10 Years of Educational Leadership, Towards Board of Advisors, EEF
Teach For Thailand alumni is a network of leaders who believe in the potential for true development in children across Thailand. They are determined to drive change through various career paths. One such leader is “Giraffe” – Sorawit Paiboonrattanakorn, an alumnus of Teach For Thailand's first cohort, who founded the Saturday School Foundation. The Foundation helps Thai children discover their potential by engaging with people from diverse sectors of society.
On August 17th, the Saturday School Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary under the theme “Saturday School: Growing Together.” During the event, students showcased their talents and shared their journeys of growth and achievement.
“It was a deeply rewarding experience. Over the past decade, we have witnessed remarkable transformations, both in students and volunteers. These activities create a valuable space where participants can connect, learn, and grow together,” Giraffe shared.
Currently, the Saturday School Foundation has 5,283 volunteers and serves 18,043 students. It partners with public and private sectors to create broader learning opportunities for youth, such as “Saturday School Bangkok,” a collaboration with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), which opened 50 additional classrooms for learning and after-school activities. The Foundation is also expanding into six more provinces in central and northern Thailand through its “Saturday School Expansion” initiative.
“One example of this change is the students at Wat Praya Yang, who passed the English subject in the O-NET exam for the first time in nine years, after 8-16 hours of learning with our volunteers.”
“Additionally, more school directors now recognize the importance of extracurricular learning opportunities, increasing the number of activities and clubs in their schools.”
The door to opportunity opens for those who take action. Giraffe has recently been appointed to the Advisory Board of the Equitable Education Fund (EEF), representing civil society.
Explaining his new role, Giraffe said, “I was invited because of my work with the Foundation. Over the years, we have been addressing educational challenges and I bring experience working with both students and teachers.”
With his new position in a national organization, along with the tools and knowledge to promote positive change in Thai education, Giraffe is confident he can help improve both the quality of life and education for children, paving the way for future educational reform.
More Teach For Thailand Fellows and alumni are emerging as key drivers of educational development in Thailand, starting from individual classrooms and expanding their impact.
Support Teach For Thailand Foundation today to ensure that all children in Thailand can have equitable access to quality education and the opportunity to shape their own future.
