Driving Kids to Success

KHT operates 20 school bus routes that ensure more than 333 children are being safely transported to and from school. This bus not only provides a more safe and comfortable journey across the hilly landscape, but also means children do not miss school due to bad weather and unsafe roads. It also means that children can stay at home rather than live in dormitories and spend most of their time away from their families.

There are a number of trusted community bus drivers that work on our bus routes. Many of them have been driving the school buses for multiple years. Please read about the experience of Mr Kongebdee who drives on the Ban Mae Sapei Nua route:

“I was born and raised in Ban Mae Sapei Nua. My childhood was quite difficult. I grew up without a father and lived with my mother and grandparents. Because my family was very poor, I did not have the opportunity to attend school like other children. As I grew older, I worked as a daily labourer, earning just enough to survive but not enough to support myself and my family. 

Before the KHT project was introduced, Ban Mae Sapei Nua faced challenges in accessing education because there is no school in the village. Children had to travel to Ban Mae Sapei Tai School, which is about 7 km away. Parts of the road are unpaved and steep, and during the rainy season, heavy rain makes traveling difficult. Sometimes fallen trees also block the road, making the journey even harder. At that time, before the project started, I worked as a daily labourer and had no stable income. My wife ran a small grocery shop while also taking care of our two children, which placed a heavy financial burden on our family. 

Most villagers in Ban Mae Sapei Nua are farmers, so their income is unstable and limited. Because of this, many families do not have a vehicle to take their children to school. Since there is no school in the village, all children must travel from Ban Mae Sapei Nua to Ban Mae Sapei Tai School every day. The KHT school bus project is therefore very important. It helps children go to school safely and regularly, and it also reduces the worries of parents. 

Support from KHT has greatly reduced the burden on parents. They no longer need to spend money on fuel or take time every day to bring their children to school. Some parents have three children and no vehicle, which makes traveling to school very difficult. With the school bus, the children are able to attend school regularly, which is a big help for the parents. The project also provides me with some income from driving the school bus. This helps reduce my family’s expenses and I also feel proud to be able to help the children and my community. 

KHT provides monthly support, which helps me a lot. I use this money for fuel and for maintaining the truck, such as changing the oil, replacing the tires, and doing regular safety checks to make sure the vehicle is safe for the children. 

I feel very thankful. The project gives me an income and also helps reduce the expenses of the villagers. Parents feel more comfortable, and the children can go to school regularly.”