Samsara supports 50 children to continue their study at high schools and at a vocational school in Mae Sariang. The scholarship program started in 2003.
One girl who received a scholarship is Oiphon, born in 1988, who studied at a vocational school where she learned computer skills.
She is from a poor Karen family living high up in the mountains and was sent down to the small city of Mae Sariang in the valley by her parents. They were determined to give their daughter at least a good basic education. Every year they managed to put enough money aside for school fees, boarding and food. The almost 10,000 baht may not seem like a lot of money, but it is nevertheless an enormous effort for people from a poor village where the average yearly income is often even less than this small sum.
In 2003 their family’s harvest was particularly bad and there was no money left for Oiphon’s studies. Samsara brought her into contact with one of its individual donors.
The owner of a well-known restaurant in Chiang Mai promised to let her finish her studies in Mae Sariang in 2004. Her study results were such that she was able to move to a higher vocational school in the city of Chiang Mai. The restaurant owner guaranteed the money for her education and offered her a part time job in her restaurant.
With respect to scholarships, an administrative structure with the school board is in place. This enables Samsara to ensure that scholarship funds will be used effectively, and ensures accountability. The school board provides Samsara with a list of the student’s grades at the end of each semester.