Guided by Courage: How Nam is Shaping Her Future One Dream at a Time

And so, with a heart full of love and a mind full of worry, Nam’s mother made the decision to bring her daughter to Baan Than Namchai—a home supported by Hands Across the Water. It was a choice born of necessity, but it became the start of a new chapter for Nam.

“I didn’t really understand what was happening,” Nam recalls. “I felt scared, confused, and far from the people I loved most.”

But within the walls of Baan Than Namchai, something began to shift. For the first time, Nam was surrounded by steady hands and warm smiles. She was cared for, encouraged, and reminded each day that she wasn’t alone.

Over time, the fear faded. In its place grew a quiet confidence and a strong sense of belonging.

Nam is now 14 years old. She’s calm, bright, and thoughtful—a young woman who helps wash dishes, sweeps the home, and pitches in wherever she’s needed. She’s the kind of person who notices what needs to be done and simply gets to it, not because she’s told to, but because she wants to contribute.

“I’ve learned a lot about responsibility,” she says. “And about what it means to be part of a community.”

Nam spends her free time writing stories and reading comics. She dreams up entire worlds with her imagination—and she’s just as curious in the classroom. Her favourite subjects are Math, English, and Science. She’s fascinated by the precision of numbers, the rhythm of language, and the way science can explain the world around her.

Nam’s dreams are as varied as they are ambitious. At different times, she’s wanted to become a veterinarian, a programmer, or even an air traffic controller. But no matter where the future takes her, one thing is certain: she’ll go after it with everything she’s got.

“Before, I didn’t have many hopes,” she admits. “I just thought about whether my family was okay. But now, I can dream for myself too.”
When asked what has made the biggest difference in her life, Nam’s answer is simple: the people who believed in her.

“The staff at Hands, my mum, and even myself, for not giving up.”

To Nam, family isn’t just about blood. It’s about showing up, lifting each other up, and never letting anyone feel alone. “A real family,” she says, “are the ones who are there in the hard times. The ones who help you make good choices.”

And she’s already thinking of what comes next. Nam hopes to continue her studies, build a secure future, and even join an international exchange program one day. She wants to see the world, not to escape, but to grow, to learn, and to bring those experiences back to help others.

Nam’s life isn’t defined by tragedy. It’s defined by what she’s done with the hand she was dealt. She is becoming a young woman with a future built not on luck, but on resilience, opportunity, and support.