Donations pour in after student's plea on social media

Donations pour in after student's plea on social media

Athiwat Witpichitchai tells his story to local reporter Riangruj Wangjam, who posted a report on YouTube and his Facebook page.
Athiwat Witpichitchai tells his story to local reporter Riangruj Wangjam, who posted a report on YouTube and his Facebook page.

A university freshman unable to pay his initial tuition fee was delighted to find his bank account suddenly bulging with donations after he explained his plight on social media.

Athiwat Witpichitchai, 18, graduated with a good record from Buriram Pittayakhom school and was accepted by the faculty of engineering at Kasetsart University, but he did not have 36,000 baht to pay the tuition fee due this Wednesday.

Mr Athiwat and his mother were left alone after his father took off when he was 4-years-old. His mother later re-married and the couple made a reasonable living selling food at a market. He helped with the business and earned a little money.

A problem arose when his mother died suddenly just before the New Year. His stepfather then refused to allow him to continue working with him and he was left without an income. Fortunately, he still had a place to live as his mother had set him up in a separate room before she died.

On Feb 27, the university entrance examination results were announced and he had earned a seat in the public university. He passed an interview for the course last Wednesday and then realised that he had to pay the tuition fee this Wednesday.

Since his mother's death, Mr Athiwat had spent whatever time he had free when not studying selling sweets via Facebook. He also had some financial support from his auntie, but the money was not enough to support him through university.

With assistance from his auntie’s friend, his story was told on social media. Several websites picked up the story, in which Mr Athiwat said he needed only enough to get him through the first semester, as there was too little time to earn sufficient money by Wednesday.

He wanted to borrow from the Student Loan Fund and planned to work to pay the cost of his studies himself.

And then, when he updated his bank passbook, he discovered to his great delight there was over 600,000 baht in the account.

Mr Athiwat was effusive in thanking all the people who helped him out, and promised to do his best in his studies. He plans to get his degree in order to stand on his own two feet, and provide for his family in the future.

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