In Thailand, more than two million children live in poverty. On a trip to the country, Muay Thai fighter Frances Watthanaya witnessed just how dire the problem was. “You’re in a fight from the moment you’re born,” she says. Deprived of education and safety, many kids are at risk of drug use, gang violence, and sexual abuse. So Watthanaya decided to take on the battle of a lifetime – rescuing youth from an inescapable future.
After meeting her husband, trainer Thanit ‘Boom’ Watthanaya, she settled down in his local village, Krabuengnok. Located in Isaan, one of the most underdeveloped regions of Thailand, many children here experience some of the worst effects of poverty. Tackling this issue the only way they knew how, the couple decided to open their own Muay Thai gym. Rallying the help of friends and family, they raised enough money to begin laying the foundations of Wor. Watthana.
The humble fitness centre has since grown into a refuge for vulnerable youth. Training children in the art of Muay Thai, kids learn valuable skills such as discipline, nutrition, and responsibility. Watthanaya has become an integral part of her students’ lives, assisting them with everyday challenges from homework to healthcare. “I am a mentor, mother, and trainer to the kids,” she says. Providing disadvantaged youth with an empowering environment, Watthanaya is raising a generation of champions.
