Children born into a Thai village are in a fight from the moment they enter the world. They are fighting fate- a merciless opponent that offers a childhood of drugs, alcohol, gang violence, and even rape, the same fate who’s defeated generation after generation before them. Very few children have the strength to defy the odds, but even once they make it to adulthood, they are dealt with a various set of challenges: menial employment or a life of crime. This is what Frances and Boom set to change. Wor. Watthana sets to help these at-risk youth change the course of their path.
Both professional Muay Thai fighters, Canadian born Frances and Thai local, Boom, met over a decade ago in Bangkok. On a visit to Boom’s village, Issan, the two witnessed all the negative influences engulfing the lives of local kids. This experience wasn’t forgotten. After five years away from Issan, Frances and Boom realized nothing was ever going to change unless someone made it happen. So, after first uniting in marriage, the two joined forces for another cause: to change young lives forever.
Frances and Boom moved back to Issan, and in Boom's Dad's garden, they created a safe space for kids to learn Muay Thai and channel their energy into something positive. The impact echoed through the village. And when Frances and Boom took to a crowd-funding campaign, those echoes were heard worldwide. Their story captured imaginations and raised enough money to build the non-profit Wor. Watthana Muay Thai Gym.
