Student Dorm Ministry

The Student Dorm Ministry (SDM) commenced in a rental apartment in May 2018 with three high school girls from the Lisu minority tribe. Its purpose is to provide a spiritual support environment for students from poor and underprivileged backgrounds and mountain villages with limited access to education, to reside in Phrao to attend local schools. The Student Dorm continues to this day with 8 girls under two caretakers (a maid and a dorm leader). A second dorm was opened for boys in 2020 which currently houses 4 boys and 1 dorm leader. 

We seek sponsorships for each student to help cover their meals, accommodation and education expenses. For their part, we encourage each student’s family to contribute 1000 baht per month towards the dorm expenses or make a payment in rice or assistance in dorm maintenance or gardening duties. The students are involved in the church’s ministry on the weekends. During term breaks, they are given training and career development; which includes attending various training courses or involvement in church ministry. 

The students are accepted on the basis that there is a long-term commitment to the Little Candles church, school, and other projects under the Smart Kids Foundation. Long-term study support till university and ongoing employment contracts are available for potential students. The students are recruited mainly from our outreach projects in Longkord, Mae Soon / Khun Pung, Mae Van Noi, and other parts of Phrao.  They are placed under the supervision of live-in dorm leaders who are generally bible college graduates who have previously received scholarships from the church and have returned to serve in the Ministry. Some dorm students, initially non-Christians, have also been baptised through the Dorm ministry and grown into youth leaders.