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> Featured Stories
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| | Premjit Bamram, Former EDF scholarship student, 1992-1997
Premjit Bamram
Bachelor’s Degree of Nursing with 2nd class honors,
Boromarajonani College of Nursing, Mahidol University
Current profession: Professional Operating Room Nurse,
Joh Ai Rong Hospital, Narathiwat Province
former EDF student scholar from grades 7-12 (1992-1997),
Yasothon Province
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| | Panlop Thima Former EDF scholarship student, 1995-1997
Panlop Thima
Bachelor's degree with first class honors
Thai language program, Faculty of Humanities
and Social Sciences,
Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University
Former Channel 5 news reporter
Currently work as a music teacher
Former EDF scholarship student, 1995-1997
Nongkee Pittayakom School, Buriram province
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| | A Shining Hope for Maprang
Because parents work as construction workers and constantly relocating to different construction sites in different provinces, Rungjiraphon Jongsanthea or Maprang, a grade 7 student at Nongwang Pittayakom School, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, has to live with her uncle and aunt doing menial work mowing lawns and farming rice.
Their combined income of only 200-300 baht a day, plus the money received from Maprang’s parents and another parent, often fall short to fully cover the educational and other expenses for three nieces and nephews under their care so they had to borrow money from relatives and neighbors on many occasions.
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| | Tawanchay (Chay) 14, Applying for a 1-Year lower secondary scholarship, Academic year 2022, Surin province
Tawanchay (Chay) 14 years old, Grade 8
Samrong Thap Wittayakom School, Surin province
Applying for a 1-Year lower
secondary scholarship, Academic year 2022
Hello, my name is Tawanchay and my nickname is Chay. I am 14 years old and study in grade 8 at Samrong Thap Wittayakom School, Surin Province. I have four elder siblings. All of them dropped out of school so I am the only one left studying. My family is living in difficult time since my father passed away last year after many years of fighting cancer. Even since my father got sick, my mother has been working harder to support everyone.
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| | Wongsakorn (Few), 12, Applying for a scholarship for students with disabilities to attend regular schools, Academic year 2022, Kalasin Province
Wongsakorn (Few), 12 years old, Grade 6
Ban Som Poi School, Kalasin Province
Applying for a scholarship for students with
disabilities to attend regular schools,
Academic year 2022
Hello, my name is Wongsakorn and my nickname is Few. I am 12 years old and study in Grade 6 at Ban Som Poi School, Kalasin Province.
I have physical disability and visual impairment. Things blurry and unclear. I have to wear very thick lens eyeglasses. I live with my mother and grandparents. My mother works as an irregular worker. My grandfather is a farmer while my grandmother weaves clothes at home.
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| | Rakchat (Rakchat), 15, Applying for a 1-year upper secondary scholarship, Academic year 2022, Buriram Province
Rakchat (Rakchat), 15 years old, Grade 10
Dongplong Pittayakom School, Buriram Province
Applying for a 1-year upper
secondary scholarship, Academic year 2022
Hello, my name is Rakchat, studying in Grade 10 at Dongplong Pittayakom School, Buriram Province, which is a small secondary school located near my home. This helps my parents save some school expenses and traveling costs.
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| | Panakorn (Garfield), 12, Waiting for a 3-year lower secondary scholarship, academic year 2022, Sisaket province
Panakorn (Garfield), 13 years old,
Grade 7, Ban Sam Sao School, Sisaket province
Waiting for a 3-year lower secondary scholarship, academic year 2022.
We have four in the family: my grandfather, grandmother, my younger sibling and myself. Our house is a small old brick house in dilapidated condition. My family is very poor. My grandfather works as a seasonal worker while my grandmother is blind and is unable to work.
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| | Supanut (Koh), 13, Waiting for a scholarship for students with disabilities attending regular school, academic year 2022, Nong Bua Lamphu province
Supanut (Koh), 13 years old,
Grade 7, Fai Hin Pacharak School, Nong Bua Lamphu Province
Waiting for a scholarship for students with disabilities attending regular school, academic year 2022.
My parents broke up when I was just one year old. My mother left me to my grandparents, then she went to work in Bangkok. When I was little, I can recall my grandparents babysitting while digging for cassava and harvesting crops at the same time to earn money.
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| | Suwee (Priew), 16, Waiting for an upper secondary scholarship, academic year 2022, Amnat Charoen province
Suwee (Priew), 16 years old,
Grade 10, Phana Suksa School, Amnat Charoen Province
Waiting for an upper secondary scholarship, academic year 2022
In the 2022 semester, I am in my upper secondary education. However, my family is poor, so I wrote this letter to the EDF Foundation to apply for a scholarship to continue studying.
I live with my elderly grandfather, my handicapped mother and a handicapped younger sister. My house is an old wooden house. The walls are made of wooden boards and wooden floor. It is in terrible shape as we have no money to repair it.
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| | Dararat, 12, EDF Scholarship Applicant School Year 2022, Nakhon Phanom province
Dararat, 12 years old
Grade 6, Ban Na Khu School, Nakhon Phanom Province
Apply for a scholarship to study in junior high school (Grade 7-9), Academic Year 2022
Sawad-dee kha. My name is Dararat. I am studying in grade 6 at Ban Na Khu School, Nakhon Phanom Province. My life is difficult. I live in a small house with my parents who are farmers with little income and not enough to cover family expenses. Sometimes, we don't have any money to buy food.
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| | Phumin, 12, EDF Scholarship Applicant School Year 2022, Khon Kaen province
Phumin, 12 years old
Grade 6, Ban Sang Pan Don Na Phaeng School, Khon Kaen Province
Apply for a scholarship to study in junior high school (Grade 7-9), Academic Year 2022
Sawad-dee krab. My name is Phumin, a grade 6 student at Ban Sang Pan Don Na Phaeng School in Khon Kaen Province. My family is poor with six people including me and my elder sister. My parents are farmers and do daily paid menial jobs, while my grandparents are very old. I help with all the chores I could do around the house, such as cleaning the house, washing the dishes and cooking rice.
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| | Panyawut (Petch), 12, EDF Scholarship Applicant School Year 2022, Maha Sarakham province
Panyawut (Petch), age 12 years
Grade 6, Ban Na Fai School, Maha Sarakham Province
Apply for a scholarship to study in junior high school (Grade 7-9), Academic Year 2022
Sawad-dee krab, my name is Panyawut and my nickname is Petch. I am a grade 6 student at Ban Na Fai School in Maha Sarakham Province.
Currently, I am living with my grandparents and parents. My family's main occupation is farming. My father also works as irregular worker where the job is not available
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| | Korakot, 12, EDF Scholarship Applicant School Year 2022, Khon Kaen province
Korakot, 12 years old
Grade 6, Ban Sang Pan Don Na Phaeng School, Khon Kaen Province
Apply for a scholarship to study in junior high school (Grade 7-9), Academic Year 2022
Sawad-dee krab, my name is Korakot, a grade 6 student at Ban Sang Pan Don Na Phaeng School, Khon Kaen Province.
My family is poor. There are seven family members, including my parents, grandmother, elder sister, younger brother, uncle and myself. My parents are farmers with
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| | Kotchaphak (Kaen), 13, EDF Scholarship Applicant School Year 2022, Maha Sarakham province
Kotchaphak Chanpanya (Kaen), 12 years old
Grade 6, Maha Sarakham Province
Apply for a scholarship to study in junior high school (Grade 7-9), Academic Year 2022
Sawad-dee krab. My name is Kochaphak or you can call me Kaen. I am 12 years old and studying in grade 6 at Maha Sarakham Province. I was born in Kalasin Province. When I was in grade 4, my parents got divorced so my father took me back to his hometown in Maha Sarakham province to live with my grandparents who are very old.
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| | Chawanan (Takkataen), 12, EDF Scholarship Applicant School Year 2022, Mukdahan province
Chawanan Srimanee (Takkataen) age 12 years
Grade 6, Mukdahan Province
Apply for a scholarship to study in junior high school (Grade 7-9), Academic Year 2022
Sawad-dee kha. My name is Chawanan and my nickname is Takkataen. I am 12 years old and studying in grade 6 at Mukdahan Province.
I am the eldest child and have one younger sister and one younger brother. I and my siblings live with our uncle and aunt since I was in my second year kindergarten school because my parents got divorced.
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| | Sanphet (Aom), 11, EDF Scholarship Applicant School Year 2022, Nakhon Ratchasima province
Sanphet Muen Wai (Aom), 11 years old
Grade 6, Nakhon Ratchasima Province
Apply for a scholarship to study in junior high school (Year 7-9), Academic year 2022
Sawasdee krab, my name is Sanphet. You can call me Aom. I am 11 years old and studying in grade 6 at Nakhon Ratchasima Province.
I live with my parents and an elder sister in a rented house where my parents operates a small food shop, selling noodle with gravy sauce. I am very happy to help my family though our income is not much. However, it is better than doing nothing.
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| | Supatchaya (Kae), 12, EDF Scholarship Applicant School Year 2022, Mukdahan province
Supatchaya Klangpraphan (Kae), 12 years old
Grade 6, Mukdahan Province
Apply for a scholarship to study in junior high school (Grade7-9), Academic year 2022
Sawasdee kha. I am Supatchaya or Kae, age 12 and studying in grade 6 in Mukdahan Province. Currently, I live with my father, mother and my elder sister who is studying in Matthayom Sueksa 6 (Grade 12).
My parents are farmers. This year, prices of agricultural products have dropped especially the price of rice resulting in less income. Both my sister and I are
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| | A better today of Ai-un
Hello, my name is Settawut Simma and my nickname is Ai-un. I am 13 years old and study in Grade 7 at Ban Hua Nong School (Sangkha Wittaya) in Maha Sarakham Province. My parents got divorced when I was young. My mother is the only one who raises me.
Previously, my mother was a farmer and menial worker, and the income was unstable. In 2017 my mother decided to move to Bangkok to find better job opportunities. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, my mother used to work as a cleaning lady. Though the income was not much but it was enough to support our family and my tuition fee. Unfortunately, my mother was laid off due to COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and had returned home.
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| | Online learning and adaptation of rural schools
“Online learning” is aimed at reducing travelling to schools and preventing the spread of COVID-19.
There are often concerns from small rural schools. In an interview with a teacher in Khon Kaen province, EDF Foundation found out that there were many people returned from Bangkok where the COVID-19 has been prevalent.
For the safety of students, the school provided full online distance teaching and learning. Teachers prepared worksheets and exercises for students’ online learning from their homes and asked students to pick up the papers at school.
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| | "Nut pursues his dreams undeterred by poverty" Panat (Nut) Klaikabkam, Former EDF scholarship student (2015-2020)
Panat (Nut) Klaikabkam, 18 years old
Former EDF student
Grade 7-9, Baan Mak Yaa School, Udon Thani province (School year 2015-2017)
Grade 10-12, Nong Wuasor Pittayakom School, Udon Thani school (School year 2018-2020)
In 2015, EDF published the life story of Panat Klaikabkam or Nut, a small boy, who was in his sixth grade in one Udon Thani province school. Each day, after school, he had to help his parents weave sticky rice baskets, and so he could not concentrate fully on his study. Despite that, he graduated from high school with a high GPA of 3.41 in 2020. EDF provided Nut with a six-year scholarship from grade 7-12.
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| | Jatuporn, 17, EDF Scholarship Candidate (Grade7-9) Year 2021, Amnarcharoen Province
Sawasdee Ka, my name is Jatuporn or you can call me Noo Ring. I am now 17 years old and studying in grade 10 in Amnarcharoen province. I am living in a big family with 7 people altogether; my grandfather, father, mother, elder sister and my twin younger brothers. My grandfather is too old to earn a living due to his age and health problems. My parents are farmers while the 3 of my siblings are currently in school.
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| | Arfandee, 9, EDF Scholarship Candidate Year 2021, Narathiwat Province
Sawasdee Krub, my name is Arfandee or you can call me Dew I am 9 years old and now studying in grade 2 in Narathiwat province. I am currently living with my grandparents, an elder brother and relatives. After my father passed away from the insurgencies in the province, my mother became the only breadwinner of the family and moved to find a job in Malaysia to survive the rest of us in the family. After the Covid-19 pandemic, she could not go back to Thailand and did not have enough money to support all of us because her income decreased a lot from the pandemic.
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| | Kittiwat, EDF Scholarship Candidate Year 2021, Mukdaharn Province
My name is Kittiwat, currently studying Grade 2 in Mukdaharn province, My house was built from woods and cement. I live with my grandparents and my elder brother. My parents were separated when I was 1 years old and abandoned me and my siblings with my grandparents who support our education from their monthly government elderly fund of 600 Baht a month.
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| | Fighting for my Future
My name is Jakkaphong Eum Kit Karn Dee, or March. I am 12 years old and currently in grade 6 at Chiang Sa Silpasatharn school of Yang Talad District in Kalasin province.
I am the only child of the family, however, my parents got divorced just after I was born. My father remarried and moved to live with his new family. I was abandoned to live with my grandparents from then on.
My grandfather suffers from depression while my grandmother, who is the only breadwinner in the family, occasionally visits a doctor for her high blood pressure.
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| | Hope in the rice field
I am Kwanchai Kom-Gaew, 12 years old, grade 6 student at Ban Don Sala School, Lah Pattana Sub-district, Na Wah District, Nakhon Phanom province.
I am the second child in the family. My father died unexpectedly a few months before I was born and my mother remarried.
We live in house made of advertising billboards, scrap metal sheets and dried grass and we wear used clothes worn many times over. We don’t have electricity or pipe water in the house. We use candle light or kerosene lamp for lighting.
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| | Scholarship was life changing opportunity for me
“Even though I only got a year support from my donor in Grade 11, I can say the scholarship saved my life. Without the scholarship support on that day, I could have not completed high school and continue to the university at present.”
Sawasdee krab. My name is Nachawat Wanghirunkul or you can call me Nick in short. I am 20 years old and now a sophomore majoring in English communication at Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Surin campus.
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| | Kroo Daorueang Sawangsaeng, Former EDF Scholarship Student (1995-1997)
A former EDF scholarship student from a poor family dreamt to be a teacher, break her family’s cycle of poverty and contribute to the education of the underprivileged children in the rural area.
Ms. Daorueang Sawangsaeng, an English teacher at Ban Nong Chum School in Pa Tiew District in Yasothon Province and a former EDF scholarship student from 1995-1997, told us she had saved some of her scholarship money for Mattayom Sueksa 1-3 class to help pay for her high-school tuition fee at Kham Khuean Kaew Chanupatham School in Yasothon province.
“Without that saving from the scholarship, I might not have been be able to continue my study,” she said. |
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| | Kasemwat (Guy), 13, Grade7, Surin Province, EDF Scholarship Candidates for School Year 2020
When his sister could not pursue her dream in continuing higher education and had to quit school, Kasemwat or Guy, 13, a grade 7 student from Surin province, is worrying about his education future. He does not know how long his mother could support him to go to school due to the financial difficulties of his family.
Kasemwat is now living with his mother and another elder sister in a poor conditioned house. Also, his mother has to take care the unhealthy grandparents living nearby in the village.
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| | Ponlasit (Nahm), 14, Grade 8, Khon Kaen Province, EDF Scholarship Candidates for School Year 2020
Mom broke up with dad when my younger sibling and I were just little babies. After that we had stayed with dad and grandparents. Just few years ago, dad passed away and left us staying with 2 elderly grandparents who have worked so hard to support 2 of us to go to school. My grandma works as a sugar crane cutting worker while my grandpa grows vegetables and catches fishes in the canal for our food in the family. My grandma has a problem with her knee joints which causes her could not work hard thesedays.
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| | Rattapol (Pik), 13, EDF Scholarship Applicant for School Year 2020, Surin Province
Pik or Rattapol, 13, Grade 7 student from Surin province, is one of EDF scholarship applicants for the coming school year 2020. He is now living with his parents and grand parents in rural area of Surin province. Pik is an only child of his parents, but his mother is now 7-month old pregnant and going to deliver another new baby soon. The parents are low pay menial workers and now working at the local noodle shop.
His mother has to temporarily stop working because of pregnancy causes his father working in hardship alone and could not earn enough money to support the whole family. While the grandparents are too old to work hard especially the grandmother who is suffering from many disease and has to visit the doctor very often.
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| | Kong's New Year Wish: Thanayut Phengdee, 14, Grade 8, Amnatcharoen Province
After the parents got divorced, Kong's mother was forced by poverty to seek for a job in Chonburi province as a construction worker to afford enough income to pay for a living and schooling of her 5 children living with the grandparents in Amnatcharoen province.
Thanayut Pengdee or Kong, 14. grade 8 student, is the third child of his mother and now staying together with other siblings with the elderly grandparents in Pah Kor subdistrict, Chanuman district, Amnatcharoen province.
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| | Preeyaporn (Cartoon), 12, EDF Scholarship Student Year 2019, Nakornratchasima province
After parents got divorced, father later remarried and lost contact while mother was forced by poverty to seek for menial jobs in another province to earn enough to support her poor family, Preeyaporn or Cartoon, 12, EDF scholarship receipientss of School Year 2019 from Ban Ba Yai school, Nakornratchasima province, and her 6-year younger sibling were ,therefore, left to stay with her eldery grandmother and great grandmother aged 78 years.
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| | ๋Jintaphorn, 13, EDF Scholarship Candidate (Grade7-9) Year 2019, Nakhon Phanom Province
Feeling sympathy to the parents for working in hardship with unstable income, Jintaphorn, 13, Grade 7 girl from Nakhon Phanom province, wakes up early everyday to sell vegetables in the market before going to school and works as fish butcher in the evening after school to help earn extra income for her family.
In the weekends, she also goes to collect bamboo shoots and wild vegetables in the woods and works as dish washer in the food shops.
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| | Koongnang, 13, EDF Scholarship Candidate (Grade 7-9) Year 2019, Surin Province
Koong Nang, 13-year girl, grade7, from Surin province, dreams to become a nurse so that she will be able to take care of her blind father and unhealthy mother suffering from diabetes.
Disregard of the disability and health problem, both father and mother still work in hardship as menial workers to earn for a living. However, the job is not available everyday, therefore, her father also goes catching fish in the pond for home cooking.
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| | Kitisak, 13, EDF Scholarship Candidate Year 2019, Nakornratchasima Province
I dream of being a policeman to arrest the thieves, work for the nation and help the people, therefore, I wish to continue my study. Despite my family is not rich, but I will try my best.
Kitisak, 13, Grade6, Nakornratchasima Province
EDF Scholarship Candidate (Continue onto Grade7-9) School Year 2019,
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| | Chanicha, 13, EDF scholarship Candidate Year 2019, Nakorn Phanom province
I wish to graduate bachelor's degree, but my mom told me that she could support me until grade 6 becuse we do not have money. If I am granted with a scholarship, I will study hard, be diligent and be a good girl.
Chanicha, 13, Grade6, Nakorn Phanom province
EDF scholarship candidate (Continue onto Grade7-9) School Year 2019, |
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| | Thank you message from Aor
Sawasdee Kha (Greetings in Thai), my name is Kodchakorn Phorgaew (Aor). I am currently studying in grade 7 and Ban Nong Phak Waen School, Nakorn Phanom province. We have 6 members in the family, my dad, my mom, me and other 3 siblings. We are farmers, The income is maily from growing rice and have to spend for household expenses, food, electricity, water and schooling expenses for me and my other 3 siblings which includes daily school allowances and schooling equipment. My parenys sometimes borrow money from the others when they could not earn enough for our schooling expenses.
We live together in an old small house with the metal sheet roof that leaks when it rains. The house poles are now decayed and the toilet wall is broken. However, we do not have enough money to fix our house and we have to stay as it is.
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| | Thank you message from Mac
Sawasdee Krab (Greeting in Thai), my name is Sunet Gaewwien or you can call me Mac. I am now studying in grade 7 at Ban Tub Kee School, Loei province. I love playing soccer. I always practice playing soccer with my friends after school. I dream to be a national soccer player when I grow up.
When I go back home in the evening, I help my parents do household chores to lessen their burden. In the weekends, I also help them work in the corn field to earn extra income for our family, My parents are quite poor. The income is solely from their menial jobs in the field which is not enough to survive our daily lives. They sometimes need to borrow money from the neighbors. In someday, I do not get any allowances to go to school.
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| | I Will Fight with My Heart
"Even though my dream seems hard to come true, my heart still endeavours toward it. The obstacles I have encountered along the way will drive me to study hard for my future and my beloved family."
Wissanee, 12, Grade 6, Nakhon Phanom Province
EDF Scholarship Applicant, School Year 2018
Status: Awaiting Lower SecondaryScholarship (Grade7 – 9) |
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| | A Dream Waiting for Support
"I dream of being a nurse. And I know well that I have to study hard. Only if I have enough support, I am ready and determined to study to make my dream comes true."
Supattra,12, Grade 6, Nakhon Phanom Province
EDF Scholarship Applicant, School Year 2018
Status: Awaiting Lower SecondaryScholarship (Grade7 – 9) |
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| | A Small Girl with a Big Ambition
"I want to study cooking because I would like to be a Chef. My teacher has taught me to cook from what we plant in order to reduce burden of the family."
Supawita, 12, Grade 6, Nakhon Phanom Province
EDF Scholarship Applicant, School Year 2018
Status: Awaiting Lower SecondaryScholarship (Grade7 – 9) |
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| | Dow's New Year Wish
Speaking of the distance of 1 kilometer, some people might see it as not quite a very long walk distance. But for a young girl who needs to go to school and go back home regularly using the same earthen dyke where there is nobody live in the neighborhood or not even the lighting from any street lamp as the path to walk through, this may sound quite arduous and dangerous.
“My house is a shed built in the middle of the rice field. Every day I will walk through the gravel ridge to school for about 1 kilometer. During the rainy season or rainy days, it will be more difficult because the mud will be splashed over my shoes and my student uniform. During the walk I need to carry a stick with me to protect myself from poisonous animals such as snakes and centipedes”,
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| | A Wish Come True
“If I can make only one wish, I just want an education opportunity to be literate, able to read and write fluently and earn for a living to take care of my grandmother”. A little voice from a little girl came out of the phone while an EDF officer was interviewing a scholarship candidate for the school year 2017.
During the beginning of this year, the education opportunity of “Ja” or Sirikanya Banprakone, 14, a 6th grade primary school student from Ban Lamnangrong School, Buriram Province, almost came to an end. She almost had to quit school to find a job in order to take care of her grandmother who is rather old and not very healthy.
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| | Kroo Tueanjai Pensawad, Former First-Year EDF Scholarship Student (1988-1990)
Kroo Tueanjai Pensawad, Former First-Year EDF Scholarship Student (1988-1990), Udon Thani Province
Education: Bachelor's Degree, English Major, Udon Thani Rajabhat University
Current Occupation: A teacher (Kroo) of Phen Pittayakhom School, Amphoe Phen, Udon Thani Province
Tueanjai Pensawad was one of the EDF scholarship students out of 41 students in 1988, which was the first year of EDF scholarship, of Udon Thani Province. She was granted the financial aid to study in Grade 10-12 at Phen Pittayakhom School, Amphoe Phen, Udon Thani Province during 1988-1990. |
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| | A Big Thank from Pat
In January 2016, EDF once published a child’s story “A Girl who never gives up HOPE” of “Pat” or Patcharaporn Pakrut, 11, a 6th grade student of Ban Tham Prik School, Phitsanulok province who was living in hardship with her mother, step father and her half-sister aged 8 years in a thatched shed that was built in the area of a Buddhist temple, located on a high mountain without access to electricity or any public facility.
Pat's stepfather is a low-pay menial worker and has unstable income while her mother is a maid of the temple and has no income. She receives food from the temple for her work instead.
>>Read Pat's Story in January 2015
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| | Wun's back to school again
EDF once published a story of "Wun" or Kitinan Siriseusuwan, a 12-year boy from Buriram in late 2015, when he was in grade 6. At that time, he was a candiate for EDF scholarship. (Read Wun's story in 2015)
But today, he became one of EDF scholarship recipients in this school year 2016. He is now studying in grade 7 at Ban Lam Nangrong School in None Dindaeng District, Buriram Province.
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| | A Girl who never gives up HOPE
Although, Pat or Patcharaporn Pakrut, 11-year intelligent and delightful girl, a 6th grade student from Ban Tham Prik School, Phitsanulok Province, has never met her real father before, but she never feels inferior. On the contrary, it made her to be more persevering and focusing on study until she could achieve the 1st place in class and got GPA of 4.00 in every academic year since grade 1 - 6.
Pat told us that “My real father broke up with my mother when my mother was pregnant, so, I had never met him. I did not have my father’s name in the birth registration document, but my mother said that it was just the letters. I never felt inferior because I am currently staying with my stepfather, my mother and my little sister. It is a warm family. My stepfather never thought that I was just a stepdaughter. He has raised me since I was 1 year and 10 months old."
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| | “Life Lesson" that may risk on his "Future”
At the age of only 12 years, but “Wun” or “Kitinan”, a 6th grade student from Buriram province, has to face with the “Life Lesson” that is so complicated for a little child loke him to overcome it alone.
His father passed away when he was just 1 year old. After that his mother decided to remarry a new husband, had a new baby and moved to live with her new family in Bangkok. While his elder brother and sister moved to work as workers in the factory in eastern province after they finished grade 9. Wun has never had any chances to meet with his mother and elder siblings again since then.
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| | A Better Today of “Pang”
Pang” or Parichat Barun, 14, is one of EDF scholarship students who have been granted with scholarships. She is now studying at grade 8 at Ban Paeng Puay School, Nang Ruang District, Buriram province.
After her parents and sister moved to work as daily workers in Rayong province, Eastern Thailand, Pang and her little brother, 7, were left to stay with her elderly grandparents in an old house.
Although her grandparents are poor but they have applied the idea of sufficient economy’s agricultural farming so that everyone in the family will, at least, have something to eat everyday and some remaining agricultural products can also earn some money for family expenses.
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| | Their "Dreams" are coming TRUE!
In Early August, 2015, EDF Foundation Team had visited our scholarship operation areas in various provinces of Thailand to follow up lives of students who have been supported through EDF Scholarship Program and we had a chance to meet with 2 new scholarship students, “Hoo” or Thanakorn Naraphong, 13, and “KR” or Sakkarin Somjai, 13, who were awarded with EDF scholarships for the first year, They were also ones among those 7,219 lucky students who have recently been granted with EDF scholarships in the first term of this school year 2015.
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| | "Nut's Dream"
"Poverty" never makes Panus Klaigubkham or Nut, 12, a 6 grade student of Ban Mak Ya School, Udonthani Province, feel down or give up his own destiny, but he always put more efforts than others on everything in his life.
That is the reason why he is studying hard and gets "A" in all learning subject. Furthermore, Nut spends his free time after school and on weekends to help his parents make bamboo sticky rice steamer to earn extra income for the family.
At present, Nut is living with his parents and his elder brother in an old wooden house. His family lives from hand to mouth. His parents have an old motorcycle which they ride to seek for the low pay menial jobs elsewhere. His elder brother just dropped out school to help lessen the family financial burden on his schooling and also help parents earn for a living.
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| | “The Last Hope”
Supattra Somboon, a 12-year girl, 6th grade student at Ban Sri Thavorn School, Buriram Province, is the youngest among 7 siblings in her family, but the extreme porverty had forced all her 6 elder siblings to leave home for better lives.
The brothers moved to work as menial workers in Bangkok or other provinces while the sisters married and moved to live with their new families. Most of them never get in touch with the family again. And just 2 years ago, Supattra’s 6th brother decided to quit school and become a novice in the village’s temple to help lessen the financial burden of the family.
At present, there are only Supattra alone and her parents living together in a small ruined house made from scraps and junks without electricity,pipeline water or any facilities. Her parents live from hand to mouth and earn for a living as low-pay workers such as picking coconuts, grass cutting and rice harvesting. But the jobs are not available everyday.
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| | "A Little Guide"
Parn or Rattikarn Phukaew, 13, a 7 grader at Ban Rai Thong Khoon School, Nakorn Ratchasima province, is one among 7,259 students that were awarded with EDF scholarship in this school year 2014.
She is now living with her mother and a little sibling in an old wooden house in the village. Parn’s father divorced with her mother many years ago and never gets in touch with her again since then. Her mom then becomes the only breadwinner of the family with the daily wage of 200 Baht from the menial job.
Having no father never makes Parn feel inferior because she knows well that the most important things in her life at this moment is only trying her best on studying and she could maintain good academic achievement in every semester. Moreover, she is a kind and cheerful girl and loved by all her friends. She also loves to learn English and play volleyball at school.
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| | “A Wonderful Moment”
After EDF published “Life Changing Opportunity”, a story of Nikorn Suwaluck or Korn, A former EDF scholarship student Grade 7-12 (2004-2009) from Roi-Et province around September 2014 (Read more Nikorn’s story), EDF has communicated with his scholarship sponsor who is the Japanese until they had a chance to meet each other again in this November after 10 years of the last meeting at Nikorn’s hometown in Roi-Et when he was in lower secondary school.
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| | Nikorn Suwaluk, Former EDF scholarship student (2004-2009)
Nikorn Suwaluk or "Korn" had to live his life during his childhood with hardship due to porverty. He had to do everything as he can do to help lessen the financial burden of his family. He got up early everyday to help his mother preparing food for sell in the school. During lunch break, he also helped his mother selling food to students and washed the dishes. After school, he sold the meatball and grilled chicken in the village to earn extra income and then went beack home late at night to do home work.
No matter how hardship Korn had faced, he had never given up his education and always kept concentrating on his study because he always reminded of what his parents repeatedly said to him that "The higher education you have means the better life you will achieve in the future"
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| | Noi's Dream for Better Life
After the parents got divorced, Noi or Pornchanok Panka, 14, an 8th grader from Rayong Province, had been staying with her single mother who earned for a living by collecting recycled wastes. Everyday after school, shel also helped her mon collecting waste and sell to the recycle factory.
Recently, her mom remarried with a new husband and got a new child. Her mom then decided to accompany her husband together with the new child and move to find better job in another province and left Noi to her elderly grandparents who could afford only few daily income from selling food for workers in the nearby industrial Park.
Noi always helps her grandparents prepare things for sale until late at night and wakes up early at 3.00 am to cook all the foods that her grandparents need to bring for sale in the morning.
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| | Care's Dream of Better Future
Since dad has to work hard in the factory and go back home very late at night almost everyday, Care or Siriwan Chaimeun, 14, an 8th grader from Rayong province and her 9-year brother, named Nice, rarely have chance to meet and talk with their dad like other children. Her dad got cataract in his eye, however, he has to work so hard to earn enogh income to support lots of family expenses and support his kids’ education.
Care told us that “I really feel sympathy with my dad because he works with hardship and tiredmess everyday. Sometimes, when we have no money, dad has to borrow from the others for our daily allowances at school.”
Care’s elder brother, aged 19, had to drop out his lower secondary school many years ago and now working as low-pay menial worker to help earn more income for the family.
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| | Thitichaya Wongtangnoy, Former EDF Scholarship Student (1992-1997)
Few weeks ago, EDF was contacted by a school teacher, who desired to be EDF volunteer. Her name is Thitichaya Wongtangnoy. She is now a Mathematics teacher at Bodindecha (Sing Singhaseni) School, Bangkok.
It is really surprised to know from her that she was one of EDF former scholarship students who received education supports to further her grade 7-12 from 1992-1997.
Eventhough, time had passed for many years, but she still remembered the moment when she knowed she got EDF scholarship and felt grateful for the education opportunity that truly changed her life and EDF would like to let your know more about her.
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| | “Education gives us wisdom to define our own destiny”
Family financial difficulties forced Nui’s mother to enroll her in Rajprachunukroh 50 School, a boarding school for less fortunate children in Khon Kaen since she was just a little girl. This year Nui finally turned 18.
Even though Nui had been less fortunate and lacked the loving and caring family like other children, but she always reminded herself that “we cannot choose who we born to be, but we can choose to be a good person and do good things.”
And because of this, Nui studied hard and earned herself a place as one of the top students in class. She was an extraordinary talented young individual that would always help with any school activities; she was elected to be a member of the student committees and was loved by all her friends.
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| | Little Artist on the Wheelchair
“Pin” or Juthamanee Worasarnsiri, a 4th grade student from Ban Bu (Pracharath Pattana), Nakornratchasima province, was born with physical disability due to the polio. She not walk and has to spend her whole life on the wheelchair. Pin was one of EDF scholarship students in the recent school year 2013.
She is currently living with her parents and another older sibling who is studying in the same school. Her family is poor and her father is the only breadwinner of the family and work as a low-pay menial worker while her mother became jobless because she has to take care Pin.
Her mother will take Pin and her sibling to go to school everyday and stays with her during the school time to help her in classroom, during lunch time or taking her to the restroom since the school does not have basic facilities for the people with disabilities such as slopes or handicapped restroom and Pin is too young to take care of herself at school.
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| | A Big Thanks from A Little Girl
October’s featured story presents the story of “Nook” or Benjaporn Laepong, an eighth grader of Ban Na Dee School, Nong Na Kham District, Khon Kaen Province. Nook is one of the 7,639 students who received the EDF Scholarships of the 2013 academic year.
Nook is now 14 years old. She lives with her mother and three 4-6 year old nieces and nephew who are her two brothers’ children. They were brought to her mother since they were just babies. Her brothers have never contacted them asking about their children.
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| | From the Loss to the Giver
This May, EDF had a chance to meet and interview with Fadilah Sae Ngao, 15 years girl, now studying in grade 10 at Thammawittaya Suksa School, Yaha Sub-district, Yala Province together with her mother, Ms. Yindi Sae Ngao, 46 years. Fadila is one of EDF scholarship students who lost her father from the unrest in the deep south of Thailand and she came to Bangkok with her mother as a representative to receive scholarship grants on behalf of other affected students 1 3 Sothernmost provinces of Thailand.
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| | Life must go on..
This month’s featured stories is the story of “Tarn” or Thanya Nittayawan a 12-year girl who is going to complete her 6th grade at Bann Lao Noi School, Yasothon province in this March.
She is one of EDF lower secondary school scholarship candidates for the coming school year 2013. Her parents got divorced since she was born and abandoned her and her elder brother to live with her grandmother who is now 85 years old. Three of them stay together in a small old wooden house with one room.
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| | A Girl Who Never Give Up
Recently, EDF had visited some scholarship students who are going to complete their lower secondary level in Nakornratchasima and met with a girl named Angkana Prathompanich or “Noey”, 15 years old, EDF scholarship student, studying in 9th grade at Ban Phra Makham Samakkhi, Nakornratchasima province.
Her story of being breadwinner of the family since she was a little child was really impressed us and we would like to share as this month’s featured story.
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| | Saowanee Sangnok, Former EDF Scholarship Student (1990-1992)
Recently we ran into Saowanee Sangnok, former EDF scholarship recipient (Year 1990-1992), from Khon Khan. She is currently working as a math teacher at Sang Arun school in Thonburi, Bangkok.
On June 27, 2012, she was assigned by the school director to bring the students to the EDF scholarship award ceremony at Sara Witthaya school in Bangkok .
The scholarship is for poor students who receive good grades in school. Saowanee wasn’t sure if the EDF scholarships were the same as the one she received 22 years ago because in the past EDF Scholarship Program was called as the Darunee scholarship by the teachers.
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| | "A Heartfelt Thank You"
This November, when school in Thailand start its second semester, EDF would like to share you the short stories
from “Pear” and “Jajaa” EDF scholarship recipients for this school year 2012, who have expressed their appreciations after received the scholarships and also the unexpected lovely gifts from their sponsors.
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| | A life without any basic necessities
Suranyu Kraiharn (nickname “Namphu”) is a 12 year-old boy in the sixth grade at Banbu school in Nakhonratchasrima province, located in northeastern region of Thailand.
He has been raised up with hardship and could not afford any basic needs that other children at the same age are righted to received.
Namphu lives with his handicapped father in a place they call their house. It is actually an old shed, outside of the main town.
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| | Waiting for the Light in my Life
During February, while EDF was doing the field survey to randomly visit homes of students who applied for a scholarship support, we had a chance to meet with Porntippawan Yangwantana or “Tai”, a 17-year girl who currently studying in grade 10 at Ban Khao Saming Wittayakom School, Trat province.
She is currently living with “Chalam” her 69-year blind father, “Charoen” her disabled eldest brother, “Toei” and “Tong”, her 13-year and 10- year younger brothers and “Namtan”, her 5-year little sister. 6 of them live together in an old single storey wooden house which is almost empty. |
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| | Sunawan Boonnam, Former EDF Scholarship Student (1990-1992)
My name is Sunawan Boonnam. In 1990 I received a scholarship from EDF, just as I was about to start lower secondary school. Although it has been many years since I graduated, I still remember my donor’s name and I will always be thankful for their generous support.
Today, I am happy to support EDF and to give other children from poor backgrounds the chance to go to school and enjoy a better life. EDF’s support enabled me to complete school and from that experience I learnt the value of education.
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| | "Meaning of Love"
Broken families that result in children being left behind with the elderly in the suburbs are one of the important factors that diminish quality of life and the minds of the underprivileged students in the rural areas. Parents’ un-readiness in many aspects leads to divorces and, unavoidably, negatively affects their children.
Today EDF would like to present a story of “Fon” or Preedaporn Wongsiri, a 14 years old EDF scholar and an 8thgrade student at Nikom Sarng-Ton-Eang Lamtakong 4 School in Nakornratchasima province. |
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| | The Day Maswin Will Never Forget
We would like to introduce a story of a girl named “Tuanzorreufah Maswin Adulrus” or “Maswin”.
Maswin is an 11 years old, 5thgrader at the Amanasakdi School in Pattani province, Thailand.
Maswin was born in a Thai-Muslim's family. She currently lives in Tunyonglulo in Pattani’s Muang district with 5 family members comprises her mother, a 15 years old older sister and a 7 and 8 years old younger sister and brother respectively.
Maswin is one of the orphaned students in the 3 southernmost provinces who received scholarship under the “Under the same Sky” scholarship program.
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| | "Fah's Dream"
“Fah” or Sivaporn Nuang Chompoo , age 16 , now in Grade 9 at Ban Wang Sai School, Wang Sai Sub-district, Pakchong District, Nakorn Rajsima Province. Nong Fah is one of the students who obtained the scholarship from EDF in the level between Grade 7 to Grade 9. EDF has granted the scholarship to her since 2009.
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| | Hope never fades away
The most severe flood in 30 years, flowing into more than 30 provinces of Thailand during September to November 2011 has impacted widely to the livelihood of about a million victims.
Some become unemployed and have no earning while many others have to be away from their families and migrate to flood relief centers and many more others lose their properties. |
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| | Another side of life during flood crisis
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Teerawat Dokmai, a 12 years bot in grade 6th at Baan Nong Bua Chaiwan School, Sri Sa-ket Province, is another poor student applying for EDF’s scholarship for secondary education level for 2012 academic year.
He has been affected from this 2011 severe flood crisis. The impact from the flood on him seems to be different from that of others because Teerawat’s home located at Sri Sa-ked is not flooded at all. |
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| | Beau’s dream
Atittaya Sawisai (Beau) is a student grade 6. She is study at Barnlearngka School, Roied province. When a childhood her parents abandoned, then she stays with her grandmother and uncle who disabled person.
She never see her father and her mother. Moreover, she don’t have any pictures of her family.
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| | Tao’s First Day at School
Wannida Ulaipong (Girl) , “Tao”, is a 7th grade student at Baansanklang school in Surin province. Tao currently lives with her grandmother in a small, old wooden house that does not even have any windows. They use a rug to keep themselves out of the rain. However, if there is a heavy rain or thunderstorm, Tao and her grandmother would not be able to sleep. |
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| | Nong Plai’s Dream
Since her mother’s death from breast cancer, Nong Plai or Tansiya Thongdeenork (13), a 7th grade student from Bann Kerg School in Khon Kaen, has lived with her father in an old wooden house where she now feels lonely. |
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| | A Letter from Nin
Before the new academic year begins in mid-May, EDF would like to share with you a heart rendering story of a primary school graduate named Nin (13). We feel that her story can speak for many poverty-stricken children living in rural areas even today.
There are still over one Thousand EDF student applicants waiting for a chance to get back to school this May. If you are in a position to Help, this is the time! |
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| | A DREAM WAITING TO BE FULFILLED
Jaruwan Seechompoo, a 13-year-old girl called Fhai, lives in Bankerng, Khonkaen province, and is now in grade 7. Despite her poverty, she has been studying hard. Last semester, her GPA was 3.4. She dreams of becoming a doctor, because every time she witnesses the sickness of the villagers, she feels sympathy for them and their suffering. The hospital is quite far from her village, so it’s difficult for the villagers to go there. |
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| | Without Anyone By My Side
“Aside from poverty, other important obstacles to education in rural areas are family break-ups, separations and divorce and the lack of family warmth which have compounded the issue, causing hundreds and thousands of children to be left without anyone by their side.” |
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| | My First Gift
During a very Happy Holiday Season for all of us, sharing gifts and food with family and friends, many people are planning to travel around, take vacations, or look for a special gift for their loved ones. However, for a boy named Rojanavit Pornprasit or Noom, a 14-year-old 9th grader at the Baan Takdad School (Ubon Ratchathani Province), he has never had a chance to travel to anyplace, or get a gift from anybody in his life. |
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| | A Neglected Life
“Once my mother came home, I felt very glad. I missed her so much. I wanted to hug her, but she told me that she came here to take her younger child out to play. At that time, I felt so sad. It’s like my mother and father have forgotten that I am their child as well.”
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| | A wish waiting to be realized
Today parental divorce is becoming a significant social threat that undermines the foundation of the rural family and community. Children are the ones that are affected the most from this so-called pseudo-orphan status enforced upon them. Luckier ones would have at least one parent to care for them, while those who are not so lucky would be left with relatives or grandparents, as their parents are fully occupied with the new family. |
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| | A physically impaired child with his artistic talents fully intact
What Nong Oom wants to say to every child like himself is “Don’t be dispirited or give up. We might be physically disabled but spiritually we are not.” His ultimate dream is to keep studying to the highest level possible. If his body and his family’s financial status are not an obstacle, he wants to earn his doctoral degree and use his knowledge to help society as it has been helping him.
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| | Life of Desperation
Malee Tanponkrai, who is 12 years old and lives in a remote country village called Lak Sila. She has been living with great difficulty as she has a cleft palate and it is quite difficult for others to understand what she says when she speaks. Due to a lack of work in the area, her parents have gone to work as construction workers in Bangkok. She lives with her grandparents, brother who is in grade 7, and her two young school-age cousins in less than ideal conditions. |
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| | Hope against Hope
“The place we live is on other people’s property. We do not own farmland to make a living out of. I have nothing to give you, my dear, apart from my will to support you with education in order that you will not have to endure a life of hardship like I have. But I do not know how I will earn enough to pay your education fees as even today I can hardly make ends meet,” said 38-year-old Mrs. Boonpheng about her daughter, 12-year-old May. She expressed her concerns and worries about her daughter’s unpromising future. |
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| | Phatcharaporn Wongwai “Precious Stones“
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“I want to study in higher education level so I could find a job in a company and earn lots of money to support my family” the soft voice of a little girl declared her will honestly. The determined eyes shown that she will do anything to make it became true. |
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| | Our Last Belongings
“My mother had no choice but to place the land, our last belongings, on mortgage to support all her three children through school. The last valuables that will stay with me throughout my life are knowledge and virtue.” |
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| | Narissara Buangbon
I want to study so much. Studying makes me realize that if my father had the opportunity to study, he wouldn't have to face such hardship like this.
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| | Finally My Voice is Heard!
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After we have shared a touching story of Malee Tanponkrao, an M1 (7th grader) student from Ban Kok Tongton School in Chaiyaphoom province, who was suffering a cleft palate from birth, her voice is finally heard. |
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