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10 Feb 2025
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Description
This is a non-profit organization in Thailand. We provide holistic assistance for the Myanmar (Burmese) migrants, including education, skills training, legal services and general empowerment. The objective of the project is to restore the migrants' dignity according to the values of love, care and help of the Congregation.
Join us in our efforts to build a brighter future for Burmese migrant children in need of quality education and a safe learning environment in Thailand. With your support, we can make a lasting impact on their lives and empower them to break the cycle of poverty. Together, let's create a better tomorrow.
Background
Unless they are enrolled in school, these children have little hope for their future as they are unable to access any form of education or healthcare in the Thai system. Parents often have no other option but to leave their children to fend for themselves while they go to work at the fishing port or construction sites. As a result, these children are constantly exposed to the risk of sexual or labor exploitation. Sister Lakana started a class for Burmese children in a fish drying factory in 2010 and later built the Learning Center in its current location in 2013. The school initially accommodated 150 children and was designed for a maximum capacity of 220 children. The number of Burmese migrant children in Phuket has significantly increased due to the ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar over the past two years. Many families continue to arrive in Phuket from Myanmar. For the May 2023 school term, there are 387 Burmese children enrolled in the school.
o Our project serves the Burmese migrant population in Phuket. These families are generally unable to access the Thai education system due to a lack of applicable skills (e.g., legal identification and ability to communicate in Thai). Some lack legal documents, and work labor jobs with low wages. Common jobs are construction workers, dried fish workers and fishermen. Under normal circumstances, families have little disposable income after daily expenses to spend on education. Many are in situations in which their employers garnish their wages significantly citing the need to take deductions for food, transport, or housing provided to them on the job and employers who pay very late or sometimes not at all. Because of their undocumented status they have no legal recourse in this matter and now no safe way to return to Myanmar.
o Our organization runs a Learning Center with students grades Kindergarten to Grade 5. Since many students hope to return to Myanmar after Grade 5 to continue their studies, we teach the Burmese curriculum. The learning center also has a small Youth Group for older students aged 11-17. We also have a vocational training center for students to gain skills such as soap making, hairdressing and baking. Historically, student enrollment has been somewhere between 150 to 220 students but as of May 2023, we have 387 students. This number is at an all-time high due to the war in Myanmar escalating, more people are flooding the borders of Thailand and many of our families who intended on returning to Myanmar are now unable to do so.
o Our organization also helps vulnerable women and children through advocacy and legal protection, access to basic health checks, and help with identification paperwork. Our project’s long-term impact is to break the poverty cycle by teaching children basic competencies such as reading, writing, Math, foreign languages, and life skills. This will enable them to later acquire safe and stable jobs when they grow up.
o Finally, we strengthen the Burmese migrant community by providing safe and affordable childcare for families. We incorporate new families into our community, who we can help shield from discrimination and help the next generation find safe dignified work to end the cycle of extreme poverty and exploitation of this community.Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Teaching
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
The learning center is located in Phuket Town which offers a range of activities of learning about Thailand and the Thai culture. In addition, the students love to sing and dance and are often putting on short performances for visitors, volunteers, and teachers. The teachers are eager to learn from volunteers and exchange stories about their lives and experiences.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
The Volunteers are involved in the daily running of the School and Vocational Training Center, according to their skills and preferences.
Their duties may include :
▪ helping teachers in class (teacher’s assistant) especially with the younger children (kindergarten and 1st graders),
▪ helping organize the Vocational Training offering
▪ helping with the healthcare program
▪ helping with general administration
▪ helping with general organization, clean-up and handy-workLanguages spoken
Burmese: Fluent
Thai: Fluent
English: IntermediateAccommodation
Housing accommodations are provided to volunteers at the “Blue House” which is also where the Vocational Training Center is located. This building is within walking distance to the School. The volunteers either share a room with 2 twin beds or can be given their own room depending on availability. All bedrooms have their own private shower room and toilet.
All volunteers eat lunch at the School along with the students and teachers. They will be responsible for arranging for their breakfast and evening meals. There is a shared kitchen space available for volunteers to use.What else ...
Although the spoken language in Thailand is Thai, the children’s mother tongue is Burmese. They are all provided with the opportunity to learn Thai and English but many of them only understand and speak Burmese. The Staff speak Burmese, Thai and a little English. All volunteers must be able to communicate in English. It would be very beneficial if the volunteers also speak a little bit of Thai, or Burmese, but not mandatory.
Volunteers may need to apply for a Visa. We are prepared to provide proof of accommodation but the volunteers are responsible for filing their own application. Further information can be obtained on the Thai Embassy website of your respective country.A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (4)
During these 6 weeks I mainly helped with English, art and sports classes, the atmosphere is very friendly, all the staff and the other volunteers are very easygoing and are always… read more
It was my first work away, and I have never thought English before. It was a little bit challenging at the beginning but the children are great. They… read more
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During these 6 weeks I mainly helped with English, art and sports classes, the atmosphere is very friendly, all the staff and the other volunteers are very easygoing and are always… read more
It was my first work away, and I have never thought English before. It was a little bit challenging at the beginning but the children are great. They… read more