Child Protection Thailand Project #36433

Help 500 Thai children get an education

by Family Connection Foundation

Project Report | Jan 27, 2026
When a Mother's Hard Work Isn't Enough

By Jaruwan Saefong | Program Director

Billy and His Mother

Billy is an eleven-year-old boy in sixth grade who lives with his mother and older brother in a small village in Maha Sarakham Province. Each day after school, he helps at home by cooking rice for his mother and feeding the pigs, showing a growing sense of responsibility and care for his family.

Life has been challenging for this family. Billy’s mother works hard collecting and selling recyclable materials to provide for her children, while his older brother had to leave school after ninth grade and now works at a gas station in the city to help support the household. Even with their efforts, meeting daily needs has often been a struggle.

Last year, Billy began receiving support through the Education Matters scholarship program, which covers school lunches, transportation to school (which is nearly ten kilometers away) and essential supplies such as uniforms, shoes, and a school bag. Because of this support, Billy is able to continue his education without the heavy worry his family once carried.

Billy’s teachers have noticed a positive change in his attitude toward learning, and he is often praised for his effort. On weekends, he enjoys attending church, where he learns to play the guitar, participates in children’s programs, and enjoys playing football with friends.

His mother shares with joy that he now speaks more politely, listens more attentively, and shows greater respect and responsibility at home. Once stubborn and quick-tempered, Billy has become a kinder, more thoughtful boy who willingly helps his family.

Because of your kindness, Billy and his mother now face the future with hope and gratitude. Your support is not only meeting practical needs — it is shaping a young boy’s life for the better and giving him the opportunity to grow, learn, and dream.

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Oct 4, 2025
Story of Grace : From Fear to Freedom

By Chayada Rungtao | Media and Communications Officer

Grace's Story

In today's connected world, danger has new places to hide. A simple job ad on social media can be a trafficker's lure, turning a dream into a nightmare. Every young person deserves the right to grow up safe. But for too many, that right is stolen.

Grace* is 16. A TikTok job ad promised her a first step toward independence. It seemed simple: reply to messages, earn good money. Her family was proud. But the promise was a lie.

The “agent” drove Grace and her friend across the border into Cambodia. Their phones were taken. They were locked away and forced into a criminal scam. When Grace refused, her captors threatened to sell her.

In the darkness, Grace held onto hope. She prayed to go home.

Her father never stopped fighting for her. He contacted LIFT, and we worked with Thailand’s Anti-Trafficking Police to find the girls. With help from the Thai Embassy, Grace was brought home.

Her story didn’t end there. Our legal team stood with her as she faced her trafficker in court. In January 2025, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with no parole. Justice was served.

Today, the fear Grace once felt is fading. She is healing. She dreams of joining the army, like her father once hoped to. She dreams of a small farm to call her own.

“This experience made me stronger,” Grace says. “Thank you for giving me the chance to build a new future—in my own way.”

Grace’s story is one of incredible strength. And because of you, it is not the only one. Her victory is part of a larger story of justice that you make possible.

Your support is woven into the lives of 905 children and teens now safe from cyber trafficking.

It is behind the 465 offenders arrested, ensuring they can no longer harm others. It is the force behind 3,967 years in combined prison sentences—a clear message that this crime will not be tolerated. And it is the hope in $1.68M NZD in compensation, recovered from criminals and returned to survivors to help them rebuild.

These are not just numbers. They are futures reclaimed. They are families restored. They are dreams given back.

Your generous support is the start of their justice. It is the hope that rewrites their story. Thank you for standing with us in this vital fight.

* Name changed to protect the survivor.

Links:

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Oct 3, 2025
A Boy Who Never Gives Up

By Jaruwan Saefong | Program Director

Tom is a kind and determined twelve-year-old boy with a heart for learning. He is currently in sixth grade at a small school in Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai. At school, he enjoys drawing and football, and he has even represented his school in competitions. He also helps his teachers with activities, showing both responsibility and initiative.

Life, however, has not been easy for Tom. When he was just four years old, his parents separated, and he went to live with his grandparents in Omkoi District. During that time, his mother moved to Chiang Mai to find work, while his father provided no support. At the age of eight, Tom left the mountains to live with his mother in a small rented room in the city so he could continue his education.

His mother works as a housemaid a few days each week, cleaning homes for foreign families. Her health, however, makes steady work difficult. She has been battling a chronic illness, SLE, for over twelve years and had to undergo knee surgery earlier this year. When she was recovering, Tom lovingly cared for her, showing maturity far beyond his age.

Even with these challenges, Tom does not give up. He helps at home by cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry, and on weekends he sometimes takes small jobs like cutting grass to earn extra money. He has a cheerful spirit, a willingness to work hard, and a determination to build a better future.

The support of Education Matters has lifted a heavy burden from this family. With help for school expenses, Tom has been able to buy supplies, sportswear, and new shoes. More importantly, he has been able to stay in school and pursue his education.

Thanks to your support, Tom and his mother can look to the future with hope. Children like Tom remind us that education changes lives. With your help, he has the chance to keep reaching for his dreams!

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