On Sept. 5, 2025, a handover ceremony was held at the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection, under the Ministry of Justice, to mark the launch of the Computer for Education initiative. This collaborative project is jointly organized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Information Technology Foundation under the Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindorn, and the Internet Foundation for the Development of Thailand.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
As part of the initiative, the Church will donate 255 desktop computers with monitors, 65 laptops and 97 tablets to 33 institutions through the month of September across Thailand. Many of the institutions are overseen by the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection. The donation is expected to benefit approximately 10,000 students and 1,000 teachers in:
- 2 Islamic schools
- 8 Buddhist monastic schools
- 11 schools for students with disabilities (primarily deaf, with some learning and autism-related needs)
- 12 juvenile observation and protection training centers
These devices will be used not only for specialized training under the project’s curriculum, but also to support each school’s basic computer courses. Every student learning computer skill will have access to a modern device.
“We are very grateful for the computer donation to our students in the detention facilities for both educational and vocational purposes,” said Mr. Chatchai Thangtes, Training and Professional Development Officer of the Ban Bueng Juvenile Training Center in the Chonburi Province. “Better technology (for our students) means better quality of learning.”
In digital graphics courses, for example, students are encouraged to develop proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite applications – skills made possible through access to the newly donated computers.
Participants in the Computer for Education initiative can also enroll in courses that lead to industry-recognized certifications, and some can even launch small businesses using their newly acquired digital skills.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
“For years, underprivileged students have lacked access to the digital tools and training needed to thrive in today’s workforce,” said Dr. Srida Tanta-atipanit, Managing Director of the Internet Foundation for the Development of Thailand. “Many schools still rely on outdated computers from the 2000s, which are either obsolete or non-functional. By equipping students with modern technology and practical computer skills, this program will improve their lives.”
For Dr. Srida, success means seeing more students pursue further education or secure jobs that involve computer use and earn higher wages in the workforce.
In addition to the Church’s hardware donations, the Princess’s IT Foundation will sponsor a comprehensive program of capacity-building activities. These include training sessions for teachers, students and youth leaders, as well as youth camps, knowledge exchange events or skill-based competitions designed to help students apply and reinforce what they’ve learned.
The Internet Foundation for the Development of Thailand will oversee the project’s implementation, such as delivering training, providing ongoing support, monitoring progress and conducting impact evaluations.
These collective efforts mark a significant step toward closing the digital divide and empowering young people with the essential skills to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world.