English for kids in refugee camps

We’ve been giving weekly online English classes to Myanmar war escapees in refugee camps in North East India since 2022. Recently students from Myanmar have joined.

Classes are conducted over Zoom, with up to 70 students at a time in breakout rooms. We’d have more, but there are insufficient devices for all who want to log on.

Attendees are mostly children, and in some cases their parents. They start class as early as 6:30AM, at times with five or more gathered around a mobile phone belonging to a caregiver.

We are fundraising for devices, so that more people can attend and pick up the language skills that dramatically improve their chances of education, employment and quality of life.

Devices

We can purchase devices locally in India, avoiding heavy import duties. We know that tablet computers are ideal, with bigger screens than phones and lower costs than laptops. They are also easier to maintain.

Cost is around USD140 per device, including some spare chargers and batteries. We intend buying identical devices from a reputable wholesaler. Our minimum specification is 2GB RAM running Android 7 or higher. This allows them to run Zoom. We prioritise families with demonstrated enthusiasm and multiple students.

About CHAI

CHAI - Chin Humanitarian Aid International is an established NGO in Maryland USA. It was created in 2021 after the military coup, when thousands of Myanmarese war escapees crossed the border to Mizoram in India. Family members of the founder and chairperson of CHAI were among the escapees.

CHAI initially raised funds to provide humanitarian aid - food, medicines, water tanks and pipes, and then sewing machines, giving women the dignity of work. Training sessions gave more than sixty women tailoring skills, increasing self esteem as well as mental health and wellbeing.

Donated funds go directly to the communities in the camps. Field officers on the ground receive the funds, purchase the items and distribute them directly to individuals and communities. Every dollar raised is accounted for and the integrity of the CHAI team inside Mizoram and Myanmar is robust. Clear communication between CHAI teams on the ground and the charity have resulted in successful delivery of much needed supplies over the past four years.

About the Teachers

Tutors from USA, Australia, India and New Zealand volunteer their time to teach English as a Second Language, and over the last three years the level of language competence and confidence has increased to the extent that children can now start to enrol in local English-speaking schools.