“As long as they are children, every one of them deserves a chance to be helped, no matter their nationality or religion.” This simple belief is what inspired Khun Nares Khamchue to become one of the many individuals who make UNICEF’s work possible in Thailand and beyond.
For nearly eighty years, it is the kindness and compassion of people like Khun Nares that has allowed UNICEF to stand with children — to help them learn, grow, and feel safe. His support reflects a deep truth: when we give to a child, we give to their future, and to the future of the world we all share.
In 2024 alone, donations from people like Khun Nares helped UNICEF reach hundreds of thousands of children in moments when they needed our support the most. Together, we supported 10,000 families affected by extreme floods with clean water, education and mental health services, helped a record-breaking 102,000 children discover the joy of reading through UNICEF's "A Book A Week" initiative, and provided care to 17,000 child victims of violence.
Education and nutrition are both important to Khun Nares — and closely connected. “If a child has food to eat, they’ll have the strength to go to school,” he says. This is also at the heart of UNICEF’s current Kin Rai Dee (What’s Good to Eat) campaign, which helps children learn about healthy eating, access nourishing meals, and build habits that support their growth in the classroom and beyond.
Khun Nares’ giving journey began in 2016, after a conversation with a UNICEF fundraiser he met while walking in his home city of Bangkok. At the time, he was already supporting environmental causes, but learning about children in Thailand who were still being left behind opened his heart to a new mission.
When Khun Nares started donating to UNICEF, children in Thailand were facing serious but different challenges many missed out on school so they could work; those facing disabilities were often left behind by the education system; violence towards children was more common and many families struggled to make ends meet, which limited the opportunities for their children.
Over the years Khun Nares has supported UNICEF, Thailand has seen tremendous progress but new challenges have emerged such as rising obesity, climate-related disasters including flooding, and the risks related to living in an increasingly online world. Donors like Khun Nares allow UNICEF to move swiftly to address the changing problems of a changing world.
For more than ten years, Khun Nares has chosen to continue his monthly donations because he believes supporting children is not a one-off action - it is a long-term commitment to helping them face whatever challenges come next. Indeed, he believes we all share a responsibility to support children who have fewer opportunities, whether they live here in Thailand or in another part of the world where challenges are even more severe. He says that what matters is giving what we can, with compassion, no matter the amount. Each act of care, however small, has the power to make a difference in a child’s life.
“At the very least, we shouldn’t ignore those, especially children, who are deprived of opportunities,” Khun Nares says. “My donation alone might extend a child’s life by three to five days.” For this reason, a greater number of supporters are needed to join us in strengthening continuous and sustainable support for UNICEF.
UNICEF is proud and grateful to have the support of generous individuals like Khun Nares. His trust in our work makes it possible for UNICEF to create lasting change for children, both by working on the ground with families and communities in need, and by helping to shape laws and policies that improve children’s lives nationwide.
With supporters like Khun Nares, UNICEF can reach even the most disadvantaged children, including those in remote areas who are too often overlooked. And as someone who cares deeply about the environment, he also stands with UNICEF’s work to help children and young people understand climate change and become part of the solution. We are grateful to all our supporters - every baht becomes a step toward lasting change in a child’s life.
