On 26 Dec 2025 GMT+7, the atmosphere at Thairath Group headquarters was warm and lively as key figures and representatives from government and private sectors gathered in large numbers to celebrate the 76th anniversary and the start of the 77th year, warmly welcomed by Thairath Group executives.
This important occasion was not only a celebration of the media organization's success but also a remembrance of Kamphon Vajrabhorn, the former director and founder of Thairath Newspaper, whose birthday falls on 27 Dec each year. He was recognized by UNESCO as a world significant figure and is known for his timeless saying, "A newspaper survives by the faith of the people; when given the chance, it must give back to the people."
His words have been transformed into lasting action through the Thairath Foundation, which is embodied in the 111 Thairath Wittaya schools quietly but firmly driving the nation's future for more than half a century.
As the foundation steps into its 77th year, it is entering a significant turning point—elevating its mission to align with the modern world under the vision "Shaping Thai Children into Global Citizens."
This began from the dedication of Kamphon Vajrabhorn, a world significant figure who wanted underprivileged children to have educational opportunities. This has become the strong "identity" of the Thairath Wittaya youth.
Pantathip Mongkolsri, manager of the Thairath Foundation, described the important foundation as follows: "We started by building the children's identity through instilling discipline and morality, along with supporting skill development and knowledge pursuit—this is the DNA that Kamphon considered crucial. This evolved into two mandatory curricula at all Thairath Wittaya schools: Good Citizenship to teach children to be good members of society, and Media Studies to teach them media literacy, which is Thairath's strength."
Jitsupa Vajrabhorn, co-CEO of Thairath TV and Thairath Online and a board member of the Thairath Foundation, is committed to supporting Thai youth to grow equally and reach their potential.
"The overall progress this past year and direction for next year of the foundation is a true shift from quantity to quality," said Jitsupa Vajrabhorn, co-CEO of Thairath TV and Thairath Online. She noted that the world is changing rapidly and traditional scholarships may no longer be sufficient for children to compete. "Our big challenge is that most Thairath children come from underprivileged families. What they need most is knowledge that can truly support their livelihoods." Pantathip elaborated, "Therefore, next year we will focus on Active Learning and Lifelong Learning. We will broaden the meaning of scholarships—not just tuition fees, but investment in skills."
Next year's plan for the Thairath Foundation is to emphasize tangible skill-building by partnering with leading educational collaborators to introduce modern learning methods such as Project-Based Learning, Gamification (using games in teaching), and STEAM Education. "We must acknowledge that knowledge is no longer confined to classrooms. We need to explore what today's children want to do and be. Then we support those interests, such as online selling, AI, or languages, by organizing intensive camps or workshops so they gain skills they can use professionally."
Additionally, the foundation plans to establish "model schools" in four regions, leveraging each school's potential through special projects. For example, collaborating with SCG on Waste Management using toolkits that allow students to engage hands-on, developing specialized expertise they can share with other schools.
Thairath's ultimate goal in this new decade is to reduce inequality gaps—not just financial but in "access to future opportunities." "As a foundation, we must ensure everyone involved in education keeps pace with the world to unlock children's potential. Our challenge is how to help underprivileged children develop to equal others. Although life circumstances differ, we must provide equal knowledge so they can keep up with the world and advancing technology," Pantathip concluded.
On Thairath's 76th anniversary, it is not only pride in the past but a promise for the future—to continue being the "wind beneath the wings" for tens of thousands of Thai children to soar higher and gracefully in their own way.
