SPONSOR A CHILD

ABOUT CHILD SPONSORSHIP

Individuals or groups can directly sponsor a child through our Child Sponsorship Program. Your support makes it possible for a child to attend school and obtain the minimal Thai educational requirements, which include grades 1 through 9. The student will receive a monthly stipend to cover school expenses from a bank account set up for them and overseen by a caretaker and teacher. Money can only be withdrawn with the signature of all three parties.

In addition to receiving an education, the program serves as an alternative to children having to stay home and work, and as a deterrent to entering high-risk trades or falling victim to human trafficking.

Sponsors are urged to commit to supporting the child from the grade they are presently in through grade 9. After that, we encourage sponsors to continue their support if the student wishes to extend their education by attending vocational school or university.

WHEN YOU SPONSOR A CHILD

YOUR SPONSORSHIP makes it possible for a child to receive an education, giving that child a route out of poverty and the possibility of reaching their full potential. The child’s progress is monitored by caring teachers and staff. Additionally, your support helps to diminish the child’s chances of succumbing to the common pitfalls that lure so many disadvantaged children and youth living in Northwestern Thailand.

SPONSORS stay connected with the student they support by receiving annual updates and progress reports. During the holidays, sponsors receive greeting cards handmade by the children. Kids Ark welcomes and encourages sponsors to visit the child they support at school and in their village or community, which is a unique opportunity and heartwarming experience for all.

SPONSOR A CHILD

Apinya Naimat

Age: 11 Grade: 4

Ethnic minority Dara-ang

Apinya went to live with her father after her parents divorced. Both remarried and she lives with her father, stepmother, brother, grandparents and cousin. She is the only one in her family to hold a Thai ID card because her mother is Thai. Her father has worked at a pig farm and earned $280 USD/month before the COVID pandemic and the African Swine Fever made it difficult if not impossible to work. The Swine Fever killed many of the pigs. He now has little to no income and is trying to care for six family members and himself. Apinya and her cousin must pay $9.50 USD/month for transportation to school, which is not possible.

Apinya is very shy. She would like to become a kindergarten teacher one day, because she loves small children and thinks they are so cute.

Chaiyakorn Sangtan

Age: 12 Grade: 5

Ethnic minority Dara-ang without Thai citizenship

Chaiyakorn’s parents are divorced. His mother works in housekeeping at Sansai Hospital. She sends $94 USD/month to the grandmother who cares for Chaiyakorn and his brother in the village. She occasionally has work or will weave for some extra income. His father has a neurological problem and is unable to work, but lives in the village.

Chaiyakorn can hear and understand, but he cannot speak. As a result, he is behind his peers in school. His grandmother would like to see him go to vocational school where he can learn a trade that will get him a job in the future. Because he is not a Thai citizen, they would have to pay the cost of treatment, which is not possible.

Chayaphon Lungdee

Age: 14 Grade: 7

Ethnic minority Dara-ang

Chayapon has three siblings, but they all have their own families now. His mother and father work, but his father has a drug problem. Chayapon’s older sister was worried that Chayapon would use drugs, so she brought him to live with her and her family in Hauywai village where he could study. He is now in Secondary 1. The transportation to school costs his sister 300 THB/month, which is difficult for them to afford as employees on an orange farm who also have their own children to care for.Chayapon would like to finish high school and continue on to vocational school where he can study construction. He would like to build houses one day.

Junjira Pongtui

Age: 17 Grade: 11

Ethnic minority Dara-ang without Thai citizenship

Junjira has a younger sister in primary 6 at Hauyloung school. She is in Secondary 5 at a different school. She’s a very good student and a volleyball player. Junjira’s village is far from school, so she has to ride a motorcycle to her friend’s house and then take the bus to school, which costs $20 USD/month. Because she is not a Thai citizen, she must pay school fees and other fees as well. Sometimes she works on weekends to help her parents, who were making $12.50USD/day before the COVID pandemic, which has made it difficult to find work. If Junjira has the opportunity, she would like to study Communication Arts at university. She is expressive and would like to be an actor. This way, she could make enough money for her sister to have an opportunity to study too.

Nutcha Ta

Age: 11 Grade: 4

Ethnic minority Dara-ang without Thai citizenship

Nutcha lives with her parents and older brother. Her brother graduated from grade 9, but had to discontinue his education because there was no money for him to attend school. Like his parents, he gets work when and where can. The family grows rice to eat and corn to sell, but it is not enough because the forest department limits their ability to produce more and the corn sells for a low price. They are forced to go out from the village to find jobs, which have been more scarce since the COVID pandemic began. Nutcha would like to be a nurse so she can help people who are sick. She attends Robin’s House of Hope after-school program.

Yanika Naitoo

Age: 16 Grade: 7

Ethnic minority Dara-ang without Thai citizenship

Yanika’s parents are divorced. Her mother has a new family, so Yanika lives with her grandmother, older sister and her sister’s 4-month-old baby. Her sister is also divorced, so Yanika helps to take care of her niece when her sister goes to work at a construction shop. She has a salary of 7000 THB/month, but it is not enough to take care of everyone in the house. Yanika started school very late, but she hopes to study much more. She believes if she gains knowledge she will have a better future. Yanika wishes to go out from her village and see more things in the world. She would like to be a military nurse because they seem smart and strong.

Kawin Layoi

Age: 15 Grade: 6

Ethnic minority Dara-ang without Thai citizenship

Kawin has 4 siblings. Three of his sisters are married with their own families. Kawin lives with his parents, who do work in the rice field. The village has no school, so Kawin began his studies late and is now in Primary 6. He would like to get a Thai ID card so he would be allowed outside of the Mae Ai district, which requires an officer to sign paperwork. If he did get permission to leave, there is a time limit of 7 days. Sometimes he works in the rice field his parents planted. If he has an opportunity, Kawin would like to study at University so he can become a teacher of science, his favorite subject.

Namfon Sanpatcha

Age: 11 Grade: 3

Ethnic minority Dara-ang

Namfon has 4 siblings, not all from the same father. After her parents divorced, her two older brothers left with their father to live in Nakornrachaseema; a province in northeast Thailand where he is from. Namfon moved to the village with her mother and older sister, who now attends vocational school. Her mother works to support the family, which includes her four year old nephew. Namfon would like to become a police woman because they are smart and know the law. This way, she could help the people in her village not to be so afraid when the police come.

Ratanawadee Taungpha

Age: 14 Grade: 7

Ethnic minority Dara-ang without Thai citizenship

Ratanawadee’s family grows rice and corn in the small field the forest department allows them to use, but it is not enough for his family of 6. His parents work on an orange farm, where there is little work since the COVID pandemic began. Her cousin also lives with them. Unfortunately, the grandparents are quite old and unable to work. Ratanawadee loves going to Robin’s House of Hope after school because of all the activities and the yummy food she can’t get at home. Because of COVID, her school is temporarily closed, so she is forced to study at home. She hopes it will reopen soon. Ratanawadee would like to be a teacher in her village one day. This way the students can gain knowledge without their parents having to pay for transportation to get them to school.

Natthapon Porlar

Age: 9 Grade: 2

Ethnic minority Dara-ang without Thai citizenship

Nutthapon struggles with albinism, an inherited genetic condition. He has white skin and problems with his eyes. The doctor said he needs special eyeglasses, which his parents cannot afford. Because he is not a Thai citizen, the government will not help. Before the COVID pandemic began, his parents worked to make an income of $8 USD/day. They can no longer count on that. The problems with Nutthapon’s eyes interfere with his studies, because he can’t see clearly when reading books. For this reason, he is a little bit slower than his friends in school. Nutthapon would like to have good health and be strong like a policeman.

Sayan Mokngoen

Age: 14 Grade: 7

Ethnic minority Dara-ang with a Thai ID card

Sayan has a large extended family. They live together in the same house because they don’t have enough money to live separately or the land to build a house on. Sayan is happy that they are all together, but it can be noisy, which makes it difficult to do school work. He likes to come to the House of Hope where he can do homework and get the help he needs from the teacher. Sayan’s parents work on an orange farm or in construction. When there is work, they make $8USD/day. Because of the pandemic, there is less work and little income. Sayan would like to be a policeman so he can help people catch thieves.

YOUNG VOICES

SUCCESS STORIES

Kids Ark Foundation is proud to introduce you to some of the graduates who have benefited from our Child Sponsorship and House of Hope Programs. With your generous support, we hope to add many more names to our list of success stories.

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