New dawn for Kritichai

Thirteenyearold schoolboy Kritichai Krajai and his grandparents pay respect to Their Majesties the King and Queen at their home in Lampang’s Muang Pan district yesterday.

Thirteenyearold schoolboy Kritichai Krajai from Lampang's Muang Pan district said yesterday he was overjoyed and deeply grateful for their Majesties the King and Queen's response to his letter appealing for help for his povertystricken family.

Following news that Privy Councillor Admiral Chumpol Pachusanon would on Their Majesties' behalves present a vocational fund, a scholarship and other items, and also give royalgranted items to 500 locals at Muang Pan School on Monday, Daily Xpress yesterday visited the Mathayom 1 student of Jaeson Wittaya School at the dilapidated home where he lives with his grandparents.

Kritichai described how, after his parents separated when he was only eight months old, his impoverished grandparents had worked hard to raise him. He does odd jobs at weekends and holidays to help earn money for the household.

Birthday wishes come true

He said he wrote the letter to Their Majesties in January 2008 after the birthday he shares with His Majesty - December 5 - failed to deliver the gift of a better future he was desperate for. In it he described his family's impoverished living conditions and expressed his wish for a new home and a scholarship. "I'm so grateful to them for showing such compassion. I will pray for their good health and longevity with all my heart.

"I'll study hard and get a bachelor's degree. I want to be an army officer and take care of my grandparents."

Kritichai and his grandparents pay daily homage to the image of Their Majesties that hangs on one wall of their home.

Jaeson Wittayalai School director Sanguan Taemdee said Kritichai was a good student who was helpful and got along well with classmates. He added that the boy was excited about the ceremony on Monday and had been practising the speech he would give every day.