Border police launch Hope School initiative for young athletes!

Border police launch Hope School initiative for young athletes!

On November 3, 2025, a new chapter for the sport in remote areas of Thailand was opened at the Border Police School in Ban Pa Mak, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. There, the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) and the border police together handed over a sports field and a variety of sports and medical equipment as part of the “School of Knowledge, School of Hope” project - the third implementation of this project. This engagement was accompanied by prominent figures from the sports world, including Olympic champion Manus Boonjumnong and former international player Patthapong Yupadee, who led special clinics on boxing and sepak takraw. These initiatives aim to significantly improve health and sports opportunities for youth and the local population.

The event also organized various sports competitions and health activities, which attracted large numbers of local people and students from nearby schools. This exchange aims to promote sport not only as a leisure activity, but also as a means of improving the quality of life and strengthening community relationships. The upcoming goal now takes the initiators to the Sunthornwech Border Police School in Sangkhla Buri, Kanchanaburi Province, where further measures will come into force on November 28, 2025 to give young people prospects.

Future prospects for sporting activities

The project takes place in the context of an alarming development: a significant decline in physical activity among Thai children and adolescents. According to a comprehensive study conducted between 2012 and 2020, only about 25 percent of this group achieves the recommended 60 minutes of daily exercise. These results were particularly negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, when average daily physical activity fell to just 36 minutes, a decrease of nearly 20 minutes compared to previous years.

The study also shows that children from households with low socioeconomic status and girls in particular are less likely to achieve the recommended activity levels. Physical activity tends to be higher in rural areas, while in urban areas the increase in inactivity is worrying. This highlights the need for programs and interventions aimed at improving physical activity.

A step in the right direction

The involvement of the NSDF and the border police in projects such as the “Knowledge School” project is therefore an important step in countering the increasing inactivity and offering young people in the border regions new opportunities. These initiatives are suitable for both promoting physical activity and supporting the mental health of young people, who often grow up in difficult conditions. The partnership between local authorities, sports organizations and educational institutions is seen as the key to sustainably improving the quality of life of the young generation in Thailand.

The creation of sports facilities and the implementation of sports activities, led by role models from the sports world, can potentially have a positive influence on future generations. This investment in the future of Thai youth could ultimately lead to a healthier, more active and engaged lifestyle.

For more information on the activities and developments within the “School of Knowledge, School of Hope” project, you can read the articles from Thai TV5, COPS as well as the underlying studies by PMC see.