Skills 4 Life Foundation (2026)

19/09/2026

🌏 Learning Beyond Borders: Thai Massage

Sometimes the best learning opportunities can be found right next door!

Our neighbour, ITM – International Training Massage School in Chiang Mai, welcomes students from around the world to study the art of traditional Thai massage. As part of their training, ITM's international students gain valuable teaching experience by sharing what they have learned with beginners.

Once again this year, our new Skills for Life students were invited to become their students for the day.

Together, they explored the basics of traditional Thai massage and anatomy through hands-on demonstrations and practice. With people from different countries learning together, language occasionally presented a challenge, but that quickly became part of the experience.

When words weren't enough, demonstrations, gestures, patience and plenty of smiles did the job! 😊

By the end of the session, our students had gained more than an introduction to a new practical skill. They had experienced different cultures, practised communicating across language barriers, made new friends and discovered just how much we can learn from one another.

At Skills for Life Foundation, we believe education doesn't only happen in a classroom. Opportunities to try something new, meet people from different backgrounds and learn through experience all help our young people grow in confidence and curiosity.

A heartfelt thank you to our friends and neighbours at ITM – International Training Massage School for continuing to include our students in this wonderful exchange.

Different languages, different backgrounds, one shared experience of learning together. 💙

17/09/2026

🍬 The Sweet Rewards of Giving

Sometimes, one act of kindness creates another.

Following the generous donation of office furniture and learning resources from Bosch Thailand, we recently reorganised our office and dormitory spaces to make even better use of our new equipment.

Along the way, we found several tables and other pieces of furniture that we no longer needed but that still had plenty of life left in them. Rather than letting them go unused, we were delighted to pass them on to Romyen Kindergarten School in Chiang Mai, where they could find a new home and continue to be useful.

And then came a sweet surprise!

As a thank you, the school's representative, Khun Patcharaporn, brought snacks and candies to share with our dormitory students. Needless to say, they were very happily received! 🍭

Beyond the treats and smiling faces, there was a simple lesson in this experience that we hope our students will carry with them.

Giving isn't about receiving something in return. It's about recognising when we have something that could help someone else and choosing to share it. Sometimes that kindness finds its way back to us in unexpected ways, and sometimes the reward is simply knowing that we made someone else's day a little better.

What began with the generosity of Bosch Thailand allowed us to give something useful to another organisation, which in turn created another moment of kindness for our students.

Our heartfelt thanks to Bosch Thailand and Romyen Kindergarten School for being part of this lovely circle of giving.

Kindness has a wonderful way of travelling. 💙

15/09/2026

🐕 Mr. Long: The Stray Dog Who Became Family

When Skills for Life Foundation was established in 2014, we never imagined that one of our longest-serving life-skills teachers would have four legs, a wagging tail, and a habit of getting very muddy.

Meet Mr. Long. 💙

More than ten years ago, this friendly stray dog began visiting our dormitory. Before long, he had quietly adopted us and, of course, we happily adopted him too. Since then, Mr. Long has become a much-loved member of the Skills for Life family.

He has also helped generations of our students learn something important: caring for others comes with responsibility.

Our students take turns feeding Mr. Long, making sure he has fresh water and giving him regular baths, particularly when his adventures leave him covered in mud and wearing his famous "Mr. Long perfume!"

Recently, our students noticed that the now elderly Mr. Long had developed a skin wound during the green season. After a visit to the veterinarian and some medication, the vet recommended shaving his coat to help keep his skin healthy and comfortable during Chiang Mai's warm and humid rainy season.

So Phum, Kwan and Yao took on the challenge!

With their friends providing encouragement and plenty of laughter from the sidelines, Mr. Long received his very own dormitory makeover. 🐕✂️

He's now much more comfortable, recovering well and looking rather handsome with his new hairstyle.

At Skills for Life Foundation, education extends far beyond the classroom. Sometimes important lessons in compassion, patience and responsibility come from simply taking care of someone who depends on you.

And for more than a decade, Mr. Long has been helping us teach exactly that. 💙🐾

13/09/2026

🌱 Campus Leadership: Lahyen's Inspiring Journey

When Lahyen first joined the Skills for Life Foundation, she was quiet and shy. Today, she is stepping forward as a leader, supporting other young people as they begin their own university journeys.

Lahyen is from the Tai Yai (Shan) community of Myanmar and is now a second-year General Management student at Chiang Mai Rajabhat University.

Born in Myanmar, she later moved to Fang District, Chiang Mai, to live with her grandparents while her parents worked in Bangkok to support the family. From around the age of 10, Lahyen spent many weekends helping her grandparents harvest longan fruit to earn additional income.

Determined to continue her education, she later attended a government boarding school in Chai Prakan and, as she grew older, balanced her studies with work as a Quality Control employee at a local factory. It was through a friend there that she first learned about the Skills for Life Foundation and successfully applied to join our programme.

Over the past year, we have watched Lahyen grow into a cheerful, caring and increasingly confident young woman.

Recently, she volunteered to support Chiang Mai Rajabhat University's New Student Orientation and Preparation Programme, helping new students settle into university life, build friendships and work together.

She also served as a group mentor during the university's Social Engineer Training Programme, working alongside lecturers to guide and encourage incoming students.

Seeing Lahyen confidently supporting others is a wonderful reflection of how far she has come. The encouragement she once received is now something she is passing on to others.

That is the kind of growth we love to see at Skills for Life Foundation: young people discovering their own potential and then using it to lift up those around them.

Congratulations, Lahyen! We are incredibly proud of you and can't wait to see where your journey takes you next. 💙

11/09/2026

🏡 A Forever Home for Our Girls

3 August 2026 marks an unforgettable milestone for the Skills for Life Foundation: the home our girls have been living in is now officially ours. 💙

For many years, this building has been much more than a dormitory. It has been a safe place to live, study, share meals, build friendships and grow. It is also home to our Foundation office and the team supporting our students every day.

Owning it means something incredibly important: security and stability for generations of young people to come.

This dream became a reality thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our friends at HIS Foundation. We are deeply grateful for their trust in our work and their commitment to creating brighter futures for disadvantaged young people in Thailand.

Even the ownership transfer brought an unexpected new opportunity. After hearing about our mission, a representative of the building's previous owner visited the Foundation to meet our students. Her company subsequently offered to welcome students studying engineering and accounting for future internships, potentially opening another pathway from education into meaningful careers.

August now holds an especially meaningful place in our story. Exactly two years ago, we purchased the building that became our boys' dormitory. Today, both our girls and boys have permanent homes.

This milestone comes as Skills for Life Foundation now supports 62 students, providing access to education alongside a safe home, mentorship and the practical life skills needed to become confident, independent young adults.

To HIS Foundation, and to every donor, partner and friend who has walked alongside us: thank you.

Together, we are building more than buildings.

We are building futures. 🏡💙

09/09/2026

🏉 **Growing Stronger Through Rugby, Friendship & Fun**

Saturday has become one of the highlights of the week for four of our boys, who have been swapping the dormitory for the rugby field!

This year, **Lanna Rugby Club** has once again generously opened its doors to young people from the Skills for Life Foundation, inviting them to join the club's weekly rugby training sessions.

For our boys, it's about much more than learning a new sport. Every Saturday brings a chance to get active, challenge themselves, make new friends, build confidence and, judging by the smiles on the field, have plenty of fun along the way.

Rugby also teaches some wonderful lessons that extend far beyond the game. The boys are learning about discipline, respect, resilience and teamwork, while discovering how every player has an important role to play and how much can be achieved by working together.

Most importantly, we love seeing them enjoying themselves. Childhood and adolescence should be filled with opportunities to explore new interests, discover talents, make friends and create happy memories.

A huge thank you to **Lanna Rugby Club** for welcoming our boys and providing them with such a positive and supportive environment in which to learn and grow.

At the Skills for Life Foundation, we believe education extends far beyond the classroom. Experiences like these help our young people develop the confidence, independence and life skills they will carry with them into adulthood.

And sometimes, the best lessons are learned with muddy shoes and a rugby ball in your hands! 🏉💙

07/09/2026

⚽ Friendship, Teamwork & a Winning Day!

At the Skills for Life Foundation, growing up is about much more than education. We encourage our students to explore their interests, stay active, build friendships, and take part in experiences that help them develop confidence and important life skills.

Our students come from many different backgrounds, cultures, religions, and beliefs. Living together means learning to respect those differences while supporting one another and growing together as a community.

For Chaiwat, Nattapon, and Piyut, one of their shared passions is football. Playing together gives them an opportunity to stay active, have fun, make new friends, and develop skills that extend far beyond the football field, including discipline, communication, teamwork, and resilience.

Recently, the three had the opportunity to take part in a football tournament organised by the Church of Christ in Thailand, bringing together young players from across Chiang Mai.

And they came home as First Prize winners! 🏆⚽

We are incredibly proud of their achievement, but the trophy is only part of the story. Seeing our students getting involved, challenging themselves, building friendships, and enjoying new experiences is what makes moments like these so special.

Congratulations, Chaiwat, Nattapon, and Piyut! Keep playing, keep growing, and most importantly, keep having fun. 💙

30/07/2026

👩‍🍳 Kwan: A Young Chef in the Making

At the Skills for Life Foundation, we believe that education, opportunity, and determination can transform lives. Today, we’re proud to share the inspiring journey of one of our students, Kwan, whose passion for cooking is becoming a promising career.

Kwan comes from the Akha ethnic community and grew up in the small village of Huay Kerd in Mae Ai District, Chiang Mai, near the Myanmar border. Her parents are coffee farmers, and from an early age she helped on the family plantation, harvesting coffee cherries and preparing the crop for sale. Growing up in a village of just 14 households, without access to the national electricity grid, taught her resilience, hard work, and the value of community.

With the support of the Skills for Life Foundation, Kwan is now studying for a Bachelor’s Degree in Food Business and Nutrition at Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna in Chiang Mai.

Recently, she was selected to join the prestigious Master Thai Chef Programme, part of Thailand’s Food Soft Power Promotion Initiative. The programme included intensive classroom learning and more than 90 hours of practical culinary training, with Kwan proudly chosen as one of only 60 aspiring young chefs.

Throughout the programme, she prepared authentic Thai dishes and traditional desserts while mastering food presentation and the beautiful art of fruit and vegetable carving.

Anyone who knows Kwan isn’t surprised by this achievement. She has always loved cooking and is well known around our dormitory for preparing delicious meals for everyone. Whenever her name appears on the cooking roster, the other students know they’re in for something special.

Kwan’s journey is a reminder that talent exists everywhere. With education, encouragement, and opportunity, young people can turn their passion into a profession and build brighter futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.

We are incredibly proud of you, Kwan, and can’t wait to see what comes next. 💙

28/07/2026

🎓 Join Us in Celebrating Naamphung’s Graduation!

Today, we are incredibly proud to celebrate an important milestone for one of our alumni, Naamphung Lungtune, who has officially graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel Management through the Dual Education Programme.

Naamphung was born into the Shan ethnic community from Myanmar and grew up with her parents and two siblings on their family’s orange plantation in Fang District, Chiang Mai. Four years ago, she joined the Skills for Life Foundation with a dream: to pursue higher education and create new opportunities for herself and her family.

Throughout her studies, Naamphung developed her skills in hospitality, including Catering Business, Food & Beverage Management, English for Hotel Staff, and Occupational Health and Safety. Her commitment and determination stood out during her internship at Mövenpick Suriwongse Chiang Mai Hotel, where her hard work and positive attitude earned her a full-time position as a Food Service Staff member after completing the programme.

Today, she works in a busy international hotel, welcoming guests from all over the world while continuing to grow both personally and professionally. It is a career she has earned through perseverance, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to her goals.

Although life is now much busier, Naamphung still finds time to return to the Skills for Life Foundation to visit her friends and stay connected with the community that supported her journey. Recently, our founder, Dominique Leutwiler, had the pleasure of congratulating her in person on this wonderful achievement, making the occasion even more memorable.

Naamphung’s story is a powerful reminder that when young people are given access to education, opportunity, and encouragement, they can build brighter futures not only for themselves but also for their families and communities.

Congratulations, Naamphung. We are so proud of everything you have accomplished and cannot wait to see where your journey takes you next. 💙

27/06/2026

🌾 Learning, Growing, and Giving Back

Yao, a 20-year-old student from Mae Chaem District, grew up in a farming family where hard work and perseverance were part of everyday life. Today, he is studying Hotel Management through the High Vocational Certificate Programme at Chiang Mai Vocational College, while continuing to build the skills and confidence needed for his future.

Known for his friendly personality and willingness to help others, Yao is often the person friends turn to when a motorcycle needs repairing or a household item stops working. He enjoys learning practical skills and putting them to good use.

During the recent school break, Yao returned home to spend time with his family and help on the farm. From maintaining irrigation channels and planting crops to fishing and assisting with daily household tasks, he worked alongside his parents and contributed wherever he could.

For Yao, returning home is not only an opportunity to reconnect with family, but also a chance to put into practice the values of responsibility, hard work, and service to others.

His story is a reminder that education is about more than academic achievement. It is also about developing the character, skills, and confidence to support family, contribute to the community, and build a better future.

Skills 4 Life Foundation

19/09/2026

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