“School in Thailand Has Reopened...But Another 3,660 Children May Not Be Able to Stay in School Until the End of the Academic Year”

Dear Donors and Kind Supporters,

As schools across Thailand reopen this mid-May, many children are returning to their classrooms once again — meeting friends, beginning a new school term, and continuing their journey toward a better future through education.

For many children, a scholarship is not simply financial assistance — it is the opportunity to stay in school and continue dreaming about their future.

Yet at the same time, there are still many underprivileged students who, despite being able to return to school this term, continue to face the painful uncertainty of whether they will be able to remain in school until the end of the academic year.

For low-income families, basic school-related expenses — including transportation, lunches, school supplies, and daily living costs — remain overwhelming burdens beyond what they can afford, and beyond what government educational support can fully cover.

EDF scholarships therefore play a critical role in helping relieve the financial burden on families and ensuring that children from disadvantaged backgrounds can continue their education without being forced to leave school prematurely.

For the 2026 academic year, EDF has selected 8,694 underprivileged students from more than 1,200 schools across Thailand to receive educational support.

So far, 5,034 students (58%) have already received sponsorship.

However, there are still 3,660 children (42%) who remain without sponsors and are at risk of dropping out of school simply because their families cannot afford the basic costs of education.

EDF Scholarship Status (as of May 2026)

Scholarship Program	Scholarships Received	Scholarships Still Needed (before 30 June 2026)	How to Donate
Lower Secondary School Scholarships	4,144	2,640	Donate here
Underprivileged but High- Achieving  Lower Secondary Scholarships	245	150	Donate here
Upper Secondary / Vocational Education Scholarships	282	623	Donate here
Scholarships for Students with Disabilities	230	155	Donate here
Scholarships for Orphaned Students in Thailand’s Deep South	133	92	Donate here
Total	5,034	3,660 students

Some children are waiting for daily lunch support.
Some are waiting for transportation costs to get to school.
And some are simply waiting for the chance to continue studying like other children.

Amid today’s economic uncertainty and rising living costs, many vulnerable families continue to struggle deeply, leaving countless children standing on the thin line between

“continuing their education”
and
“having their educational journey come to an end too soon.”

Real Lives. Real Dreams. Still Waiting.

The students still waiting for scholarships are not statistics. They are children with real lives and real aspirations, such as:

• Ketsarin (Ning), Grade7, Udon Thani: Despite hardship, she never gives up on her dreams. She hopes to become a teacher and build a better life for her family.
• Pornpimon (Grace), Grade 7, Surin: While caring for her bedridden grandmother, she remains fully committed to her studies—earning a perfect GPA of 4.00.”
   
• MuhammadTaufiq (Grade 5) and MuhammadFaif (Grade 3), Narathiwat : Two orphaned brothers who lost both parents and now live with impoverished grandparents
• Kawin (Win), Grade 5, Ratchaburi : A child with a physical disability determined to study in a mainstream school to become self-reliant and support his family
• Natthapat (BM), Grade 6, Sakon Nakhon : A boy who dreams of becoming a teacher to care for the grandparents who raised him
• Chanita (Fang), Grade 7, Chaiyaphum: A girl who saves every possible baht to continue her education while helping her grandmother care for multiple grandchildren
• Kulthida (Fai), Grade 11, Buriram : A young woman raised by her grandparents who dreams of becoming a science teacher

EDF will continue accepting scholarship donations for the 2026 academic year until 30 June 2026 only.

We therefore respectfully invite you to once again help extend educational opportunities to children who are still waiting for support — whether through sponsoring a scholarship or contributing any amount toward educational assistance.

Because your support today may be the reason a child
does not have to leave school,
does not have to give up their dreams because of poverty,
and can continue growing with dignity, hope, and the belief that a better future is still possible.

Donations can be made via:

1. Online Donations: Visit our English website at www.edfthai.org
2. QR Code: Scan the QR code to donate via the E-Donation system
3. Download the Donation Form: Available on our website
4. Bank Transfers: Make a donation to "The Education for Development Foundation" account at the following banks:

SCB	Ngamwongwan Branch	Acc No.	319-2-77744-8
BBL	Bang Khen Branch	Acc No.	161-4-56698-0
KBank	Bang Khen Branch	Acc No.	070-2-45369-0
TTB	Kasetsart Univ. Branch	Acc No.	069-2-41110-1
KrungThai	Phaholyothin40 Branch	Acc No.	980-7-59891-5

To supply donation details or fund transfer evidence, request an e-Donation receipt, or for more information, please contact the EDF Foundation’s public relations department at 02-579-9209 to 11, email [email protected], or add us on Line: @edfthai
 

On behalf of the EDF Foundation, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for your kindness and generosity. Every opportunity you give does not only transform a child’s life—it helps build a better future for all of us.

 

 

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