During Teach for Thailand's 10th anniversary celebration on November 18, a panel discussion with Dr. Kanwarin Pholanan, also known as Kru Pat, Director of Satitpattana School, and Giraffe-Sorawit Paiboonrattanakorn, our fellows from the first cohort, was one of the highlights.

Teach For Thailand (TFT) commemorates its 10-year milestone with the '10 Years of Change #WeavingTheFuture' event, bringing together Fellows, alumni, donors, CEOs, staff, and distinguished guests who have been part of its remarkable journey. Despite the challenges, Teach For Thailand continues to forge ahead, guided by the steadfast support of all involved.

"I admire Teach For Thailand's clear objectives: to bring opportunities to schools, reduce inequality, and allow students to learn from insightful individuals with a positive attitude. It is a tangible educational improvement." The Director of Srirak School, Prachinburi, Ms. Salee Cherd-Choo, has expressed the tangible results that Teach For Thailand (TFT) Fellows have achieved, particularly in inspiring educational personnel in the community.

“I believe in you,” Thidamas Temsan (Dew), a Teach For Thailand (TFT) Fellow (cohort 2), said to Leo right before he went on stage to present his campaign. That very short sentence gave Leo the boost he needed to speak to the public and run for student president. Tatti Jaemasukkasaem (New) and Theerapun Tossamran (Leo) met Dew while studying in junior high school at Watsamngam School. Dew’s ability to understand and empathize had an impact on them, pushing them to pursue a degree in the Faculty of Education in college.

After completing the two-year Teach For Thailand (TFT) Fellowship Program, many TFT Alumni continue to drive positive change in Thai education. One such group currently works at the Faculty of Learning Sciences and Education (LSEd) at Thammasat University. They are Som, Ann, and Sun, all from the first TFT cohort. “If we don’t play our parts, the education system loses the possibility of something new,” Som shared. “In every society, there are resources and potential. If access [to these resources] becomes available to more people, then a better education system can be achieved.”

“My school solves the problems that other schools couldn’t: illiteracy, lack of motivation to go to school, inability to have a life goal – things you’ll find to be the gaps in the education system.” Kreenthinyaphat Thearathanin (Kreen), a cohort 4 alumnus at Teach For Thailand and the founder and CEO of THEKREEN: HomeSchool, told us about the change and impact he has created. After his two-year Fellowship program, Kreen returned home to Songkhla, where he saw an opportunity to improve his education.

“Most students who joined this program decided to pursue college; normally, only 10 out of 50 would consider continuing to high school.” As part of Teach For Thailand (TFT)'s first cohort, Ponpapatch Pisantechakool (Khae)'s story inspired our curiosity about this 'program.' It was called "Learners to Leaders," a collaboration between Khae, who was teaching at Wat Sangkharacha School, and five other friends. They took 25 students on a field trip to Singapore.

“If I were a teacher, I would improve both my students' academics and characteristics. I would encourage them, just like how Teacher Ving did,” Kittiphum Phonrat (Job) shared his dream. He was a student of Panisara Suksraem (Ving), a Teach For Thailand (TFT) Fellow (cohort 3). At present, Job has successfully become a teacher and, in fact, was going to become a TFT Fellow but chose to work within the system instead.

“I believe, as a younger generation, we can both contribute to non-formal education and to Thai education.” Sorawit Paiboonrattanakorn (Giraffe) joined the first cohort of Teach For Thailand (TFT) with the goal of establishing an organization that solves social issues, particularly education. Today, Giraffe is the CEO of Saturday School Foundation, the place where volunteers join forces to improve education.