The life of any human rights activist is far from easy. But driving positive change against all odds in a dangerous world is increasingly tough. What’s more? Achieving this to improve the lives of the most vulnerable children in northern Thailand stacks the odds against any human rights organization even more.

There’s one person that decided to accept this mission, on her own. Meet Kru Nam, the catalyst for Not For Sale’s global work, delivering life-changing support for people and planet through sustainable business.

One savior, one book, one movement

Kru Nam was one of the first people interviewed for the book that changed how people thought about slavery. It was titled Not for Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade and How We Can Fight It.

David Batstone, author of the book and co-founder of Not For Sale, explains how Kru Nam was the sole focus of work that would change the world.

“We had a clear mission [when Not For Sale started], and that was just to help one woman, Kru Nam, build a home for the kids she had rescued,” he says. “That was it.”

“She has been a warrior in the fight against human trafficking in her region and was a major inspiration for Not For Sale. In many respects, we wouldn’t exist without her.

“We started with building a home for kids – as charity. Then we realized that wasn’t enough. We felt like we were at the bottom of a river pulling bodies out as they were drowning. So, we wanted to go upstream and stop them from falling in.

“That’s how we got into entrepreneurial activity that would address root causes.

“It’s felt like a lifetime’s journey of learning. We’re still learning every week.”

How to make a difference for a human rights activist

Kru Nam’s lifeline was a card with David’s email on it. Not even knowing what email was, she went to an internet cafe and asked the other customers for help. They didn’t take her seriously but helped her write to the American, explaining her situation in English.

Four days later, Not For Sale co-founder Mark Wexler arrived in Thailand with $10,000 strapped to his body.

Funding for strong foundations to build a house

“Kru Nam had rescued 27 kids from some of the most horrific situations that you can imagine,” explains Mark. “She’d been gifted land in the far north of Thailand, but beyond that she had no resources at her disposal. She’d been going to monks in her local community, asking for food to help support them.

“Our first step as Not For Sale was a commitment to build one house for Kru Nam and those kids. Thankfully, we were able to get enough funds and get that house built. That was just the beginning. Today there’s an entire community led by Kru Nam, where 150 kids are provided with wrap-around services to help them lead better lives.

“That very first time I went to Thailand and met Kru Nam, she taught me a phrase: “su su.” It means “strength strength.” Whenever you’re in a time or place and you need it, I remember it and it still helps me get through any tough days.”

Not For Sale’s first project director

Kru Nam became Not For Sale’s first project director, leading Not For Sale Thailand and changing the future for exploited children.

“It was that commitment to a set of people all those years ago. Those kids… When I was just back in Thailand a few months ago, I met some of them. Their lives have moved on. We first met them the year before Not For Sale even started.

“Kru Nam has fought all kinds of battles in that time. She’s been jailed, disparaged in the press, and has had to navigate shifting local and national politics. One moment, she’s being recognized as running Thailand’s top model project for helping children, and the next, someone with an agenda is trying to discredit her.”

Local authorities and mafia networks have all put obstacles and threats in front of Kru Nam. Yet, it’s never even slowed her down on her human rights activist path to providing a better life for stateless children.

“She had to take her case to the federal level, where national authorities embraced her work. In December 2024, she won the national award for combating human trafficking from Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission.

“When I visited her at the start of 2025, she was fired up. She literally lifted her arms and said: ‘David, I had to be strong. I had to fight this. And I came out stronger.’

“If the intention was to intimidate her, it backfired. She’s more determined than ever.”

National Humanitarian Award recognition and impact

In December 2024, Kru Nam received Thailand’s National Humanitarian Award from the Thai government for her dedication to protecting and supporting vulnerable children.

One child that Kru Nam helped was Meta. She went from selling flowers on the street, to starting school and then becoming the first stateless child in Thailand to attend university. She’s now also helping Kru Nam on her mission to improve the lives of the next generation of vulnerable children. Read more about Meta’s story.

Another young man is Ning Nong. He has an incredible story. He came to live with Kru Nam at age seven, got into Thai boxing, and became skilled in massage therapy for fighters. That led him to holistic healthcare studies, and today, he runs one of the top clinics in the country.

A human rights activist legacy beyond comparison

It’s impossible to count the lives that Kru Nam has changed, the futures she has rewritten, and the ripple effect of hope she has created. For decades, she has stood unwavering in the face of adversity, proving that one person’s courage can ignite a movement.

From rescuing a handful of children with no resources, to building a thriving community that provides safety, education, and opportunity, her impact is immeasurable. The children she saved are now shaping the future, too – paying forward the strength and kindness they once received.

Kru Nam’s work with Not For Sale is not just about shelter or survival. It’s about dignity, empowerment, and breaking the cycle of exploitation. It’s about proving that, with relentless determination and compassion, the impossible can become reality.

More than just a human rights activist, her fight is far from over. One thing is certain: the world is a better place because of Kru Nam. And for that, we celebrate her.

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