OpenmindProjects is Bridging Divides through Education
Welcome to OpenmindProjects, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to fighting poverty and inequality through enhanced learning opportunities. Our mission is to empower underprivileged children and their families with the skills and knowledge needed to break the cycle of poverty. Join us on this transformative journey as we create learners with the ability to learn, adapt and contribute to a better future.
Our Mission is to Fight Poverty with Extra Learning Opportunities
We believe in the power of education. We offer learning in English, IT and how to learn in a practical learning-by-doing way to young learners.
Our Vision is to help create more Equal Education Opportunities
We work to make vital education and the internet accessible to underprivileged people. We are committed to ensuring more equal learning opportunities.
Empowering our Learners, Volunteers and Supporters
- Young Learners: ‘Be the architect of your own future and inspire your friends to do the same’.
- Our Volunteers: ‘Join us in our mission by volunteering and you gain valuable experience and new friends’.
- Our Donors: ‘Support us, help us provide better learning to poor people. Make a contribution and you, your friend is welcome to volunteer with us’.
“To learn about poverty in the developing world, go out to volunteer with an NGO.”
~Nobel Prize Laureate Esther Duflo
Our Learning Philosophy is Learn by Doing
We believe in learning English and IT skills while learning about a topic, problem-solving and team work. We promote digital skills and foster independent thinking. We encourage curiosity and life long learning.
Funding and Support
We rely on volunteer work and donations.
After the Covid challenges, we need support to restart our projects, at schools, camps and other field projects.
Our work to help people depends on donations and volunteer support!
How you can donate
How you can volunteer
Cofounders Sven Mauleon and Gaweechat Joompaula
East and West
Sven Mauleon, from Sweden, and Gaweechat Joompaula, from Thailand, founded OpenmindProjects. Sven’s international experience and Gaweechat’s local expertise are bridging knowledge and cultural divides together.
Sven: ‘I had an idea to bridge knowledge divides using IT!’
Gaweechat: ‘I grew up without electricity but got a chance to learn using IT and internet. We believe in learning by doing.’
Our History: Bridging Knowledge Divides Since 2001
OpenmindProjects was founded in 2001 in Thailand by Sven Mauleon and Gaweechat Joompaula. Our journey began with the groundbreaking “IT in Isan” project, demonstrating how IT can be a powerful tool for underprivileged communities.
- 2001-2002: Initiated a pilot project for IT learning for poor village children, designed our first website and invited volunteers to teach IT and English.
- 2003-2004: Expanded with projects in South Thailand and Laos and initiated ecotourism projects in Northeast Thailand and Laos.
- 2007-2010: Invited student trainees from Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia to our Training Center and started working with Burmese, Karen and stateless communities on the Thai-Myanmar border.
- 2012: Conducted the first Learning Camps at our Training Center.
- 2016: Organized Mountain Camps for Karen, Burmese migrant and refugee youth.
- 2020-2022: Started online training during the pandemic and began working with disabled students.
- 2022: Welcomed back local students and overseas volunteers after the Covid disruption. Fundraising to restart projects, schools, camps and a new Training Center.
