Thailand Facts

Swasdi! That’s “hello” in Thai, the official language in Thailand. This Asian country is known for its beautiful beaches and ancient ruins. Learn more Thailand facts below.

five Facts About Thailand

Here are five fun facts about Thailand:

  1. Thailand is home to many beaches that feature crystal-clear turquoise water and bright white sand.
  2. Many people lovingly call Thailand the “Land of Smiles” because of how friendly its people are.
  3. Thailand is home to many floating markets, where vendors sell fresh produce, local handicrafts and street food from boats along the canals.
  4. Thai cuisine is internationally renowned for its bold and delicious dishes like Pad Thai, curry and sweet mango sticky rice.
  5. Thailand is known for its annual water festival called Songkran, which is celebrated in mid-April.

Where is Thailand?

Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia. It shares borders with Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia. Thailand makes up a part of the Indochinese Peninsula.

Key Challenges in Thailand & Our Response

While Thailand is a beautiful country full of things to see and do, it’s also home to thousands of children who live in devastating poverty. These children face serious challenges that Compassion is empowering them to overcome.

Violence & Exploitation Place Children at Risk

Violence and exploitation, like abuse and human trafficking, are sadly common throughout Thailand. This is especially true along Thailand’s borders. Here, many children are displaced and have no hope for justice when someone hurts them.

Violence of any kind can cause life-altering physical harm and emotional trauma. And for children living in poverty, it’s nearly impossible to get the medical and emotional care they need to heal.

Our Response: Protecting Children From Harm

Child protection is our top priority. We work with local churches to provide children with age-appropriate training, teaching them how to stand up for themselves and get help when they need it. We also train the staff and volunteers that serve our children, ensuring they know how to step in when they see signs of abuse, violence or exploitation.

Children on the Thai Border Can’t Get Essentials

While poverty has been decreasing in Thailand, there are still pockets of extreme poverty, especially along the borders and in remote villages. Many children living in these areas suffer without essentials like nutritious food, medical care and education.

Our Response: Providing Nutrition Support, Medical Care & More

We partner with local churches in impoverished communities to provide a wide range of care for children in need. This includes monitoring them for malnutrition and offering medical checkups and tutoring. With this support, children can grow up healthy, ready to defeat poverty.

A child on a playground smiles

A boy sits on playground equipment.

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A group of teenagers learn how to play guitar

A group of teenagers learn how to play guitar.

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Children laugh and play together

Children laugh and play together.

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A boy climbs a tree

A boy climbs a tree in his village in Thailand.

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A group of children in a boat

A group of children cross the river on their way home.

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A mother holds a smiling baby

A mother holds her smiling baby.

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A group of children eat a meal at their child development center

A group of children eat a meal at their child development center.

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A group of girls ride bicycles

Four girls ride their bikes on the way to church.

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A girl smiles and holds a mosquito net

A girl smiles and holds a mosquito net.

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A proud father stands next to his son in a green field

A proud father stands next to his son in a green field.

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Our Impact in Thailand

Compassion has served children and families throughout Thailand for over 50 years. In this time, we’ve seen thousands of children freed from poverty in Jesus’ name through child sponsorship.

57,590

children served (and counting).

165

churches serving.

53

years serving.

Anurak from Thailand (and Others) Are Achieving Their Dreams

Anurak grew up in poverty with no hope for his future. But with the help of his local church, he recently graduated with his bachelor’s degree and is well on his way to reaching his dreams.

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Nawdalerpaw Can Attend School Thanks to Compassion

Nawdalerpaw lives in a remote village where there’s no school after grade 4. But thanks to the support of her Compassion center, she can attend school in a local village.

See Story

How You Can Help Vulnerable Children in Thailand

You can join Compassion’s fight against child poverty in Thailand in three key ways:

  • Pray: Jeremiah 33:3 tells us that if we call on God, he will answer us. When we lift children living in poverty up in prayer, God hears us, and we can trust he's working on their behalf. Join us in praying daily for children living in poverty by becoming a prayer partner.
  • Donate: Children living in poverty face many challenges, from a lack of medical care to dangerous living conditions. You can provide immediate support by donating to fulfill a right-now need.
  • Sponsor a Child: By sponsoring a child, you empower a local church to meet the critical needs of a child's body, mind and spirit as they journey out of poverty. Through sponsorship, you'll help deliver medical care, hygiene training, education, malnutrition monitoring and so much more to a child in need. But most importantly, you'll help introduce them to the hope of the gospel, which changes everything.
Sponsor a Child in Thailand