Founded: 2006

Mission
Share the love of God by providing grants to cover education-related costs for needy families.

Vision
Children graduate high school.
Families transformed by the Gospel.
Communities developed through education and mentorship.

Profile
In Thailand, it is sometimes easier for poor families to send their children away to work rather than send them to school. Work provides income, while school is an expense many families can’t afford. Government school is mostly free, but there are still expenses families have to cover such as books, tuition, lunch, and transportation. The Thai government’s Equitable Education Fund found that extremely-poor families spend almost a quarter of their net income on education costs. That’s a big chunk of the family budget! Education Matters gives many families the incentive and means to keep their children in school by covering these costs.

Additionally, Education Matters gives children and their families hope of a much better future; one where they can learn a trade or skill, go to college, or get a job that can sustain them and their families. This hope encourages them to pursue their dreams. When children and families have hope, they are much less likely to end up being victims of human trafficking or other forms of abuse. They sense that their life has meaning and direction and they will fight much harder to see a bright future and experience success.

Desired Outcomes

• Keeps kids in school up through 12th grade.

• Provides a mentor in the life of the child who also interacts with the families to bring the hope of Christ into difficult circumstances.

• Keeps families together and encourages them to return to their village after completing school to make a difference there.

• Helps families see that their children will be much better off if they try to find work locally and raise their own children, instead of running off to Bangkok. A Suan Dusit poll in 2021 found that about 55% of Thai kids are not being raised by a parent.

• Children who are in school are far less likely to be trafficked or involved in child labor, than those who drop out and are trying to make a way in the world at a young age.

What makes Education Matters different?

Unlike some other child sponsorship programs, your donation goes to provide direct support to the child in the form of tangible help with their education. Because most of our staff and partners work as volunteers, there is very little overhead and the vast majority of money donated goes directly towards education costs. Some foreign donation processors will assess a small fee but once the money is in Thailand, 100% of the money is designated for the Education Matters fund.

Sponsoring a child is only a small amount of money but it makes an enormous impact in the life of the child! Below is a before and after picture of one of many children and young adults who have been sponsored through Education Matters.

Questions? Email educationmatters@fcfthailand.org.