With Everyone’s Involved, A Child’s Life Can Be Better
June 1st is Global Day of Parents, established by the United Nations to honor the essential role of parents in raising and ensuring the quality of life and growth for children and youth. "Parents are the closest people to children and youth, and they have the most influence on their future," said Pattaratida Somrak, known as ‘Som-O,’ a Teach For Thailand alumna from cohort 7. Reflecting on her experience with parents during her time in the Teach For Thailand Fellowship Leader Program, she emphasizes the vital role parents play.
Som-O’s journey, spanning over a decade, has always focused on working with children and youth. “My goal is to work towards child and youth development, especially education, so I started working professionally in this field. I used my facilitation skills to design learning activities on various topics, like Child Rights, but later discovered that it is not enough. So I started working with schools and parents more.”
Her passion for education led her to Teach For Thailand, where she served as a middle school teacher at Samoeng Pittayakhom School in Chiang Mai.
Currently, Som-O is a Trainer and Community Empowerment Officer at Baan Dek Foundation. She supports the quality of life for children and youth in slums and construction camps by working with parents and community members on various issues such as area improvement, education, welfare, and health.
Her work at the foundation deepened her understanding of the factors impacting a child’s development and quality of life. Cultural differences often mean that parents in the communities she works with have different perspectives on child-rearing. Some parents prioritize immediate work over long-term education, only supporting education up to grade 9 or opting for non-formal education.
Economic struggles and lack of Thai nationality are significant barriers that prevent parents from fully supporting their children’s education. To address these challenges, Som-O uses her facilitation skills and experience as a Fellow to organize activities that raise awareness about child rights, ending domestic violence, educational and healthcare access, and community involvement in child development.
“These topics are new to the parents, but our activities help them open up and support our goals,” Som-O explains. “When we follow up, parents often tell us they remember what they learned. For example, after a play about enrolling children in school, parents said they still remember the steps!”
This retention means parents can spread the knowledge within their community, improving educational access and quality of life for children. “As parents see the importance of proper child-rearing, community improvement becomes easier. Parents and community members start actively looking out for the children,” she adds.
Support from relevant organizations, including schools and employers at construction sites, also significantly impacts educational access. Employers who align with their goals help create child-friendly environments and learning spaces at construction sites.
Som-O has worked with over 40 communities, improving the lives and educational access for more than 1,000 children and youths. She believes that parental and community involvement is crucial for the healthy development of children.
“If we create a supportive environment for children to grow up in, they will carry generosity and kindness with them wherever they go,” Som-O concludes.
In celebration of Global Day of Parents, Teach For Thailand honors the contributions of parents and all those who support children and youth. We invite everyone to join the movement for equitable educational access, empowering children to choose their futures.
Read more about our mission to transform Thai education here.
