SET Foundation
The Students’ Education Trust, SET, was established in Thailand in 1994 by British born Buddhist monk, Phra Peter Pannapadipo to provide financial support for students in Thailand. In 2003 he left the monk-hood to devote all of his time to student welfare as Peter Robinson.
In 2005 the Students’ Education Trust was registered as a foundation in Thailand and became the SET Foundation.
The SET Foundation supports needy students in Thailand in a remarkably efficient way, which in 2006 resulted in only 2.25% of its income being spent of administration costs! This is made possible in part due to its organizational structure which has:
- No paid staff
- No office rental costs
The primary SET Foundation program is the provision of scholarships to students in Thailand. These are awarded on the basis of both financial need and academic diligence.
Scholarship awards are guaranteed for the entire duration of the current study course, which run from junior High school all the way through vocational training and University.
To date, the SET Foundation has awarded scholarships to more than 2,000 students:
- There are more than 900 students benefiting from current awards
- In 2006, 125 students completed their University studies, 61 completed vocational studies and 40 completed High School
Other SET Foundation programs include:
- Student Welfare:
- Providing additional financial support from bus fares to accommodation costs
- Educational projects: including
- The Wat Kiriwong Project, which is revitalizing a High School for novice monks
- English language camps
- Drugs awareness camps
- Volunteer English language teacher program:
- Community outreach program:
- Allowing SET students who have benefited from the kindness of others to give back to others in need
- This includes the construction of a combined canteen, classroom and activities hall for a tiny rural school serving the local farming community
It is possible for almost anyone to contribute and make a difference to the lives of SET scholarship students:
- 500 Baht will provide a pair of school shoes
- 800 Baht buys a pair of spectacles
- 1,000 Baht purchases a uniform
- 5,000 Baht is the typical level of ‘Welfare Grant’ for one University or college semester covering:
- Accomodation
- Food
- Bus fares
For more information on how you can contribute to a better life for a Thai student please follow this link: What it costs to sponsor
SET’s very first scholarship student exemplifies the difference that an education can make to a life. Seckson passed a University entrance exam, despite growing up in poverty but was financially unable to take up the place. With support from SET, this young man completed his Bachelor degree and then his Master degree. Now a University lecturer, this remarkable man is currently studying for his PhD in nuclear physics using his own resources.
More information on this wonderful charity that is helping Thai students to ‘change their stars’ can be found at: