 disadvantaged students in more than 5,600 rural schools covering 61 provinces throughout Thailand.
For the fundraising result of EDF scholarship program for this recent year 2020, we just concluded its scholarship donation raising campaign for school year 2020 on October 31st, 2020. and the official figures showed that a total of 8,425 scholarship donations were raised, accounted for 7,101 scholarships for lower secondary students, 797 scholarships for upper secondary/vocational students, 256 scholarships for poor students with disabilities, 248 scholarships for orphaned students affected by the unrest in the southernmost provinces of Thailand and 23 scholarships for higher education. It is equal to about 81 percent of the 10,360 students in our waiting list for school year 2020.
The EDF scholarship fund might not appear significant but it truly assists students from poor families gain knowledge and skills that can lead their way to a better future. For Children in rural Thailand, poverty is not only the lack of money, but also the lack of opportunity and a hope for a better future. Not being able to get a proper education prevents them from breaking the endless cycle of poverty and ignorance.
I, therefore, would like to share an interesting story of "Nick" or Nachawat Wanghirunkul, 20, former EDF scholarship student Year 2017. Even though he only got a year support from his donor in Grade 11, the scholarship truly saved life. Without the scholarship support on that day, he might have not completed high school and continue to the university at present.
EDF will commence the call for scholarship application from January to February 2021 from schools under the EDF program, after which EDF will start screening student applicants for the school year 2021. The final screening and selection process will shortlist eligible students for the next school year. EDF will later publish on our website and share to media outlets real-life struggle of students in the pursuit of their dreams.
For the coming New Year 2021, we encourage our donors to take the opportunity to enjoy tax deductions for their donations. We recommend that you consider donating “Education Gift Set” for your sponsored students and other needy students under EDF program. These gift sets will truly be the first-ever gifts that many of our scholars will have ever received in their lifetime.
From today until May 31st, 2021, EDF Foundation is accepting early scholarship donation for the coming school year 2021. You can simply make your online donation through our website or make your money transfer from banks. For details, please download the EDF donation form here.
Please do not hesitate to ask for further details about your donation, sponsored students or about your wish to write or give additional supports in any kind to your sponsored students. Please feel free to contact us at public@edfthai.porg. We will be more than glad to help you connect with your sponsored students. We provide English translation free of charge when required.
