Prevent Child Trafficking Through Education

Every year in Thailand, more than 800,000 students drop out of school. For many, leaving school isn't a choice—it's a matter of survival. But without an education, these children become far more vulnerable to cycles of trafficking and exploitation that can last generations.

Recently, 19 students who were at risk of dropping out of school took our child development course—the first step in our proven model to prevent human trafficking. These students, known for gang involvement and drug use, were at a high risk of being trafficked or exploited.  But through the course, they transformed vulnerability into possibility.

 The child development course is the first resource shared with The Freedom Story's Prevention Partners. One of our 11 trained partners introduced the course—focused on self-awareness, financial literacy, and children's rights—to this group.

 "The children shared that what they learned—combined with the love and care they received—made them feel they no longer wanted to do things that were harmful or unhelpful. They started to love themselves more, have life goals, and hope to accomplish these goals," says Rin, a program manager with The Freedom Story.

 The transformation was so profound that school officials knew it couldn't stop there. In 2025, their school became the first government-funded school to integrate the Freedom Story's child development course into its curriculum.

 Twenty students, identified as being at the highest risk of dropping out, are currently participating in the course for academic credit. This step doesn't just help those students—it sets a precedent for how schools and communities can work together to stop child trafficking before it happens.