Ethnic minority Dara Ang without Thai citizenship

Sittidech Ta is an eleven-year-old boy from the Dara Ang tribe, residing in the remote Huay Wai Village of Chiang Mai Province. Since his parents’ separation, Sittidech lived with his grandmother, helping to care for his one-and-a-half-year-old brother, Sorawich. While his parents toiled in the fields or sought work in the city, Sittidech attended school and then spent his evenings at the Robins HOH community center, a place of refuge and learning. Sittidech dreamed of becoming a police officer or soldier. He excelled in physical education but found mathematics a challenging subject. Football was his passion, and he often played with friends after school. Despite the hardships of his life, he maintained a hopeful spirit, finding joy in simple pleasures and support from his community.

Ethnic minority Thaiyai

Hanrang, a 10-year-old boy, is a second-grade student at Mae Kwong Jiradhiwat Upatham Irrigation School. Hanrang has been participating in HOH Sansai activities since the first grade. His father is working as a lumberjack and construction site. His mother is a housekeeper and also working on construction jobs in the evening. Every morning, his parents drop off Hanrang and his siblings at school, and in the evening, they come to HOH Sansai for homework help. If their parents are unable to pick them up, the program staff will take them home. His parents, working tirelessly in construction and housekeeping, demonstrate unwavering love and support for their children. Despite facing financial challenges as stateless Thai Yai, their resilience is commendable. Hanrang’s joy for learning, especially his love for Thai language and arts, is a testament to his bright future.

Ethnic minority Lahu  without Thai citizenship

Rawipol Jader is an eleven-year-old boy living in Ban Huay Muang Nai, Mae Nawang Subdistrict, Mae Ai District, Chiang Mai Province. He is currently in Grade 2 at Ban Pak Ko School, which is about four kilometers from his home. As there is no school in their village, Rawipol and his older brother, a Grade 6 student at the same school, must take a school bus to attend classes.

Rawipol’s parents are divorced. His father passed away a year ago, and his mother has since remarried. He now lives with his uncle and aunt’s family, which includes a five-year-old cousin in kindergarten. His uncle and aunt are farmers who cultivate corn and cassava, and his uncle also takes on occasional casual labor. Despite their financial challenges, Rawipol is a bright and determined boy who dreams of becoming a teacher. He enjoys studying and actively participates in after-school activities at Hauy Mouang Hous of Hope, where he receives tutoring and a nutritious meal.

Kanyaphat Lungton is a 9-year-old third-grader at Mae Kwong Jiradhiwat Upatham Irrigation School. She has two siblings: Thanawat, an 11-year-old fifth-grader, and Peeratcha, a 7-year-old first-grader. All three children attend the same school and participate in activities at the HOH Sansai project due to their parents’ long working hours. Their parents, both construction workers. On school holidays, the parents often bring them to the construction site as there’s no one else to look after them. The family works tirelessly to provide for their children and ensure they receive a good education. As Thai Yai without Thai citizenship, they face additional challenges. Despite these hardships, Kanyaphat and Thanawat are participating our HOH project everyday and always bring their smile to friends and our staffs.

Thai

Chutikan is an 11-year-old girl living in a small rented house in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Despite facing financial challenges, she is a bright and determined student who dreams of becoming an art teacher. Chutikan lives with her father, grandmother, and aunt, all of whom rely on inconsistent daily labor jobs to support the family.

Growing up in a low-income household, Chutikan has learned the value of hard work and perseverance. She excels in school and is particularly passionate about art. After school, she attends enrichment programs to further develop her artistic skills and academic knowledge.

Charan is a six-year-old boy from the remote village of Huay Wai, Thailand. Despite facing overwhelming challenges, he dreams of a better future. Born into poverty, Charan’s family struggles to meet their basic needs. His parents work tirelessly as daily wage laborers while his older brothers had to drop out of school to support the family.

Despite these hardships, Charan shows incredible promise. He is eager to learn and attend school, but his family’s circumstances often prevent him from a consistent education.

Ethnic minority Lahu  without Thai citizenship

Kortaks Maegae is an eleven-year-old boy living in Ban Huay Muang Nai, Mae Nawang Subdistrict, Mae Ai District, Chiang Mai Province. He is currently a Grade 4 student at Ban Pak Ko School, approximately four kilometers from his home. Since there’s no school in their village, Kortaks and his younger brother, who also attends Ban Pak Ko, rely on the school bus for transportation. Their youngest sibling is too young to attend school.

Kortaks’ parents are facing financial challenges. His father works as both a casual laborer and farmer, while his mother is a homemaker. Recent drought conditions have damaged their crops, significantly impacting their income. Their modest thatched-roof house is in poor condition and leaks during rainy weather. Despite these hardships, Kortaks is a determined student. He attends after-school programs at Hauy Mouang Hous of Hope, where he receives tutoring and nutritious meals. Kortaks dream is to become a doctor as he wants to help other people.

Suk is a 10-year-old boy from a small village in Chiang Mai, Thailand. As a member of the Thai Yai ethnic minority, Suk and his family do not have Thai citizenship. Living in a rented house with his family, Suk faces many challenges due to their limited financial resources.

Despite these hardships, Suk is a cheerful and determined boy who dreams of becoming a soldier. However, due to his lack of citizenship, this dream may be difficult to realize. Nevertheless, Suk remains focused on his studies, hoping to secure a good job and improve his family’s situation.