Hope for ‘hill tribes’

In the underdeveloped Chiang Rai region of Northern Thailand, young people from the remote ‘hill tribes’ are amongst the most vulnerable.

Burdened by poverty and lacking the documentation they need for higher education, they’re at risk of being further excluded, exploited and marginalised.

But a single opportunity has the power to change everything.

For Toon, the opportunity to study at Xavier Learning Community in Northern Thailand has been life-changing. It’s given her control over her own future, helped uplift her family and is now inspiring more young people in her community.

Introducing Toon

As a young girl, Toon never dreamed she’d have a career or study beyond high school.

Toon’s family is from the Akha tribe, one of the many ethnic minority groups in the Chiang Rai region, known as ‘hill tribes’.

While many people in the region struggle with the burden of poverty, the hill tribes people are amongst the most marginalised. Many have no official identity papers, which excludes them from a wide range of work and educational opportunities.

Like many, Toon’s parents eked out a living as farmers. Living day to day, they were relying on their eldest daughter, Toon, to start work and help support the family as soon as possible.

“After finishing my final year in high school, I was certain that, from then on, I would just work for the rest of my life because I had to support my family,” Toon says.

But, thanks to donations from Jesuit Mission supporters, Toon was given the opportunity to attend Xavier Learning Community in Chiang Rai – an opportunity that’s changed the course of her life.

“I am grateful for being given the opportunity to learn at Xavier Learning Community... I am grateful for the entire community, where I am encouraged to be the best version of myself.” – Toon

Xavier Learning Community

Established in 2016, with the generous support of our Jesuit Mission family in Australia, Xavier Learning Community is a residential tertiary institute that offers a four-year degree course designed to empower students from ethnic minorities.

Both academic and practical, the course arms students with knowledge and life skills that help them take control of their futures. This leads to better employment opportunities that bring benefits not only the young people themselves, but to their families and communities.

“We are committed to providing students with opportunities to develop not only professional expertise like English, but also life skills through their daily life activities.”

Fr Augustinus Pitoyo SJ, Vice Director for Institutional Development at Xavier Learning Community.

1. Xavier Learning Community offers:

2. A Bachelor degree in English

3. Profession-based training, including eco-tourism and hospitality

4. Work experience in professional settings

5. Training workshops

6. Life skills training

7. Spiritual formation, with a focus on living a life for others.

For the duration of their studies, students live and work together on the Xavier Learning Community campus in a warm familial environment.

Opening up a new world

Part of Xavier Learning Community’s first graduating class, Toon’s time at the institute has opened up a new world for her.

"I have become more responsible, confident, and sensitive to the needs of others. I have come to value being a person for others and excellence because of the Xavier Learning Community.”

Just months after graduating, Toon and her family are already on a path to a better future.

“After graduating from Xavier Learning Community I got an opportunity to work for an NGO in Chiang Rai. My job enables me to support my family. I'm so happy,” she says.

The first person in her village to earn a tertiary degree, Toon’s success is having a ‘snowball effect’, inspiring other young people in her community to enrol at Xavier Learning Community.

Find out more

The program run by Xavier Learning Community

All our programs