Friends and Family,
With a deep sense of purpose, I humbly reach out to you today to illuminate our ongoing efforts to make a meaningful difference in the lives of underprivileged mountain children. Our mission is to provide them with a better future and, in doing so, positively impact the quality of education for countless others whose fate hangs in the balance. Sadly, the vast majority of Thai people earn less than 30,000 THB per month (equivalent to $883.25), which makes daily life a difficult struggle. While prices for essential items like home appliances, automobiles, electronics, and fuel are similar to those in western countries, incomes are not.
These financial statistics highlight the struggles that many Thai people face on a daily basis, leading to negativity and animosity within society and even families. Such sentiments can have a direct and indirect impact on children trying to thrive in their local communities and cities.
For instance, the base salary for a police officer in Thailand ranges from around 9,000 to 14,000 baht per month ($263 to $410), depending on rank and experience. Meanwhile, the minimum salary for a full-time high school teacher with a bachelor's degree and less than 10 years of experience is 15,000 baht per month ($493), and for a full-time high school teacher with a master's degree and less than 10 years of experience, it's 18,800 baht per month. So our police officers and teachers earn less than $500.00 USD per month. Now you can begin to sense where a big part of the problem lies. The economics and incentives must make sense for a healthy functioning society.
In addition, according to PayScale data, the average salary for a lawyer in Thailand is around 470,000 baht per year, which works out to approximately 39,166 baht per month ($1,142) Self-employed individuals in the accommodation and food services sector earn an average of 22,159 baht per month ($644) according to the National Statistical Office of Thailand.
The Ministry of Education sets the minimum salary for university professors in Thailand. In 2021, the minimum salary for a full-time university professor with a doctoral degree and less than 10 years of experience is 56,330 baht per month ($1,610).
It is important to note that beyond the financial challenges, freeing a well-informed and sophisticated Thai national from Southeast Asia also involve difficulties and bureaucracy. The legal system and bureaucracy in Southeast Asia are challenging, time-consuming, and costly. This can make it difficult for Thai nationals who are knowledgeable and well-informed to secure their freedoms.
As we continue to bring attention to the challenges faced by the Thai people, we must also address issues surrounding bureaucracy and legal systems in Southeast Asia. This requires cooperation and collaboration among nations, as well as a commitment to promoting fair and just systems that allow for the protection and freedom of all individuals.
Our aim is to provide an opportunity for underprivileged children in the mountains to learn English and gain skills with the help of Western influence and technologies. By doing so, they can work remotely for Western countries in the future and transform their lives and their communities. In order to achieve this goal, we must prioritize addressing the basic needs of these children, such as a functional kitchen and bathroom. Only by ensuring that their immediate needs are met can we create an environment that allows them to focus and learn effectively.
Envision a future where children born into disadvantage are no longer bound by the shackles of poverty, but instead become the driving force for change in their communities - all because we chose to give them a chance. Jimmy Kostro
Kostro Foundation
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