Jarudech Pechpoom (Ek) earned his B.A. in Law from Ramkhamhaeng University in 2021 and completed his lawyer exams and training in June 2023. He is now a licensed attorney and currently serves as Executive Director and Legal Advisor at Kwah Dao.

Ek was born to an ethnic family originally from Mae Hong Son, northern Thailand. Before his parents migrating to Thailand, his father had been a soldier in an ethnic armed group, and his mother worked as a hawker. Amid escalating internal conflicts between ethnic rebel groups and the Myanmar military—conflicts that deepened after Myanmar’s independence from the British Empire—his parents feared for their safety and the deteriorating economy. They eventually fled to Thailand in search of a more secure and stable life, settling in Mae Hong Son Province. Ek was born a year later.

While fortunate to be born in the safety of Thailand, Ek did not grow up with the warmth of a stable family. His parents separated when he was very young, and he was sent to live with his mother’s relatives in Bangkok. Raised by extended family and, at times, by others outside his family, Ek began working on construction sites at around age 15. Despite his small frame—160 cm in height and weighing just 43 kg—he carried heavy 50-kg cement bags and 18-liter paint containers while helping his aunts with physically demanding labor. It was a difficult but necessary way to survive.

In 2007, Ek moved to Chiang Mai to live with a friend of his mother. He enrolled at a Migrant Learning Center (MLC), where he studied Thai, English, Chinese, and computer skills. Because of overlapping work schedules, he had to stop studying several times but always returned whenever possible. He later attended the BEAM Education Foundation for a two-year GED course while also enrolling in Thailand’s Non-Formal Education program to complete his middle school education. In 2014, he successfully passed the GED and received his certificate.

For a year after that, Ek applied to multiple scholarships and financial aid programs to pursue higher education but faced repeated rejections. Realizing he had to pave his own way, he enrolled at Ramkhamhaeng University, choosing law as his major. The university’s affordable fees, textbooks, and flexible distance-learning program made it accessible. His decision to study law was deeply personal—he had seen how legal knowledge could protect the rights of himself and others. Even before graduating, he had already helped several people resolve nationality issues by sharing legal information and guiding them through official procedures.

Driven by a vision to one day form a legal association with like-minded lawyers, Ek was determined to finish his education. However, the journey was not easy. He had to temporarily suspend his studies for one academic year due to a job that wouldn’t allow him time off for exams. He later took a lower-paying job with more flexibility, and over the years, worked a wide range of jobs—including as a laborer, restaurant worker, factory employee, cleaner, and car wash attendant. Thanks to his strong English skills, he also worked in a five-star resort and a real estate agency.

Ek’s commitment to education never wavered. His perseverance and inspiring story caught the attention of Kwah Dao, and with the help of a personal donor, he received a full scholarship during his third and final year of law school—along with support for his lawyer exams and training. This crucial support enabled him to complete his degree in 2021 and become a licensed lawyer in 2023.

Today, Ek’s life has transformed—from working as a laborer to serving as a lawyer and nonprofit leader. His journey stands as a powerful example of resilience, dedication, and the life-changing power of education.