The Phuket International Womens Club

The non-profit Phuket International Women’s Club was established more than two decades ago and the question was - where to start? Children and education was the consensus and of course where else? Fund raising activities began, three years later some policies were changed to award scholarships to individual students - As one of the founders puts it: “You just had to walk out the door to see the need. Many of the circumstances were, and still are, tragic; children with little or no chance of reaching their potential through a good education.”

How the scholarships work
Each year the PIWC, with the help of teachers and councillors at more than 30 educational institutions, select the beneficiaries after considering their personal circumstances and their potential to complete their studies. To protect the students each scholarship is awarded only after the total amount needed is earmarked and placed in a protected fund.

While students are funded for their full courses they still, each year, have to reach required grades, for the support to continue. One scholarship to one student often means an entire family benefits. Many have been the first member of their family to graduate from high school.

The scholarships
Last year 56 new scholarships were created, bringing to 628 the total number awarded since the PIWC’s inception in 1989. There are 182 students currently in the programme.

The only discrimination in selection is the level of need. Children from primary school right through to the completion of university degrees are eligible. Among the graduates are teachers, nurses, doctors, engineers, dentists, secretaries, computer engineers, scientists, pharmacists, personal assistants and even an artist.

Last year the PIWC’s work in the community was recognised when businesswoman Wipa Tanmanatragul, its first Thai president, was named as the island’s Person of the Year.

Further information: www.phuketiwc.com or e-mail info@phuketiwc.com

"The Lucky Ones"