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Money-Making Career: 11-Year-Old Shows Off Paper Folding Skills to Earn Scholarship Money

Admirable: 11-year-old C-Din spends her time after school and on holidays folding paper into various shapes, including drawing artwork to raise money for her education. It all started when her mother taught her to fold paper into toys and she was inspired by her older sister. At Center Point Market in Trang Municipality, in the evening it is bustling with people and tourists who come to buy food, clothes and souvenirs. Here, there is a boy named Rosdeedin Phuemkhetkij, 11 years old, a Grade 5 student at Wat Matchimuphum School (Municipality 4), sitting folding colorful papers into the shapes of dinosaurs, butterflies, hearts and mouths, along with a small sign that says 'Open hat for scholarships', which attracts the attention of passersby.

According to Thai News Agency, after school, Cedeen said that he would sit next to his mother, who was selling dokdon, Singaporean coconut pancakes, and handmade crafts such as headscarves and knitted hair bands. He could fold 20-30 pieces each day, earning 100-400 baht per day. All the income went to his education fund. In addition to origami, Cedeen also drew pictures to sell for hundreds of baht.

Alisa Hasni, Chideen's mother, said that she has four children, two boys and two girls. Chideen is the second child and it is believed that her brother got his inspiration for origami from his older brother who used to sell origami. His mother encouraged him to fold paper into toys himself, whether it be a boat or a car, depending on his imagination because he did not have money to buy toys for his son when he was young. As for drawing, Chideen enjoyed it and took lessons, so he used the knowledge he learned to create his work as another source of income.

The story of Cheedeen is not only about making money, but also about the hard work, creativity and strength of family.