KFC Thailand hides Student Sanders toys across Bangkok to draw attention to education gap

Bangkok, Thailand – The KFC Foundation Thailand has launched a new awareness initiative under its ongoing “Bucket Search” programme, aimed at addressing the issue of out-of-school youth in the country.

The latest campaign, titled “The Missing Figure: Student Sanders”, introduces a collectible art toy named “Student Sanders”, part of the Baby Sanders series. The figurine was hidden in 30 locations across Bangkok in an effort to draw attention to young people who are absent from the formal education system. According to KFC Thailand, the selected sites reflect areas where many out-of-school youth live and work.

The toy is intended to symbolise students who are missing from classrooms. Members of the public were encouraged to search for the figurines, with the activity designed to generate discussion around the scale of the issue and bring it into wider public awareness.

The Bucket Search programme was developed in collaboration with the Equitable Education Fund and has been running for two years. The company said the initiative has supported 430 young people nationwide, offering participants opportunities including vocational training, as well as options that allow them to work while continuing their studies.

Proceeds from the Sanders Box Set, which includes the Student Sanders collectible, are allocated toward scholarships, educational materials, and seed funding for career development.

The foundation said the campaign seeks to leverage pop culture, such as collectible toy crazes, to engage broader audiences on the issue of educational equality. They emphasise the need to support the reintegration of out-of-school youth into learning and employment pathways to drive inclusive and sustainable development.the need to support the reintegration of out-of-school youth into learning and employment pathways to drive inclusive and sustainable development.