For the past 18 years, led by World Vision Foundation of Thailand, this initiative has connected more than 91 schools across the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. The concept is simple yet powerful: encouraging students to save small amounts throughout the year to support their peers in underserved and remote areas. The outcome this year is not just numbers on paper, but real change, resulting in the sponsorship of 190 children and 26,095 breakfast meals.
But more than meals is the power of learning. These numbers reflect that real change begins with the most basic of needs. At the award ceremony, Mrs Rosalin Kowae, National Director of World Vision Foundation of Thailand, emphasised that each breakfast meal means far more than nutrition. “Breakfast is essential. It helps children stay energised and focused in class. Many teachers have told us that once children receive breakfast, they become more engaged and their academic performance clearly improves,” she said.
Mrs Kowae added that the project nurtures not only those who receive but also those who give. “Giving is not just about money. Kindness, encouragement, and physical effort — all hold value and contribute to a better society.”
What she described is not merely a concept. It happens in classrooms every day. Ms Jiraporn Plengwithaya, a teacher at Assumptionsuksa School, which has joined The Heart of Giving project for 13 consecutive years, spoke about the change she has witnessed over time: “What we see very clearly is that the children have become more generous. They learn to share and show compassion towards others. When invited to join the project, they happily put small amounts of money into the box and feel proud to be part of helping someone else.”
She thinks that continuity is the key that allows these seeds to grow. “Doing something small yet consistently shapes children into gentle, caring individuals — an essential foundation of being good citizens.” And once that foundation is strong, growth naturally branches out in new, unexpected forms.
When the spirit of giving extends beyond the school, a special highlight this year was the collaboration between World Vision Foundation of Thailand and the Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC), which opened a new creative platform for young people through the Content Creator Award 2025 — a video competition inviting students to express their own interpretation of “The Heart of Giving.” From dropping a coin into a donation box to crafting digital stories that inspire others, this activity encouraged students to showcase generosity through their own eyes.
Ms Sumitra Thongsang, Education Quality Promotion Specialist at OPEC, spoke about the significance of this activity: “This competition reflects how young people view giving and sharing in a creative way. We are fully committed to supporting and promoting such meaningful initiatives so that the value of giving continues to be passed on to future generations.”
Among all submissions nationwide, the team from Darulfurqan School, Narathiwat Province, stood out as one of the most inspiring stories. They not only won the first prize but were also the sole team from the southern region.
Waesusana, a team member, shared that they quickly formed their group the moment they saw the announcement because they had a message for the society. “I think that giving is extremely important. Helping others is already in our nature. We hardly had to script anything because our video came straight from our daily life.”
Her teammate, Hannan, added, “Our message is that giving doesn’t have to wait until you have everything. Even the smallest act, or simply being there for someone, already makes you a giver.” Her words reflected just how deeply the project’s lessons had taken root in their hearts.
And when the results were announced, their joy was indescribable. “When we opened the post and saw our team’s name, everyone screamed! We were overwhelmed — so proud that our work won first place. Our school supports activities like this, but has never entered a competition of this kind. To win on our first try made the whole team and the entire school overjoyed,” added Nataza.
From children dropping one-baht coins at a time into donation boxes to young people picking up cameras to tell stories of generosity, The Heart of Giving project demonstrates that instilling positive values from a young age truly works. The seedling of kindness continues to grow in ways far beyond anyone’s imagination.
Over the past 18 years, this project has grown alongside children and youth, becoming a positive model passed down from generation to generation, from schools to the wider community. It is because a better society does not begin with grand projects or enormous budgets but with small hearts that know how to give, how to share, and how to continue spreading endless kindness.
