We visited two refugee schools in the Mae Sot border area, both run entirely by volunteers, funded by donations. Many of the children had been left on the Thai side of the border by their parents to keep them safe and so they could get an education. These schools, however, are not recognized by either government, and are not accredited. The children may be receiving a good education, but in the eyes of institutions of higher learning, they have not been educated. This, obviously severely limits their earning capabilities.
All the resident girls slept in this small room on mats or blankets. School. 73 out of the 119 students at the Matawang Lon school live there. Some parents live on nearby farms,but many live on the other side of the border.
Kitchen at the Matawang Lon refugee school
Dinner?
The second school we visited serviced about 200 children, most of them living on site. This school had a lively atmosphere, and a lot of activity. Some of the teenage girls recently started a knitting project to sell scarves and bags in order to raise funds for meals for the students. The crafts will be sold in the U.S. through Deh Kwe Life (website to follow).
The Knitting Girls
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