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> > Nong Plai’s Dream
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| Nong Plai’s Dream |
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| Since her mother’s death from breast cancer, Nong Plai or Tansiya Thongdeenork (13), a 7th grade student from Bann Kerg School in Khon Kaen, has lived with her father in an old wooden house where she now feels lonely. |
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Nong Plai’s Dream |
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In the past, she always helped sell noodles at her mother’s stall every weekend; it was the source of the family’s main income. However, the business has now been taken over by her relatives and her father has become the breadwinner. He works as a Tuk Tuk (an auto rickshaw) driver from dusk till dawn to make a living. After paying for petrol and the daily Tuk Tuk rental fee, his daily net income comes down to around only 100 baht (USD 3).
Nowadays, Nong Plai has to take care of everything in the house like housechores, cooking, washing clothes and washing the dishes. She is also still expected to help her extended family with the noodle selling stall on the weekends in exchange for wages to help lighten her father’s burden.
In spite of poverty and getting little sleep due to a constant workload, Nong Plai managed to earn a 3.5 GPA last semester. Her dream is to become a teacher, teaching children in her village so that they will be equally knowledgeable as their counterparts in the city.
Nong Plai said: “When my mother died last year, I think I may not be able to continue studying because my father doesn’t have enough money. All of my parents’ savings has been spent on my mother’s cancer treatment and medications. But when my teacher told me about a generous donor who would give me a scholarship so that I can finish 9th grade, I was very glad. Although we have never met before, he is already very kind to me. I promise I will study hard and realize my dream as teacher.”
Although she received a scholarship, she would still like to work at the noodle stall this summer break to save money for her own educational expenses as well as for other family expenses.
Nong Plai is one of the students who applied for an EDF scholarship this year. Today her dream of continuing her studies came true by the kind support of EDF scholarship donors who see the importance of education for disadvantaged children in rural areas. However, for this coming semester which begins May 2011, there are more than 2,500 children like Nong Plai who are still waiting and hoping for opportunities to come back to study again.
But it is not too late to help. Support a child and give him or her an invaluable educational opportunity. |
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| 2011-06-03 | Featured Stories | เปิดอ่าน 5516 |
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