Would You Like to Help the Children of the Hill Tribes?

​A Personal Message:

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Over the past few decades, Thailand has become my beloved home. This website — My Love for Thailand — was not created for any personal or commercial gain. It is simply a heartfelt tribute to the country and people who welcomed me so kindly more than 30 years ago. It is my way of saying thank you.

Among the most meaningful and humbling experiences I’ve had here has been the opportunity to support children and teenagers from Thailand’s northern hill tribes — especially those who had to leave their remote mountain homes to attend school in places like Doi Saket, just outside Chiang Mai.

Coming from families with few resources and no nearby schools in their villages, these children often live in very modest shelters — sometimes just bamboo huts with no running water, limited access to healthy food, and few clothes to grow into. And yet… they carry with them the most incredible warmth, resilience, and determination to learn. It was impossible not to be moved by their spirit.

Back in 2006, soon after my family and I arrived in Chiang Mai from Phuket, a Thai friend introduced me to Pastor Suchart, the leader of a small local Methodist church. He and his congregation were quietly supporting a group of hill tribe children who had settled near Doi Saket so they could go to school. That’s how I became involved — first with weekly food deliveries, then shared Saturday lunches, English lessons, and later helping to install running water and a simple bathroom.

My support was modest, but to those children it made a difference. And to me, it opened a new door to understanding kindness, dignity, and community in the deepest sense.

I do not represent any organization, but for those who visit this site and feel moved to help, I want to gently suggest a few trusted foundations and organizations that are doing outstanding work to support hill tribe children and uplift communities in northern Thailand.

I have carefully selected the organizations below based on their proven commitment, transparency, and local engagement. If you wish to help, please consider reaching out to them directly.

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🌿 1. Mae Fah Luang Foundation Under Royal Patronage

Website: www.maefahluang.org

The Mae Fah Luang Foundation was inspired by the tireless work of Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra, the Princess Mother. It is one of Thailand’s most respected organizations working to improve lives in remote and underserved areas, especially among the hill tribe communities.

Their projects span education, health care, sustainable agriculture, and vocational training — always focused on dignity and self-reliance. I especially admire their long-term vision and the way they involve local people in creating their own future.

Note: M.L. Panadda Diskul, a former Governor of Chiang Mai and Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, has been associated with this foundation. As shared elsewhere on this site, I was fortunate to meet M.L. Panadda Diskul personally. His public service and his emphasis on Good Governance and Social Progress continue to inspire me.

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📚 2. Child’s Dream Foundation

Website: www.childsdream.org

Founded by two Swiss citizens who fell in love with Southeast Asia, Child’s Dream works tirelessly to improve education and healthcare for children and young adults in Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia. In northern Thailand, they focus on building schools, dormitories, and supporting access to secondary and vocational education for hill tribe youth.

Their commitment is hands-on and transparent — and they provide detailed updates for donors. What I find especially touching is their long-term support for students, often continuing through university or specialized training.

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🧒 3. Friends Without Borders Foundation (FWB)

Website: www.friends-without-borders.org

This Thai-based foundation supports stateless and marginalized children, including many from the hill tribes and ethnic minority groups who live in border areas. Their work includes safe housing, education, advocacy, and emotional healing.

Their approach is gentle and human-centered, giving special attention to the most vulnerable children, many of whom have no legal status and are at risk of exploitation. If you are someone who cares deeply about justice and inclusion, this may be a foundation that resonates with you.

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🌱 4. The Mirror Foundation (Chiang Rai)

Website: www.mirror.or.th

Based in Chiang Rai, The Mirror Foundation has worked for decades with hill tribe communities, focusing on education, community development, environmental awareness, and support for stateless individuals.

I especially appreciate their respectful and culturally sensitive approach, always working with local people rather than imposing ideas from outside. Their education programs include scholarships, dormitories, and language teaching — all vital for helping hill tribe children create brighter futures.

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💡 Final Thoughts

If the stories of the hill tribe children have touched your heart, I invite you to follow that feeling. Even a small donation to one of these organizations can go a long way toward helping a child feel safe, nourished, and hopeful.

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Thank you for taking the time to read this page. It means more than you know.

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With gratitude,
Einar Meling
Chiang Mai Province, Thailand
July 2025

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