The Bangkok Post Foundation was established in 1982 to mark the Bangkok Post’s 36th anniversary with an initial fund of 500,000 baht. Its main objective was to give children from poor families the same opportunity to attend school as other Thai children.
The foundation began by sponsoring the education of eight children. Then, in November 1989, the devastating Typhoon Gay struck southern Thailand, claiming the lives of 500 people and destroying many houses and more than 100 schools. One of the worst hit was the village of Ban Sapli in Chumphon province, whose local school was razed to the ground and reduced to rubble.
The tragedy shocked readers who wanted to help the people of the province. They sent donations to the Bangkok Post that amounted to 800,000 baht, and the foundation decided to commit the money to rebuilding Ban Sapli school.
Readers’ donations, augmented by those of the staff and management, were used to build and equip eight classrooms for pupils from kindergarten to elementary levels. The foundation subsequently built an auditorium, first aid room and a pre-kindergarten room and has continuously provided scholarships to needy students attending the new school, whose name was changed to Ban Sapli (Bangkok Post Suksa) school.