From a Mountain Village to the Hospital Ward: Fon’s Journey
When Fon looks at her life today, standing confidently in her white nurse’s uniform at a hospital, she still remembers the moment everything could have turned out differently.
“If I hadn’t received the scholarship to finish my bachelor’s degree,” she reflected quietly, “I might not have this life today.”
Growing up with uncertainty
Fon, whose full name is Orjira, grew up in a farming family in the remote hills of Mae Hong Son. Her parents worked hard, but their lives were at the mercy of the seasons. Some years brought good harvests; others brought nothing but anxiety. Prices were set by middlemen. Most of what the family grew was eaten at home. Income was unpredictable, and the children felt it first, especially when it came to staying in school.
But everything began to change when Fon was in Grade 3. Through the World Vision Foundation of Thailand, her family was matched with a sponsor. For the first time, Fon had what every child deserves: a fair chance.
Sponsorship covered school supplies, uniforms, transportation, and health essentials. It also strengthened her family’s livelihood, enabling her parents to better care for their children. Education no longer felt like an impossible dream.
The turning point
Years later, Fon completed high school with good grades and a dream of becoming a nurse. But dreams felt fragile in the face of poverty.
“I have two siblings,” she said. “I thought I should give up university so my younger brother could study instead. My family was still struggling. I didn’t want to add to their burden.”
It was a moment that could have ended her future.
But then came the opportunity that changed everything: the Bachelor’s Degree Program, one of World Vision’s initiatives supporting determined youth who lack the financial means to pursue vocational, technical, or university education.
“With the scholarship, I was able to study nursing and complete my degree,” Fon said. “Without it, my family would have suffered. I wouldn’t be where I am today. I want to thank my sponsor and every donor from the bottom of my heart.”
A life transformed, now transforming others
Today, Fon is exactly where she once dreamed of being: caring for patients in a local hospital, offering comfort, support, and healing.
“When I see patients smile, I feel happy,” she said. “Helping others reminds me why I chose nursing.”
Her success has changed more than her own life. Her income now supports her parents. Her younger brother is still in school. The cycle of hardship that once defined her family has finally begun to break.
And in Fon’s heart, gratitude has grown into purpose.
“I promise to work hard, help others, and be a good role model,” she said. “If I can inspire even one child to keep studying, that will mean everything.”
The power that keeps on giving
Fon’s story is a reminder that sponsorship is not just a donation, it is a lifeline. It lifts a child, supports a family, and strengthens an entire community. It creates ripples of hope that extend far beyond what donors may ever see.
Because when you open the door of opportunity for a child, you aren’t just changing one life, you’re transforming generations.