Saying Yes to a Life of Purpose

Pla’s journey with Hands began in 2014, when her friend and former colleague, told her about a new project starting in Chanthaburi. Hands Across the Water was opening a home and looking to build a team of people who not only understood the work but truly cared. For Pla, it felt like the right place at exactly the right time.

“It was like coming home,” she says. “The environment was different, but the warmth was the same.”

Before joining Hands, Pla had worked with the Duang Prateep Foundation and the Baan Than Namchai Foundation—both of which had previously been supported by Hands. She admired Hands for its genuine commitment to children and the way the organisation walked alongside its partners with trust and humility.

Her own professional background was in finance and administration—areas where she had built solid expertise. But deep down, she had always felt more drawn to working directly with children. At Hands, she found the space to do both. “It was the first time I could bring together my knowledge of management and my love of working with kids,” she says.

And it changed everything.

At PAMA House, Pla helps create a safe, supportive environment for children who need not just shelter, but a sense of belonging and opportunity. She leads with kindness and clarity, knowing that the work they do each day has a profound impact on how the children see themselves and the world around them.

But Hands didn’t just help Pla change the lives of others—it gave her the chance to transform her own.

With encouragement from her colleagues and a scholarship from Hands, Pla decided to pursue a Master’s in Business Administration. It wasn’t an easy decision. She’d been out of formal education for years, and balancing her studies with the demands of leading PAMA House would be a challenge.

But Pla had always believed in the power of saying yes—even when the timing wasn’t perfect.

“I believe opportunities don’t wait for us to be ready,” she says. “They wait for us to decide.”

And decide she did.

Backed by the support of her team and the broader Hands community, she leaned into the challenge, completing her MBA with determination and grace. “Even though it was difficult, the experience was incredibly valuable. I did it because I was encouraged every step of the way.”

For Pla, it wasn’t just about gaining a qualification. It was about growing—both personally and professionally—so she could show up even more fully for the children and families she serves.

That sense of growth and connection runs deep at Hands. Pla speaks about her colleagues with genuine affection, describing them as open, generous, and deeply collaborative. “We help each other,” she says. “We share ideas. We solve problems together. That’s what makes this work meaningful.”

It’s also why she believes so strongly in the power of community—not just for children, but for the adults who care for them. “Family isn’t always about blood,” she says. “It’s about being heard, supported, and loved. It’s about being given a second chance when you make mistakes. That’s what Hands is for me.”