Community Heartbreaking Story of Schoolgirl Living Alone After Mother’s Death & Father’s Imprisonment

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A home visit by teachers has uncovered a deeply moving story of a 14-year-old girl in Udon Thani who has been living alone since the death of her mother and the incarceration of her father.

 

The girl, identified as Miss Kriss is a Mathayom 1 student at Wat Pattamakorn Secondary School in Ban Bo Pattam, Sa Baeng Subdistrict, Nong Han District. Her plight came to light after a local Facebook page, Nong Han Ban Hao, shared her story, prompting shock and sympathy across the community.

 

Teachers visiting her home were astonished to find that Kriss lives entirely on her own in a dilapidated one-storey concrete house with a leaking metal roof. Her mother died two years ago, followed by her grandmother the year after. Her father is currently imprisoned in Surat Thani Province and had previously been abusive to both Kriss and her mother.

 

Kriss survives by cooking for herself and occasionally receives visits from her older sister or a distant aunt. In the evenings after school, she earns a modest income, around 30 to 50 baht per day, by skewering grilled chicken at a local stall.

 

The home she lives in technically belongs to her late grandmother, who had mortgaged it with the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) a decade ago. The current status of the mortgage remains uncertain, raising fears that the house could be repossessed at any time.

 

Local authorities, including Mr Grawi Sarakham, Member of Parliament for the Pheu Thai Party and district officials, have since visited the girl. They offered food supplies and a cash donation and pledged to provide Kriss with a monthly stipend of 3,000 baht to support her education through to university or as far as she wishes to study.

 

“I was moved after hearing about her situation,” said Mr Grawi. “She is a bright student with great potential. No child should have to face life alone like this, especially a young girl.”

 

Assistant school director Mr Natthawut Phonyiem, who led the original visit, described how the teaching staff were left stunned. “We didn’t expect this. Kriss is practically alone. Her house is falling apart, and she barely has support,” he said.

 

Kriss’s resilience and maturity have touched many. “When I lived with my mother and father in Koh Samui, my father was abusive. My mother fled with me here. After she passed away, I stayed with my grandmother until she died too,” she shared. “Now, I live alone. I used to dream of opening a flower shop. Even though I’m alone, I’ll keep fighting for my mother.”

 

Ms Bua, 60, Kriss’s great-aunt and the sister of her late grandmother, confirmed that Kriss has refused offers to live with relatives. “She’s a brave child,” she said. “But she’s all alone. Her mother mortgaged the house ten years ago, and we don’t know if it has been seized or sold yet.”

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-06-18

 

 

 

[ikke1959]

Welfare in Thailand at its best....Nobody really cares about the kids.. Where is the family??they all went to the funeral I suppose and friends and neighbours?? Nobody cares it seems... Better can not sell/buy alcohol on Buddhistic holidays to show what a good Buddhistic country Thailand is

[novacova]

2 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Welfare in Thailand at its best....Nobody really cares about the kids.. Where is the family??they all went to the funeral I suppose and friends and neighbours?? Nobody cares it seems... Better can not sell/buy alcohol on Buddhistic holidays to show what a good Buddhistic country Thailand is

Welfare only creates dependency and inspires weakness. This kid most likely will become a strong willed independent individual.

[Jim Blue]

8 minutes ago, novacova said:

Welfare only creates dependency and inspires weakness. This kid most likely will become a strong willed independent individual.

If she lives .....

[rasalvaje]

Almost everyone needs a helping hand sometimes.  I do what I can and will help this girl if someone will give me an address or name of someone else who will step forward.  It's easy to READ about these things, but much better to offer your help.

[Garouda]

I sincerely hope she will not be obliged to learn some English words:” Hello, welcome! What would you like some drink?”

[marin]

1 minute ago, Garouda said:

I sincerely hope she will not be obliged to learn some English words:” Hello, welcome! What would you like some drink?”

Is that really what ran through your mind after reading of her plight. Damn.

[hotandsticky]

1 minute ago, Garouda said:

I sincerely hope she will not be obliged to learn some English words:” Hello, welcome! What would you like some drink?”

 

 

That would be a better life for her,

 

 

Certainly better than ending up as body parts in Cambodia.

 

 

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Local authorities, including Mr Grawi Sarakham, Member of Parliament for the Pheu Thai Party and district officials, have since visited the girl. They offered food supplies and a cash donation and pledged to provide Kriss with a monthly stipend of 3,000 baht to support her education through to university or as far as she wishes to study.

Such compassion...I bet he spends more than that on one lunch

[Burma Bill]

11 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

That would be a better life for her,

 

 

Certainly better than ending up as body parts in Cambodia.

 

 

 

What on earth do you mean?  Organ donation, blown up by a landmine? A disgraceful reply. 

[FlorC]

Isn't this the dream of every teen , being emancipated ?

Doing what you want without nagging parents.

Ok financially it is not good , if she doesn't have enough money.

[RT555]

Was working in a Pattaya Hotel previously and we took some guest to an orphanage started by Father Ray...he had already passed away. But there were about 85 < > young kids who had no parents due to Aids, death, drugs...etc...... All of the staff there kept the kids happy and in good spirits.....but on the inside it was heartbreaking to see this kids. That was 18 years ago and think about this Father Ray foundation. all the time.

[kingstonkid]

8 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Welfare in Thailand at its best....Nobody really cares about the kids.. Where is the family??they all went to the funeral I suppose and friends and neighbours?? Nobody cares it seems... Better can not sell/buy alcohol on Buddhistic holidays to show what a good Buddhistic country Thailand is

God help you read the article.  The aunt and family offered to help but she wants to stay there people giving her money is the wrong track she needs School paid for and someone to give her a liveable job.

[robertyongym]

The biggest worry now is "Will the bank repossess the house?". Her daily expenses are met by the help she receives from kind souls. I sincerely hope this young lady will be able to overcome her problems.

[Callmeishmael]

Banks are usually reluctant to repossess small rural properties.  If someone can talk to the bank, they will usually set up some reasonable payment schedule. 

 

One of my wife's uncles (through her ex-husband) died leaving an mortgaged house to his daughter.  My wife called them up and negotiated a repayment schedule for the daughter.  She finally made the final payment just a month ago. 

[Cat Boy]

10 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Welfare in Thailand at its best....Nobody really cares about the kids.. Where is the family??they all went to the funeral I suppose and friends and neighbours?? Nobody cares it seems... Better can not sell/buy alcohol on Buddhistic holidays to show what a good Buddhistic country Thailand is

This is NOT an issue or a situation unique to Thailand, rather it is global and widespread in every continent, including so-called developed, high GDP countries, like the US with massive inequality, lack of education or opportunity, poverty, lacking social net child welfare and homelessness. 

 

This young girl's situation has become known through the outreach of her teacher and now the kindness of others offering support neither she, her grandmother or mother had before. 

 

One must wonder how many thousands of others like her, not just in Thailand, but across the globe, continue to struggle on their own, on the streets or shunted into the child welfare adoption / foster care system only to suffer, in some cases, further damage through physical and mental abuse. 

[merlin4174]

3 hours ago, rasalvaje said:

Almost everyone needs a helping hand sometimes.  I do what I can and will help this girl if someone will give me an address or name of someone else who will step forward.  It's easy to READ about these things, but much better to offer your help.

My wife and I also would help in a minute. It stated she wanted a flower shop, We would be more than willing to help her in that venture.

[sqwakvfr]

Here's a thought. I used to think my chilfhood was tough but it was paradise compared to some of the stories I have heard in the Land of Smiles.  At least i didn't have to fend for myself until I was 18.  It was a short period of desperation because at least I had a date for several months of free meals, a place to to sleep and a human alram clock called called a drill sergeant.  Does Thailand have a child welfare agency that takes custody of children without a parent or willing adult guardian? 

[Georgealbert]

23 minutes ago, merlin4174 said:

My wife and I also would help in a minute. It stated she wanted a flower shop, We would be more than willing to help her in that venture.

Anyone wanting further details, they are at the end of this Thai news article.

 

https://www.khaosod.co.th/around-thailand/news_9807564

[ikke1959]

2 hours ago, Cat Boy said:

This is NOT an issue or a situation unique to Thailand, rather it is global and widespread in every continent, including so-called developed, high GDP countries, like the US with massive inequality, lack of education or opportunity, poverty, lacking social net child welfare and homelessness. 

 

This young girl's situation has become known through the outreach of her teacher and now the kindness of others offering support neither she, her grandmother or mother had before. 

 

One must wonder how many thousands of others like her, not just in Thailand, but across the globe, continue to struggle on their own, on the streets or shunted into the child welfare adoption / foster care system only to suffer, in some cases, further damage through physical and mental abuse. 

I know, but you can't expect that a 14year old has enough brains to stay alone.. In the West indeed there are case too, but here in Thailand which claims to take care of everyone and live a Buddhistic life this should be impossible.. and it is not the first case here this year we read about..Nothing to do with kids who run away from homes or are in foster care.. Here is no foster care..You can't compare ,,,, Except for the teacher there is/was a lack of common sense of everyone living around here...

[richard_smith237]

12 hours ago, novacova said:

Welfare only creates dependency and inspires weakness. This kid most likely will become a strong willed independent individual.

With a lost childhood - she’s an amazing testament to resilience… but this remains a tragic story & she’s been failed by the state & those around who may have known of her situation & shown no consideration until now.

 

Props to those who did get involved - I hope she finds a deeply caring home for what remains of her childhood. 

[Liverpool Lou]

5 hours ago, rasalvaje said:

Almost everyone needs a helping hand sometimes.  I do what I can and will help this girl if someone will give me an address or name of someone else who will step forward.  It's easy to READ about these things, but much better to offer your help.

It's easy to post that when you're not really serious.  All the details you need to make contact are in the OP, no need to ask here.     

[JAG]

12 hours ago, novacova said:

Welfare only creates dependency and inspires weakness. This kid most likely will become a strong willed independent individual.

Christ on a bicycle! I can't believe I have just read that!

[sqwakvfr]

2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Anyone wanting further details, they are at the end of this Thai news article.

 

https://www.khaosod.co.th/around-thailand/news_9807564

I tried to makea donation but the error message was "reciepient's account is invalid".  Maybe the account has not been set up yet. I will try again tomorrow. 

[NanLaew]

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Anyone wanting further details, they are at the end of this Thai news article.

 

https://www.khaosod.co.th/around-thailand/news_9807564

 

For the kind-hearted people who would like to help little Chris, the unfortunate little girl whose mother died and her grandmother also died, and her grandmother's house will be foreclosed, you can donate to help little Chris at the Government Savings Bank, account number 020466849112, account name Miss Thichada Yubonwat, which is the account of little Chris directly, or inquire about little Chris's story with Teacher Nattawut Phonliam, Teacher Bas, Assistant Director of Wat Patmakorn Mathayomsuksa School, phone number 0917593745 or 0945735734 at any time.

 

[CHdiver]

28 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

you can donate to help little Chris at the Government Savings Bank, account number 020466849112, account name Miss Thichada Yubonwat, which is the account of little Chris directly

Gives me an error message, either wrong number or bank? Or as a poster above mentioned, account not ready. 

[AgMech Cowboy]

17 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

No child should have to face life alone like this, especially a young girl.

I agree 100%.  I hope she continues to do well and get the support she needs.