Guided by Heart: How Am Turned Opportunity into Impact

Growing up at Home Hug, Am was surrounded by other children who had walked similar paths. But what set her apart was her quiet determination and deep sense of gratitude. She worked hard at her studies and understood that the support she was receiving was not something to take for granted. It was something to build on.

In 2021, Am graduated with a degree in Business English from Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University. It was a proud moment not only for her, but for all of us at Hands. Her goal was to enter the hospitality industry, and her first opportunity came in the form of an internship at the Novotel Hotel in Bangkok. But, like so many stories during that time, her plans were interrupted by the global pandemic. Borders closed, businesses slowed, and dreams—temporarily—were placed on hold.

Yet Am didn’t give up. She returned to Home Hug, not as a child this time, but as a mentor, a translator, and a support to the home that had once supported her. She helped with administrative tasks and assisted in communication between Hands and the home staff. She became a big sister to the children and a quiet leader in the place where she had once sought comfort.

It was during this time that we at Hands saw something more in Am. Her strength. Her heart. Her drive. And we decided to help her take the next step in her journey—this time, with Hands Experiences Thailand, our social enterprise focused on guided cycling tours. In May 2024, Am relocated to Phang Nga to begin a year-long internship. She stepped into an entirely new world with confidence and enthusiasm.

Training as a tour guide was no small task. It required language skills, local knowledge, customer service expertise, and the ability to manage events with detail and professionalism. But Am met every challenge with focus and determination. By December, she passed her Southern Tour Guide Licence—a huge milestone—and she took the reins for her first solo event: Peter’s Run to Remember. It was a major task to manage logistics for this event, but Am pulled it off with grace, precision and a giant smile on her face.

She had arrived—not just as a graduate, but as a confident young professional. Someone who, with the right support and encouragement, had found her voice and place in the world.

Now, as she approaches her first anniversary with Hands Experiences, Am is already dreaming of what comes next. Her sights are set on earning a Whole of Thailand Tour Guide Licence—something that would open new doors and allow her to expand her skills and reach even further. And of course, Hands will be right beside her, every step of the way.

“I’ve been at Home Hug since I was four. It gave me opportunities I never thought I’d have,” Am shared. “I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I want to set an example for the younger ones.”

And she already has. To the children at Home Hug, Am isn’t just a sister figure—she’s a symbol of what’s possible. To us at Hands Across the Water, she represents everything we stand for: a belief in people, a commitment to growth, and the power of consistent, loving support.

Am’s story reminds us that change doesn’t always come with fanfare. Sometimes, it’s found in the quiet courage of a young girl who chooses to keep going, to keep showing up, and to keep believing that her future is hers to shape.

Through the support of our Hands community—our donors, our riders, our volunteers—Am’s journey has unfolded, one opportunity at a time. And with each step forward she takes, she carries all of us with her.