Thoo Mweh Khee Karen Summer Education Outreach2019
Donation protected
It's summer again here in Thailand, and that means that Thoo Mweh Khee students are spreading out to over 30 villages to share their passion and experience. Thoo Mweh Khee Summer Karen State Education Outreach Program is an extension of Thoo Mweh Khee Migrant Learning Center, a school for ethnic Karen from Myanmar which is based in Thailand. For this program, TMK students brave the dusty roads, travelling by car, motorbike, boat, and even on foot to reach some of the most under-served areas in the Karen State, giving up their summer holiday for the benefit of their people.
Help them share their knowledge and skill as well as celebrate being Karen and enjoy summer while bringing happiness to vulnerable children who have limited access to education. The program is volunteer for the students, but over 150 of our students have chosen to take the challenge. The programs run Monday through Friday, morning, afternoon, and evening, with some even teaching on Saturday (in the summer no less), proving the hunger of these students for quality education.
After the success of last year's program, we received requests from many other villages, making this year bigger and better! The students are passionate as they have an opportunity to share the knowledge they've gained, as well gain valuable experience to prepare them for an uncertain but promising future as leaders of their people. What does it take to be a hero? Sometimes it means simply using what you have for the benefit of others when you have the chance. At Thoo Mweh Khee Learning Center in Thailand, we are privileged to have an abundance of heroes who are willing to sacrifice their time and give their energy for their people.
Beneficiaries--4,000 Ethnic Karen Children ages 5-20
Location--35 different villages in Karen State, Myanmar
Duration--1 Month
Most of the groups plan to start on April 2nd and finish at the end of the month. The daily schedule varies from group to group, but most of the groups will teach for about 3 hours in the morning and run activities in the afternoon when it's too hot to concentrate. There will also be night study and various competitions and/or concerts held at night during the month.
Activities
Training in Karen language, information sessions about safe migration and human trafficking, Karen History, English, dance, sport, music, leadership, public speaking, and life skills
Project Implementers--150 volunteer students in groups of 3 or 7 from the Thoo Mweh Khee Bachelor of Liberal Arts Program
School Website-- https://www.thoomwehkheeschool.org/
School Facebook Page--TMK Student Media Group
A group of students after receiving training and ready to go change the world!
Background on Karen Ethnic Group
The Karen are a minority ethnic group often living on the margins in Myanmar and Thailand. Now there is tentative peace after over 60 years of civil war, but the area is underdeveloped in all areas, especially education. Karen have a distinct language and culture which has long been under threat from the majority Burmese military and government. Although there is a Nation-wide Ceasefire Agreement and recent outright conflict has been rare, the peace is unsure and Karen identity is also under threat from the Myanmar national education system, which is poorly run, outdated, and not inclusive. Many Karen children, if they attend school at all, do not have an opportunity to learn to read and write their own language.
Thoo Mweh Khee students are leading an Education Revolution!!!
There has been a long-standing educational crisis in Myanmar. In Karen State of Myanmar, only around 1 in 10 children graduate from high school, let alone have access to higher education. Although most children have access to primary school education, schools are under-resourced, with many villages only having one or two teachers to teach multiples grades in the school. Children growing up in rural areas face severe disadvantages. This is due to a variety of factors including the history of armed conflict, poverty, and a weak education system that does not provide for the most at-risk and remote places.
Thoo Mweh Khee Migrant Learning Centre is a school located in Thailand that provides education for kids and young adults from these vulnerable areas. The ultimate mission of our school and the passion of our students is to transform their home communities and bring about real change to a group of people who have only known struggle and suffering. Our students have beaten the odds by graduating from high school and continuing their education, but they understand the challenges that the children back in their villages face.
With this in mind, Thoo Mweh Khee students organize summer programs to help the vulnerable children in their own villages get a step up in life. Working together with local community leaders, the students themselves plan lessons in Karen, English, Karen history, computers, and other subjects as well as extracurricular activities such as music, sports, and dancing. This year, the students received a special training in safe migration and will also give talks on human trafficking, for which most of these communities are at risk. There are also activities to increase the students' confidence, such as speaking and song competitions, goal setting and life skills, and constant motivation to work for life-changing education. The TMK students live together with the local villagers and use the skill and knowledge they've gained at TMK to influence the community for the better.
As Thoo Mweh Khee School itself is dependent on donations to keep running, we have limited funding for this program. All of our students are volunteering for this, so the cost is relatively low, working out to about 4,000 baht (just over $100 US) to provide a month of education for 100 or more students. It works out to about $1 per student, which is well worth the investment.
Locations
Over 30 different locations, with several locations serving 3 or 4 different villages. Karen State is divided into 7 districts and we have groups going to every district as well as other areas of Burma. Some locations were chosen by the students themselves while in other locations the local leaders expressed a need and we've done our best to fill it. Unfortunately, we were unable to fulfill all requests, but we are confident that next year will be another year of growth.
Budget Overview
Budget Total--120,000 Baht (4,000 USD)
Transportation--60,000 Baht (2,000 USD)
Getting 150 students to 35 different villages is quite an undertaking. Some students have to take taxis, buses, boats, and motorbikes over primitive roads and rivers to get to their villages. Other places are nearer and the students will be sent directly with our overloaded school truck. All in all, there are be dozens of trips to send and pick up students. This cost is for public transportation and diesel for the school truck.
Teaching and Activity Materials--60,000 Baht (2,000 USD)
Notebooks, pens, pencils, portable whiteboards, markers, crayons, paper, and other essentials for all activities. This also included materials for games including balloons, candy, snacks, prizes and other materials as well as garbage bags for village beautification. Some groups could barely carry all of the materials. We try to equip them as best we can to provide quality teaching mixed in with crazy fun. A happy environment is a better learning environment.
A Full list of Program Goals
Ø Provide educational opportunities for children in poor Karen villages to improve their weaknesses in many subjects, especially English language, Karen language, and Karen history.
Ø Promote Karen culture, arts, and identity in communities so the children understand what it means to be Karen and become proud of their heritage.
Ø Present new ideas and methods of education that are not just memorizing like the education system in Burma.
Ø Support Karen education system and promote mother-tongue based education in communities where there is only a Burmese government school.
Ø Have fun and enjoy time with the children in the summer time, when many of the children would be lazy or bored while teaching new skills like music and dance.
Ø Make and strengthen our relationships with community leaders and teachers in these villages.
Ø Encourage parents in the community to support and become involved in their children’s education.
Ø Show the quality of Thoo Mweh Khee School and Karen education so the people in the communities can compare it with graduates of the Burmese education system.
Ø Support Thoo Mweh Khee students who want to go back to their own villages and work to improve the situation.
Ø Give Thoo Mweh Khee students valuable experience in the community and increase their confidence while learning about the situation in different areas.
Ø Work together to develop Karen State and Karen People build a better future.
Every Little Bit Helps
Just 1 dollar helps provide this program for one child for one month. Who knows what impact this could have in the long run? The best investment we can make in the future is education and we are working to invest in any way we can. All of the money raised will go to support these summer programs. If you don't have money, you are also welcome to join one of groups as we work together to build a better future. We'll keep posting updates, so keep checking in! Watch the video below to hear the passion of the students as they prepare to go.
Help them share their knowledge and skill as well as celebrate being Karen and enjoy summer while bringing happiness to vulnerable children who have limited access to education. The program is volunteer for the students, but over 150 of our students have chosen to take the challenge. The programs run Monday through Friday, morning, afternoon, and evening, with some even teaching on Saturday (in the summer no less), proving the hunger of these students for quality education.
After the success of last year's program, we received requests from many other villages, making this year bigger and better! The students are passionate as they have an opportunity to share the knowledge they've gained, as well gain valuable experience to prepare them for an uncertain but promising future as leaders of their people. What does it take to be a hero? Sometimes it means simply using what you have for the benefit of others when you have the chance. At Thoo Mweh Khee Learning Center in Thailand, we are privileged to have an abundance of heroes who are willing to sacrifice their time and give their energy for their people.
Beneficiaries--4,000 Ethnic Karen Children ages 5-20
Location--35 different villages in Karen State, Myanmar
Duration--1 Month
Most of the groups plan to start on April 2nd and finish at the end of the month. The daily schedule varies from group to group, but most of the groups will teach for about 3 hours in the morning and run activities in the afternoon when it's too hot to concentrate. There will also be night study and various competitions and/or concerts held at night during the month.
Activities
Training in Karen language, information sessions about safe migration and human trafficking, Karen History, English, dance, sport, music, leadership, public speaking, and life skills
Project Implementers--150 volunteer students in groups of 3 or 7 from the Thoo Mweh Khee Bachelor of Liberal Arts Program
School Website-- https://www.thoomwehkheeschool.org/
School Facebook Page--TMK Student Media Group
A group of students after receiving training and ready to go change the world!
Background on Karen Ethnic Group
The Karen are a minority ethnic group often living on the margins in Myanmar and Thailand. Now there is tentative peace after over 60 years of civil war, but the area is underdeveloped in all areas, especially education. Karen have a distinct language and culture which has long been under threat from the majority Burmese military and government. Although there is a Nation-wide Ceasefire Agreement and recent outright conflict has been rare, the peace is unsure and Karen identity is also under threat from the Myanmar national education system, which is poorly run, outdated, and not inclusive. Many Karen children, if they attend school at all, do not have an opportunity to learn to read and write their own language.
Thoo Mweh Khee students are leading an Education Revolution!!!
There has been a long-standing educational crisis in Myanmar. In Karen State of Myanmar, only around 1 in 10 children graduate from high school, let alone have access to higher education. Although most children have access to primary school education, schools are under-resourced, with many villages only having one or two teachers to teach multiples grades in the school. Children growing up in rural areas face severe disadvantages. This is due to a variety of factors including the history of armed conflict, poverty, and a weak education system that does not provide for the most at-risk and remote places.
Thoo Mweh Khee Migrant Learning Centre is a school located in Thailand that provides education for kids and young adults from these vulnerable areas. The ultimate mission of our school and the passion of our students is to transform their home communities and bring about real change to a group of people who have only known struggle and suffering. Our students have beaten the odds by graduating from high school and continuing their education, but they understand the challenges that the children back in their villages face.
With this in mind, Thoo Mweh Khee students organize summer programs to help the vulnerable children in their own villages get a step up in life. Working together with local community leaders, the students themselves plan lessons in Karen, English, Karen history, computers, and other subjects as well as extracurricular activities such as music, sports, and dancing. This year, the students received a special training in safe migration and will also give talks on human trafficking, for which most of these communities are at risk. There are also activities to increase the students' confidence, such as speaking and song competitions, goal setting and life skills, and constant motivation to work for life-changing education. The TMK students live together with the local villagers and use the skill and knowledge they've gained at TMK to influence the community for the better.
As Thoo Mweh Khee School itself is dependent on donations to keep running, we have limited funding for this program. All of our students are volunteering for this, so the cost is relatively low, working out to about 4,000 baht (just over $100 US) to provide a month of education for 100 or more students. It works out to about $1 per student, which is well worth the investment.
Locations
Over 30 different locations, with several locations serving 3 or 4 different villages. Karen State is divided into 7 districts and we have groups going to every district as well as other areas of Burma. Some locations were chosen by the students themselves while in other locations the local leaders expressed a need and we've done our best to fill it. Unfortunately, we were unable to fulfill all requests, but we are confident that next year will be another year of growth.
Budget Overview
Budget Total--120,000 Baht (4,000 USD)
Transportation--60,000 Baht (2,000 USD)
Getting 150 students to 35 different villages is quite an undertaking. Some students have to take taxis, buses, boats, and motorbikes over primitive roads and rivers to get to their villages. Other places are nearer and the students will be sent directly with our overloaded school truck. All in all, there are be dozens of trips to send and pick up students. This cost is for public transportation and diesel for the school truck.
Teaching and Activity Materials--60,000 Baht (2,000 USD)
Notebooks, pens, pencils, portable whiteboards, markers, crayons, paper, and other essentials for all activities. This also included materials for games including balloons, candy, snacks, prizes and other materials as well as garbage bags for village beautification. Some groups could barely carry all of the materials. We try to equip them as best we can to provide quality teaching mixed in with crazy fun. A happy environment is a better learning environment.
A Full list of Program Goals
Ø Provide educational opportunities for children in poor Karen villages to improve their weaknesses in many subjects, especially English language, Karen language, and Karen history.
Ø Promote Karen culture, arts, and identity in communities so the children understand what it means to be Karen and become proud of their heritage.
Ø Present new ideas and methods of education that are not just memorizing like the education system in Burma.
Ø Support Karen education system and promote mother-tongue based education in communities where there is only a Burmese government school.
Ø Have fun and enjoy time with the children in the summer time, when many of the children would be lazy or bored while teaching new skills like music and dance.
Ø Make and strengthen our relationships with community leaders and teachers in these villages.
Ø Encourage parents in the community to support and become involved in their children’s education.
Ø Show the quality of Thoo Mweh Khee School and Karen education so the people in the communities can compare it with graduates of the Burmese education system.
Ø Support Thoo Mweh Khee students who want to go back to their own villages and work to improve the situation.
Ø Give Thoo Mweh Khee students valuable experience in the community and increase their confidence while learning about the situation in different areas.
Ø Work together to develop Karen State and Karen People build a better future.
Every Little Bit Helps
Just 1 dollar helps provide this program for one child for one month. Who knows what impact this could have in the long run? The best investment we can make in the future is education and we are working to invest in any way we can. All of the money raised will go to support these summer programs. If you don't have money, you are also welcome to join one of groups as we work together to build a better future. We'll keep posting updates, so keep checking in! Watch the video below to hear the passion of the students as they prepare to go.
Organizer
Brandon Newlin
Organizer
Carbondale, MI