When the challenges of our work feel overwhelming, it's stories like this that inspire hope and get us through. Yadfon (sitting on the right) is our Northern Thailand programs' leader—it was her vision and dedication that helped CLF expand its mission beyond Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
After Poaka heard from his uncle about the Creative Life Foundation, he hopped on his motorbike and rode 2 hours along the windy mud trails from his village to meet with Yadfon. It was then, in 2016, that Poaka (sitting on the left) became one of the many students who joined our Northern Thailand scholarship program that year.
Ever since we first met Poaka, he had a dream of becoming a teacher and a desire to make a difference in his village. He strived to be a positive role model in the community—encouraging parents to send their children to school and reminding kids to work hard. Of course, this is easier said than done. For many girls and boys, school isn't always an option. For starters, there isn't a school located in every village, making the cost of commuting one of the many barriers families face.
Lack of resources prevented Poaka's parents from attending school, so for them having the opportunity to see their son join our program was a big deal. For 6-years, Poaka received a scholarship, mentorship and had many opportunities to serve his community.
Poaka was able to graduate high school, enroll in a good university, and just recently started his first year of teaching—he is living his dream!
Our mission is to connect vulnerable and marginalized children and parents to critical resources that create a path to freedom and prevents human trafficking.Through having access to education, Poaka had options and was given a choice. He worked hard and utilized every opportunity. He is on a pathway to freedom for sure!
"Thank you Creative Life Foundation for helping me get to where I am today" —Poaka
A special thanks to our monthly donors—it's your support that makes our work possible! If you would like to join us in creating more pathways to freedom, we encourage you to sign up and become a monthly donor today. For as little as $10, $15, or $20 a month, you can make a big difference!
Comments