The Brackett Refugee Education Fund
enote 42 February 11, 2008
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Pi Lok Ki and Paw Ker Htoo:
As we returned from India, Judy Noyes joined us in Bangkok to
help with students there, and more especially with students and projects in
Kanchanaburi province. Dianne who had traveled
with us to document our work in India, stayed an extra week to cover our
trip with Judy. She is shown here recording a view of the boat launch before
our departure to Pi Lok Ki and Paw Ker Htoo. She has now made a video of our
work, which I intend to show on some talks when we return.
An important part of our project work, is support of the schools at Pi Lok
Ki and Paw Ker Htoo. We have been paying teachers in both of these schools
in an attempt to give primary education to the children who otherwise might
have none. We were very pleased to see that Daw Cha Daw, the Thai Border
Police which provides many services to the border communities, has come this
year to teach at Pi Lok Ki, and have started construction of a new school
building there.
Although Paw Ker Htoo, a school we started two years ago, is close to Pi Lok
Ki, and apparently just as remote, it does not lie within the Thai border
district and thus could not be served by Daw Cha Daw. But the school there
is prospering with teachers of Thai, English and Karen, and lots of
community support. The village leader has taken a great interest in the
school, and helped with a new school building. He is also in conversations
with the Thai education department about them assuming control of the school
in the future.
We are delighted to cooperate with the Thai in this situation. If we can
enlist the aid of the Thai people in helping us with the education of these
children, many of them refugees, we can move on to other areas.
Hod and the Nai Soi CLC:
On February 5 we
drove south of Chiang Main to the Thai town of Hod, where we support a
boarding house for Karen children. A few years ago Eh Hser, the director,
received a grant to rebuild her boarding house, and since then has a great
new building to house her 30 children.
It is very dry in Hod, and water for irrigation as well as the usual needs
has been her major concern for several years. She finally was able to have a
well dug, but still needs a large water storage tank to complete her water
system. Although we normally do not supply such items of permanent
equipment, we have decided to support that request. The picture on the left
shows children in the truck preparing to go to town to be treated by a
restaurant meal.
Now we have just returned from a trip to the Nai Soi Child’s Learning
Center. This school was started by Kyaw Hla Sein several years ago, as a
vocational school covering the high school years for those who had no access
to Thai education. Kyaw Hla Sein is an enthusiastic man who is able to
engage diverse people in his vision of a special school. He now has three
volunteer English teachers; he has attracted Gaw Sa Naw, Thai non-formal
high school teachers to his school; and is working on a major building
program funded by Linked Hands for Humanity, a non-governmental
organization. The picture on the right shows the
Brackett
party having lunch with the English teachers, including Emmett Kearney shown
third from the top on the right.
Unfortunately Kyaw Hla Sein had a severe accident about one and a half years
ago. He was buried in a landslide while riding his motorcycle near Nai Soi,
and was left disabled mentally and physically. He has now recovered
somewhat, but his wife a daughter were forced to take over the management
and daily operation of the school. Now he is able to comment with humor
about, God’s move for gender equity. The picture on the left shows Kyaw Hla
Sein with his daughter Rosy, as they were discussing plans for the future of
he school.
Activities:
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Jan. 22: Returned from India to Thailand.
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Jan. 23: Met Judy Noyes and discussed plans for trip to Pi Lok Ki and Paw Ker Htoo.
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Jan. 24: Interviewed Monks, and held first Alumni Group meeting.
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Jan. 25 to Jan. 29: Visited Kanchanaburi, Pi Lok Ki, Paw Ker Htoo, Thong Pha Phum and Sangklaburi. Interviewed new and continuing students. Met with Paw Lulu and Nan Doe
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Jan. 30 to Feb. 01: Met with ABAC, Rangsit and other students.
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Feb. 02: Traveled to Chiang Mai. Begun sorting and classifying new applications.
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Feb. 03 to Feb. 04: Met with Hoppy, Judy Winfield and Judy Noyes. Discussed interviews and interviewed applicants.
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Feb. 05: Visited the boarding house at Hod. Decided to support purchase of a large water storage tank, and recognized Eh Hser needed some child care support.
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Feb. 06 to Feb. 08: Visited Mae Hong Son. Discussed continuation of the Karenni Teachers Project with Karenni leaders. Visited the Nai Soi CLC.
We hope this note finds you all happy and healthy. Please write us with any questions or comments. We will be happy to respond.
Cordially,
Tom Brackett