Educate at-risk girls, end poverty cycle: Thailand

Preparing Students for Higher Education

Thailand is experiencing one of the world's most rapid and serious fertility declines. The country's total fertility rate has fallen to approximately 1.0 child per woman, far below the replacement level of about 2.1. Thailand now has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world and the second lowest in Southeast Asia, after Singapore.

Thailand’s future will depend on whether every child has the chance to become educated, capable, and prepared for a changing world.  Yet that chance is still far from equal. Children from low-income families often attend schools with fewer resources, have less access to computers and tutoring, and get little guidance in preparing for university. For many talented students, poverty — not ability — remains the greatest barrier to reaching their potential.

The challenges are significant, but this is where Dhammajarinee Witthaya School's work shines.

Preparing Students for University Success

One example of our progressive approach is a new partnership with Revision Success, helping our students prepare for university entrance examinations and admissions.

In August, Revision Success generously provided its TuaTueng platform free of charge to Dhammajarinee students. The AI-powered platform gives students access to exam preparation tools and university admissions support.

Through its School Tours program, the Revision Success team also visited Dhammajarinee Witthaya School and provided students and teachers with hands-on workshops covering university portfolios, career guidance, exam preparation, and effective study techniques.

Our students and teachers are delighted and deeply grateful for this new partnership and the opportunities it provides for their future.

AWARDS

Dedication, Talent, Training and Perseverance

August was an outstanding month for Dhammajarinee students and coaches, with our girls earning top awards in academic, music, cultural, and sports competitions.

ACADEMICS

At Sarasit Pittayalai School's Sarasit NextGen Open House, students from schools throughout Ratchaburi Province came together for academic competitions and hands-on activities in engineering, Thai language, culinary skills, logic, and AI.

*1st Place

- Thai Culinary — Grades 7–9

- Bridge Building — Grades 10–12

- Thai Language — Grades 7–9

*3rd Place

- Bridge Building — Grades 7–9

- Thai Language — Grades 10–12

- Sudoku — Grades 7–9

MUSIC

At the 2026 Thai Youth Creative Music Competition*, our students achieved outstanding results:

*1st Place

- Under-15 Drumline Performance

Enjoy their drum performance here.

*Gold Medal Honors

- Under-12 Melodica Concert Band

Enjoy their concert here.

THAI MUSIC

Dhammajarinee students also received an *Honorable Mention at the Secondary School Thai Music Competition for Western Thailand.

The competition was part of Silpakorn University's 2026 Arts Academic Fair, held under the theme “Arts for Earth: Creative Humanities for a Sustainable Future.”

We invite you to enjoy a taste of the beauty and richness of traditional Thai music through our students' performance here.

SPORTS

Our girls continued to demonstrate determination and teamwork in sports competitions.

*1st Place

- Girls' Pétanque Competition — 2026 Ratchaburi Provincial Championship

*3rd Place

- Volleyball Tournament — Ratchaburi Provincial Sports Association, in collaboration with the Sports Authority of Thailand, Ratchaburi Office

9SCI 2026

At 9SCI 2026, a regional student skills competition and educational showcase hosted by Ban Kha Wittaya School in Ratchaburi, Dhammajarinee students achieved an impressive collection of awards.

* 2 First-Place Awards

- Traditional Thai Recitation — Primary Division

- Traditional Thai Recitation — Secondary Division

*3 Second-Place Awards

- Computer-Based Graphic Illustration — Grades 1–3

- Creative Comic Strip Creation — Grades 4–6

- Chinese Handwriting — Grades 7–9

*1 Third-Place Award

- Chinese Handwriting — Grades 10–12

A Special Honor for Dhammajarinee

We have been deeply grateful to the Varkey Foundation for featuring Dhammajarinee Witthaya School and for recognizing our school as one of the Top 50 Finalists for the Global Schools Prize.

This international recognition is a wonderful honor for our students, teachers, coaches, and the entire Dhammajarinee community. It celebrates the dedication and commitment that goes into giving underserved girls the education, skills, confidence, and opportunities they need to build successful and meaningful lives.

Enjoy this clear, concise 1-minute 20-second video about Dhammajarinee here.  And please consider sharing this short video with your friends.

With Deep Appreciation

Every achievement described in this report represents much more than an award. Behind each success are students who have worked hard, teachers and coaches who have given their time and dedication, and supporters like you who have made these opportunities possible.

Thank you for believing in the girls of Dhammajarinee. You are helping these young women discover what they are capable of—and giving them the opportunity to succeed.

Your kind support and compassion continue to open new doors for every Dhammajarinee girl. Thank you for walking beside them as they grow into healthy, confident, and capable young women. Here are a few of the recent, wonderful things your generosity made possible.

Annual Health Screenings

Each year, it is a delight to welcome the nurses and staff from Pak Tho Hospital to Dhammajarinee's campus to provide comprehensive health screenings for our Grade 1–4 students with professionalism and care. These annual check-ups help support every student's learning, healthy development, and overall well-being.

Services include dental and cavity checks, vision screening, walking and balance assessments, heart rhythm and anemia screening, and personal hygiene checks, including nails and head lice. Dhammajarinee takes special care to ensure every girl enjoys good health—the essential foundation for successful learning, confidence, and personal growth.

Financial Literacy in Action

At Dhammajarinee, financial literacy extends beyond the classroom through real-world experiences that connect work, banking, saving, spending, and personal responsibility.

Each student has a debit card linked to the school's student bank. By taking on meaningful jobs across campus, they earn a small income that is deposited directly into their accounts. Students develop valuable workplace skills while serving in areas such as student banking, retail, food services, sustainability, and early childhood support, contributing to the school community while building practical experience.

They use their earnings to save for future goals, manage a budget, and make purchases at the student cooperative store and café, transforming financial lessons into everyday practice. For many years, this hands-on program has been an important part of our holistic education model. By entrusting girls with authentic responsibilities, we help them build financial confidence, initiative, problem-solving skills, and the independence to create self-sufficient, empowered futures.

Learning Technology Through Hands-on Experience

Grade 8 students recently explored the exciting world of electronics and programming in their "Introduction to Electronics and Microcontrollers" class. Using Micro:bit boards, they learned to write code that enabled robots to follow a line accurately. Through designing commands, testing programs, identifying errors, and refining their solutions, students strengthened analytical thinking, systematic problem-solving, teamwork, and programming skills while discovering the possibilities of technology, robotics, and innovation.

Junior High School Carving Club

Creativity, craftmanship, and career skills are put to action in DWS Carving Club. Every week the girls practice their skills on diverse fruits and vegetables. In the professional Thai kitchens of top restaurants, carving artisans are considered highly respected professionals, who practice this centuries-old art form that requires years of dedicated training. Recently, the Carving Club girls excelled as they diligently practiced cucumber carving, learning about creativity, precision, concentration, and gaining hands-on experience.

Working Together for Brighter Futures

On June 30, Dhammajarinee was honored to participate in the opening ceremony of "Your Future, Your Career," a youth empowerment program organized by the provincial Ratchaburi Child and Family Shelter under Thailand's Department of Children and Youth, together with local partner organizations.

The program helps children and young people develop practical career skills, essential life skills, and the confidence to pursue brighter futures. This collaboration with government agencies and community partners will create even more opportunities for our students to discover their potential, prepare for meaningful careers, and become independent, capable young women.

Thank you for believing in girls who have faced significant disadvantage, and for investing in their future with such generosity and compassion. Every opportunity shared in this report is possible because of caring donors like you. Together, we are helping these young women build healthy lives, discover their potential, and create futures filled with purpose and success. Their future is bright!