Nuannicha Dangsuk (Nuan) was among the first groups of disadvantaged students to attend alternative learning classes designed for children of non-skilled workers, who were previously unable to enroll in formal schools until the law changed in 2005. She was born into a poor family in Mae Hong Son Province, which borders southern Shan State in Myanmar. Tragically, Nuan’s father left before she was born, and her mother passed away when she was very young, so she never experienced the love and warmth of her parents.

She grew up living with her older sister and brother-in-law in a small bamboo house about 300 meters from the Pai River. At that time, her sister and brother-in-law worked as laborers collecting rocks from the river and taking any available low-skilled jobs common to migrant workers.

Roj and Karn, supporters involved in her care, believed that Nuan’s family was not able to provide proper care for her, treating her more like a worker than a family member. To ease her suffering and pressure, she was sent to study and live at Rajaprajanugroh School 22 in Pai, a school providing education and accommodation for disadvantaged children such as stateless, nationality-less, hill tribe, ethnic minority, orphan, and migrant students. During that year, Roj and Karn visited monthly, but Nuan did not receive a single visit from her family. Afterward, she was returned to live with her family and enrolled at Mae Hii Community School in town.

Life at school improved after she moved back to town, but her home life remained difficult. Nuan was responsible for heavy housework often unsuitable for a child her age and endured various mistreatments from her sister. She woke at 5 a.m. daily to cook rice and complete household chores. She also cared for her brother-in-law’s cow, taking it to pasture and bringing it back every day. On one occasion, while leading the cow back home, the animal suddenly turned sharply, causing serious injuries to both of Nuan’s hands that left lasting scars. Despite her injuries, she continued to wash dishes and laundry for her sister and brother-in-law, refusing to rest.

Nuan was a diligent child who never missed an opportunity to help her family earn income. She learned to sew hammocks from her sister and, once proficient, sold them to tourists on Pai’s walking street during weekends. During farming seasons, she and her friends, aged 11-12, took part-time jobs planting and harvesting onions, soybeans, and corn.

After completing middle school in Pai, Nuan received a scholarship from Kwah Dao and was sent to Wachirawit School, a prestigious private school in Chiang Mai. Her life there was vastly improved compared to her time living with her sister in Pai. Freed from mistreatment and excessive household duties, she was able to focus fully on her studies. She developed a passion for learning Chinese and remained dedicated throughout high school. Following graduation, she pursued higher education at Mae Fah Luang University, majoring in Business (Chinese).

At university, Nuan embraced new experiences, meeting friends from across Thailand and beyond, and exploring diverse cultures, beliefs, and ideas. Thanks to her challenging childhood and years in Chiang Mai, she adapted quickly to new environments and built a supportive network that helped her navigate difficulties. During summer breaks, she returned to Pai for part-time work, valuing the opportunity to practice her English and Chinese communication skills with the many tourists visiting the area.

Upon graduating, Nuan dreamed of working in the hotel and tourism industry for a few years. Once financially independent, she aimed to contribute to the development of vulnerable communities. Having witnessed how charity organizations, donors, and volunteers can uplift families and transform communities, she was inspired to give back.

In 2017, Nuan graduated with a B.A. in Business (Chinese) from Mae Fah Luang University and worked at a hotel in Chiang Mai for several years. When Kwah Dao sought additional team members, she chose to join the organization in 2019 and has been contributing to its mission ever since.