“Praiwan” means forest in the Thai language. He is the teacher of children in the forest, bringing light to the forest through education, love and care. “The Sun for minority groups, the last miles for children in the forest.” That best describes Mr Praiwan.

Mr. Praiwan was born in Nakorn Phanom province, in the northeast of Thailand. He starts his teaching journey as a temporary instructor at Nakhon Phanom Technical College, Northeast of Thailand, where he graduated in electrical communication. One day he learnt about volunteer teachers and realized that there are still many schools that need teachers. This triggers his childhood memory when it was very difficult for him to have access to education due to his family condition. Driven by his childhood memory and personal calling, he quit his job at Nakhon Phanom Technical College and became a volunteer teacher to help underprivileged students in a Thai-Karen community school in the remote area in Kanchanaburi province. He later moved to another Karen community school in Pilokkee village, located on an island in the middle of a dam reservoir in Kanchanaburi province. It was a temporary community school in which children who graduated are not qualified to receive any certificate due to the unregistered status of the school. So, he tries to leverage this small community school and send a request to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to adopt the school. Finally, HRH approved the adaptation of the school, and it has now become a Police Border Patrol school, Pilokkee.

Assuring that Pilookee School is now in good hands and receiving sustainable support, Mr. Praiwan continued his dream, embarking on another journey and seeking out another community school where there are no teachers. He walked for days into the forest until he found a small school, Ban Lai Vo, a branch school of Baan Kong Mong Tha school in Kanjachanaburi province near the border of Thailand and Myanmar. The area was so remote that it lacked basic amenities such as electricity, water utilities, and phone signals.

He teaches diverse subjects, including Thai, mathematics, arts, civic duty, and life skills for both Thai and ethnic minority students. His support extended beyond academic knowledge to include educational resources and personal guidance. Mr. Praiwan won the hearts of his students and the community through “trust”, establishing himself as a problem solver for the entire community. He spearheaded community development projects and demonstrated how classroom lessons could be applied in real-world settings. He observes individual students and guides them based on their capabilities. After years of dedication, the community praised him as a “Guiding Light” whose influence reached beyond the school to touch the hearts of students, parents, and everyone in the community. He initiates projects with the children and community to generate income to be funding for the students to continue their studies in the schools in the city. Through his many initiatives, the community can now sell their products online, and many students have good jobs and are able to live independently. Former students love him very much and regularly return to the school to provide financial support to the younger ones to have opportunities to continue their studies similar to what they have received.

Mr. Praiwan said that he wants to give his students opportunities and new lives so that they realize that they have valuable lives and become capable humans.