Samyan is home to some of Thailand’s premier educational institutions, including Chulalongkorn University Demonstration School (Satit Chula) and Triam Udom Suksa School. It also contains a number of more accessible temple-based schools which serve the needs of local students from families struggling to make ends meet.

Gentrification of the Samyan area, led by Chulalongkorn University land redevelopment projects, has had a profound impact on the community. Buildings have been razed and rents have surged, pricing many families out of their homes. For children from displaced families, the commute back to school is challenging, especially for those who depend on parents working long hours for transport. Enter Samyan NewGen, a program that not only provides a safe place for students to wait for pick up but also offers a supportive learning environment.

“Many children feel the stress of relocation, but we’re grateful they still come back to study here,” says Graysen Ortega, founder and project administrator for Samyan NewGen. "We may not be able to do much, but we’ll do our best to support these students.”

A Classroom Above a Café

Teaching at the Samyan NewGen program

Samyan NewGen’s classroom sits on the second floor of Entrance Coffeehouse & Studio in Soi Chula 50.  It can accommodate up to 30 students and has a space sectioned off for music practice. Noodee (pseudonym), a student from Wat Hua Lampong School, is there every evening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, studying with volunteer teachers—a productive way to pass the time while she waits for her parents to finish work.

Noodee’s family once lived in Samyan, and she attended a nearby school. However, after rents soared, they moved to a suburban area along Phetkasem Road, making her daily commute to school a challenge. Samyan NewGen provides her with a lifeline, bridging the distance created by her family’s displacement.

Organized by the Imagine Thailand Foundation, Samyan NewGen brings together university students and other young volunteers who tutor local youth from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in Thai, math, and English. Classes run Tuesdays through Thursdays.

Due to social and financial constraints, Samyan’s elite educational institutions, including Satit Chula, Triam Udom Suksa, and Chulalongkorn University, are largely beyond the reach of local students.  According to Athapol Anunthavorasakul, a lecturer in Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Education, the area exemplifies the inequalities of Thailand’s educational system. 

“It has highly competitive schools and people who lack the opportunity to attend them,” he says, drawing attention to the divide. Journalists investigating the issue have highlighted Samyan NewGen and its volunteer staff as a grassroots solution to the problem. Among other things, the centre provides much-needed access to students overlooked by the system.

The Realities of Admission in Samyan’s Schools

In Samyan, schools fall into two distinct categories: elite institutions with high academic standards and neighbourhood schools.  The former includes the renowned Chulalongkorn University Demonstration School and Triam Udom Suksa School, both of which cater to middle- and upper-middle-class families. Students attending these institutions often commute from Bangkok’s suburbs, although some opt to rent nearby condos or dorm rooms for convenience.

Satit Chula’s primary and secondary sections both enforce strict admission criteria. Prospective students must meet age requirements, pass a readiness assessment, and pay a 1,000 Baht application fee. The primary section only admits 100 students per year. The secondary section also maintains selective caps but the numbers vary. Tuition stands at 15,700 baht a semester, although university personnel are eligible for a 7,000 baht grant toward fees.

Triam Udom Suksa, affiliated with the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), is a prestigious school drawing applicants from across Thailand. In 2024, it saw 11,607 applications for just 1,520 spots. Tuition ranges between 5,650 and 5,950 baht a semester. Admission is highly competitive, reflecting the school’s national appeal.

Samyan’s neighbourhood schools are generally not top choices for parents. They cater instead to lower-middle-class families that live in the area or have relocated nearby. Examples include Wat Hua Lamphong School, Wat Duang Khae School, Buddhajak Wittaya School, and Wat Traimit School.

Wat Hua Lamphong and Wat Duang Khae, under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), give priority to students who live in their designated service zones. Children with local household registry qualify for admission without an entrance exam. If seats remain after local applicants are accepted, the schools may open applications to students from outside the area. In cases of oversubscription, a lottery determines placements, with neighboring schools stepping in to help place any remaining students.

Buddhajak Wittaya and Wat Traimit provide additional options at the secondary level, prioritising local children and offering accessible alternatives for families with limited means.

The educational landscape in Samyan highlights the complex pathways students navigate. Highly competitive schools are largely out of reach for lower-income families.  Neighbourhood schools offer essential alternatives, helping to address disparities and extend educational opportunities within the community.

Samyan NewGen: Bridging Educational Gaps in the Heart of Samyan

Graysen Ortega, Project Administrator for Samyan NewGen

"Some parents living near Rama IV Road, shophouse vendors, were concerned because their two kids were struggling in school and needed help with English. When no one else stepped in, I offered to help,” recalls Graysen, describing the origins of Samyan NewGen, which was launched just before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Graysen, 33, moved to Thailand after graduating from Texas Tech University. Six years ago, he joined Imagine Thailand Foundation, an organisation dedicated to supporting vulnerable youth through education and economic empowerment. With the help of a colleague connected to Chulalongkorn University, Graysen began teaching English in Samyan to local children whose parents were working nearby.

When the pandemic struck and schools turned to online learning, many students with parents already overburdened by work struggled to study in makeshift home environments. Graysen recognised the need for academic support in Samyan and, at the Foundation’s request, started a new initiative, collaborating with Saturday School Foundation, an organisation focused on educational reform, to create Samyan NewGen.

Launched in 2020, the program began with a survey of Samyan’s old market area to better understand local youth. Volunteers received training in youth engagement and curriculum design, focusing on Thai, English, and math.

“Initially, we planned Samyan NewGen as a 10-week course covering math and English, with activities outside the classroom on Saturdays,” says Graysen. “The response from students and volunteers was fantastic, and parents asked us to add Thai, saying their children needed just as much help in that subject.”

Since then, Samyan NewGen has become a critical support system in the community, offering supplementary lessons to students who might otherwise fall behind.

How Samyan’s Rent Hike Has Impacted Families and Students from Wat Schools

Students attending a class provided by Samyan NewGen

According to Graysen, most students in the Samyan NewGen program come from local temple schools, such as Wat Hua Lamphong, Wat Duang Khae, Buddhajak Wittaya, and Wat Traimit. Many formerly studied in the Samyan area. As a result of rent increases over the past three years, their families were forced to relocate. Some moved to nearby Hua Lamphong, while others relocated farther away to suburban areas like Phetkasem Road.

Today, Samyan NewGen serves students from grades 1-9, with a particular focus on fourth grade students. Enrolment has grown significantly, from just eight students at the start to 25, as students invite friends to join and others discover the program through social media. The increase has posed challenges, making it harder for students to concentrate and volunteers to provide individual attention.

To address this, Samyan NewGen organised students into small groups, each consisting of 3-4 students paired with one volunteer teacher. Volunteers mostly come Chulalongkorn University or secondary schools like Triam Udom, Samsen Wittayalai, and Mater Dei. Samyan NewGen recruits online and with the help of former volunteers.

Each semester, Samyan NewGen’s new volunteer teachers select their preferred subject and grade level. They don’t always get their first-choice if the subject is already covered or students lack interest. The least popular choice of volunteer applicants is Thai language tutoring.

Through such adjustments, Samyan NewGen continues to grow as a vital support system for displaced families, adapting to meet the needs of a changing student population.

Achievements and Challenges of Samyan NewGen

Students attending a class provided by Samyan NewGen

Graysen describes the program’s successes with a sense of measured pride. “One of our greatest achievements is seeing students return year after year,” he explains. “Providing real support takes time—it’s not something that can be achieved in just a few months. This is why we’ve designed Samyan NewGen as a long-term initiative, committed to sustainable development for the youth in our neighbourhood.”

Graysen emphasizes that while Samyan NewGen plays an essential role, it’s only one piece in the larger puzzle of youth development. There are factors beyond the program’s control, such as each student’s background and the support they receive at home. He also notes the influence of online media, observing that some students pick up bad habits such as vulgar language and disruptive behaviour from their smartphones. Samyan NewGen tries to deal with such problems through discussions and by guiding students toward positive engagement.

Regarding the challenges faced by volunteer teachers, Graysen acknowledges the occasional stress caused by working with difficult students. “Our volunteers enjoy their roles, but some students can be stubborn, which can wear on them. To help, we support our volunteers, offering advice and encouragement. Our goal is to make Samyan NewGen a safe, inclusive space where everyone—volunteers and students alike—feels valued.”

Poom, an Eleventh Grader from Triam Udom Suksa School and a volunteer English teacher for Samyan NewGen, reflects on the inequalities he’s come to understand through his work. “Teaching here has shown me the stark disparities in the education system,” he says. While his family can afford private English lessons, many youth in Samyan lack such opportunities.

For Poom, volunteering is more than just teaching; it’s a way to connect with the Samyan community. Through conversations with students, he’s come to understand their lives and the obstacles they face—an experience far removed from his own commute-focused life as a student in the area. “Getting to know the community around my school has been eye-opening,” he adds.

The Impact of Chulalongkorn University Area Development on Samyan Students

As noted, most students participating in Samyan NewGen’s supplementary lessons program come from schools around the Samyan neighbourhood. Yet, Chulalongkorn University’s ongoing area development—marked by gentrification, the demolition of older buildings, and rising rents—has forced many families to relocate to Hua Lamphong or the even farther away Phetkasem area.

Graysen, reflects on the challenges created by these changes. “Many of the kids had to move, and some of them have felt real stress over it. But we’re grateful to see them return and continue studying with us. Personally, I want to support them so they can remain connected to this neighbourhood. I may not be able to change the whole situation, but I’ll keep doing what I can.”

He adds, “For now, we’re able to stay at our current location on Soi Chula 50, but in a few years, this coffee shop may also need to relocate. If that happens, we might have to move to Hua Lamphong, which, fortunately, isn’t too far away.”

Samyan NewGen is a concerted effort to reduce educational inequalities in Samyan, offering children from economically disadvantaged families access to a quality learning environment. The program relies on the dedication of volunteers and university students who teach foundational subjects and help bridge knowledge gaps, fostering meaningful educational progress within the community.

The program not only provides opportunities for local youth but also offers volunteer teachers a platform to sharpen their teaching skills and understand pervasive inequalities in society. Despite facing obstacles—from rising rents to neighbourhood changes—Samyan NewGen volunteers remain committed to creating opportunities and sustainably improving the lives of Samyan’s children and youth.