“In the past, I never thought I would have the opportunity to study at the same level as my peers,” says Surachai, a Freedom Story scholarship student. “But the Freedom Story has given me that opportunity and reignited my hope.”
When we first met Surachai he was 12-years old. After losing both parents, he and his older brother, Surachat, struggled to survive—juggling school with searching for food and work. As stateless children, their mother accidentally threw away their ID cards, they faced even greater challenges: limited access to education, healthcare, jobs and basic human rights’ protections.
While other kids played after school, Surachai worked. But even with these challenges, he stayed determined to overcome them.
The Vulnerability of Statelessness
Thailand has one of the world’s largest stateless populations. In 2024, the UN reported that there are nearly 600,000 stateless people in Thailand.
Statelessness means that you lack citizenship or nationality, anywhere. This lack makes you extremely vulnerable to exploitation and trafficking. It can be easy to underestimate the importance of an ID, but think about how often an ID comes in handy: going to the doctor, registering for school, renting an apartment, applying for school, getting paid for a job.
For people without IDs, they are virtually invisible—nothing can protect them or prove their identities.
“Being stateless is like being a bird, you have wings but you cannot fly. You are like in a box and you have to do whatever people tell you to do because you have no rights,” says Srinuan Saokhamnuan, a formerly stateless citizen of Thailand.
Holistic Help: A Freedom Story
For Surachai and Surachat, their story changed when the Freedom Story stepped in. The Freedom Story scholarship program is holistic, giving students access to education, training them to earn sustainable income, and helping them know their rights. For stateless students, this also includes guidance on the path to citizenship.
Four years into the program, Surachai started to feel like a kid again, and sometimes forgot the struggles he faced because of his statelessness. In the video below, he put it this way:
“We’re both brave enough to have dreams,” said Surachai. “We’re willing to follow our dreams because we know we have someone to support us.”
How Students Develop the Potential of Protection
Stateless children must earn a bachelor’s degree in order to obtain a Thai citizen I.D. card. This is an impossible accomplishment for most. But on March 20,2025 Surachai earned his bachelor’s degree in biology education, and graduated with honors. Here’s what Surachai had to say on his graduation day:
“I grew up in a poor family and didn’t experience much happiness because of my parents’ passing. I often felt discouraged and resentful of my fate, but I always believed that one day, my brother and I would overcome these hardships.
Personally, I am a gentle, warm, kind, and considerate person. I believe that in life, we all experience both success and failure—it all depends on how we choose to perceive it. The support from The Freedom Story has made my brother and me feel less alone. The staff have always been there for us, providing guidance and support in every way. Most importantly, they have given us greater access to education.
Beyond education, they have also provided career development and income-generating support, helping improve the quality of life for my family.
The staff at this organization are like a big family to me and the other scholarship students. They are always there to listen, offer advice, and help us develop our potential. Through this, we can become leaders who share knowledge with our families and communities—especially in protecting ourselves from falling victim to human trafficking.
As time goes by, my story continues to hold meaning and value in my life. The more I move forward, the more experiences I gain, shaping me into a stronger and more determined person. The challenges I have faced have been tests on my path to success.
I feel incredibly grateful for the support that has brought me to where I am today—the day I graduate with my bachelor’s degree. Your generosity has given me a better quality of life. Moving forward, I am stepping into the working world to build a better future for myself. And just as I have received help, I hope to one day give back and support those around me as well.”
