Scholarships for the Socially Vulnerable: A Space of Hope within Thailand's Education System

Although Thailand offers numerous scholarship schemes through governmental, private, and religious channels, there remains a silent group left behind socially vulnerable children who fall between the gaps of policy and reality. These include children living in extreme poverty, unstable families, LGBTQ+ youth lacking safe school environments, stateless children, and those deemed “not exceptional enough” to qualify for merit- or need-based scholarships. This article proposes a localized solution called the “Baworn-Based Scholarships” (Baworn: Home–Temple–School). These micro-scholarships are developed at the community level through compassion-driven, context-sensitive selection rather than bureaucratic criteria. By combining small financial support with care, dignity, and trust, the Buddharaksa Moral Community demonstrates how moral infrastructure can become the true foundation for inclusive education reform.