Educate at-risk girls, end poverty cycle: Thailand

The dream of the original group of nuns that started Dhammajarinee 33 years ago was simple and profound: Make impoverished girls without educational opportunity safe, self-reliant, and good citizens in their life.   

The nuns’ grassroots effort to change the lives of so many young girls is a dream that is now shared with generous supporters like you all around the world.

Good News: This season’s donation bonus opportunity is coming fast! 

From 18–22 September all donations will receive a bonus from GlobalGiving.  We will send you a reminder email on 18 September.  

Enjoy some of Dhammajarinee’s August Achievements (photos below)

• Panyapiwat Institute of Management distributed $33,950 worth of higher education scholarships to students of Dhammajarinee.

• A Memorandum of Understanding with Khao Yoi Vocational College was finalized to jointly foster economic development in Thailand through training programs focused on in-demand skills.

• Grades 1-12 are showing significant progress in learning English using online learning programs.

• Training in Code School Finland’s Second Module was attended in Bangkok by three leaders of DWS and five computer science teachers. 

• STEM Camp for Elementary Students was a lively, interactive learning experience for younger students at Dhammajarinee.  

How does GlobalGiving work?

In February 2020 we began using the widely respected fundraising platform GlobalGiving to receive US tax-deductible donations. Our initial goal was to raise $96,000 to cover student expenses for 100 students for one year. The essential support that GlobalGiving generated inspired us to continue. Each year the project goal gets raised to reflect our annual needs to support Dhammajarinee. With your kind help, we have raised approximately $77,000 a year. 

GlobalGiving transfers the funds raised each month, and the school immediately uses them to cover student expenses. We are grateful to our monthly donors who provide a reliable source of funds flowing to Dhammajarinee from GlobalGiving.

Each year, we participate in three GlobalGiving bonus campaigns. These campaigns are crucial for bringing us closer to our annual project goal. We appreciate how generously you contribute during these campaigns. 

Again,18 September will start the next bonus campaign. We will send a reminder.

Some of you have asked why we don’t feature stories about the personal backgrounds of our girls, most of whom come from situations that would certainly inspire a compassionate desire to help. There are many deeply moving stories. They were the noble inspiration for starting the school and continue to be the driving force behind the untiring efforts of everyone at Dhammajarinee.

Since Dhammajarinee was founded, Acharn Yai, the very wise and compassionate school director, encourages the girls to forget their past and only look forward to a brighter future. With the internet and email as it is today, stories of the girls’ past can inadvertently become a permanent online record of everything we want the girls to put behind them.

However, we do want you to be aware, in a very real way, of the difference you are making to girls in poverty, including migrant and refugees.

• More than 700,000 children in Thailand are out of school.

• National dropout rates continue to rise. Although Thailand offers free education, associated expenses, such as annual uniforms and registration, are difficult for impoverished families to meet.

•  50% of the girls at Dhammajarinee were orphaned or abandoned with no family member who could afford to care for them. Many of these girls were at public shelters that recommended they attend Dhammajarinee for greater opportunity in education and in life.

There are also girls at Dhammajarinee who were removed from the household by a public agency that determined the girl was in a seriously unsafe home situation. The agencies often themselves have observed this or they received a report from the community about parental alcohol or drug addiction that could harm the child.

• Students from poor Thai families only have a 5% chance of advancing to higher education.

In the more than 30 years since the school was founded, it has progressed far beyond providing a safe home where at-risk girls receive a basic education. At Dhammajarinee, the trauma of their former lives becomes a thing of the past, through the enlightening, stress management programs. In addition, by making use of progressive teaching methods like STEM, DWS has enabled 90% of the graduates to attend university.

We thank you for being a dedicated champion of Dhammajarinee’s mission to rescue girls from lives of problems and light their way to a life of joy and freedom.

In this regard, an opportunity is coming up soon for Dhammajarinee to receive a bonus for your donation.  18-22 September are the dates to remember. We will send more details closer to the date. Thank you in advance for participating and spreading the word.