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Discover how 17-year-old Indy is reshaping education in Thailand through CareConnect, using online resources and campaigns to empower students with learning difficulties.
The young generation today is showing that age does not limit their ability to make an impact. Around the world young changemakers are stepping up with empathy, creativity and determination to solve real problems in their communities.
One inspiring example is Adia “Indy” Pudtalsri, a Thai youth innovator who is transforming the way education supports students with learning disabilities. We explore her journey in creating CareConnect and how her passion for inclusive education is reshaping learning opportunities for students with diverse needs.
From Observation to Action
Indy, a 17-year-old secondary school student based in Bangkok, noticed that many schools around her relied on a rigid, uniform approach to teaching from an early age. Lessons were delivered through a single standardised curriculum, assuming that all students learn in the same way and overlooking individual learning differences. This widely used method often restricts student engagement and discourages curiosity and motivation.
Through her research she discovered that learning disabilities are far more common than many people realise, affecting roughly one in seven individuals worldwide. In Thailand alone an estimated 140,000 children have learning disabilities, with nearly 38 per cent not attending school, underscoring a significant gap in access to inclusive education. At the same time deeply rooted misconceptions and negative attitudes towards people with learning disabilities continue to persist, shaped by long-standing social beliefs.
In response Indy launched CareConnect in 2023, a platform dedicated to supporting students with learning challenges and promoting a more inclusive and adaptable education system.
Bridging Educational Gaps Through Various Campaigns
CareConnect is primarily an online platform dedicated to providing educational resources for students with learning difficulties. Indy aims to foster an inclusive learning environment by providing materials tailored to diverse learning needs, empowering all learners. On her platform she currently offers more than 30 animated videos and worksheets focusing on numeracy and phonics. To ensure her resources are both adaptable and effective, she collaborates with teachers who specialise in supporting students with learning disabilities.
Via CareConnect’s Instagram, she raises awareness about learning difficulties to educate the public, share helpful resources and support students with diverse learning needs.
Beyond the website she runs campaigns and hosts events to further raise awareness and promote inclusivity in education.
Some of her key initiatives include:
Story Seeds Campaign: A second-hand book drive where she collected and distributed children’s books and educational materials to rural elementary schools in underfunded regions across Thailand, helping to bridge the gap in access to learning resources.
It fosters a love for reading and learning, empowering children who might otherwise be left behind due to limited resources.
Courtesy of CareConnect
Learning Unlocked Conferences: Indy organised a series of five virtual Learning Unlocked conferences via Zoom to spark discussions about learning difficulties and strategies to support affected students, covering topics such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia.
These conferences help raise awareness among educators, parents and the wider community by providing practical strategies to better support students with diverse learning needs.
Classroom Renovation Initiative: Through this campaign she has helped establish sensory classrooms within Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools in Bangkok. She has provided over 100 resources to equip these classrooms, creating supportive and engaging learning spaces.
Expanding CareConnect and Inspiring Change in Education
Looking ahead Indy dreams of expanding CareConnect to include subjects like biology, physics and chemistry, opening up new learning opportunities for students across Thailand. She is also planning to organise support group meetups, creating spaces where students can share their experiences and swap helpful resources.
One particularly remarkable aspect of her approach is how she, as part of the younger generation, leverages technology to support others. By using digital tools she makes learning more accessible and reduces costs, demonstrating how innovation can align with global trends while improving education and opportunities for students with diverse needs.
Indy’s work is a shining example of how young people can turn awareness into action. Through creativity and determination, she shows that age is no barrier to making a meaningful difference, inspiring others to use their skills and ideas to improve the world around them.
