A WASTE picker’s young daughter whose photos appeared in several publications and were widely shared on social media as she walked behind him while he was pushed a cart to collect rubbish and debris to sell for a living touched so many people that almost a million baht has poured in to give her an education, Naewna newspaper reported this afternoon (June 29, 2020).
Mr Somchai Boonphong, 35, said donations to fund the education of his five-year-old daughter Arada Boonphong (nickname Nong Anna) reached a total of 944,391 baht. Others helped by arranging for a school for her to enroll in.
This afternoon Arada was smiling throughout when she was admitted to Ban Hin Wong School starting out at the kindergarten level.
Somchai and the teachers of this school will be jointly taking care of 900,000 baht deposited at Krung Thai Bank’s Na Jomtien (Baan Amphur) branch until she graduates with a bachelor’s degree.
In thanking all donors, Somchai said on behalf of his wife and daughter that they were really moved and impressed by their generosity.
He added that most of the money is being kept for the girl’s education and he was only keeping a small portion to take care of his family and will spend it thriftily.
He also said that he would no longer take his daughter along with him on his rubbish picking rounds.
CAPTION:
Arada and her parents after donations flooded in to give her a chance to get an education. Photos: Naewna
