In Mae Sot, Witness to the Human Cost
A continuing story of one group in Mae Sot who continues to show up and support the growing number of Burmese refugees and migrants who have escaped military oppression back in Myanmar. For safety reasons, they have asked us to remove their name and other identifying details. We at Better Burma fully support their mission and good work, and encourage donors to consider a contribution to help them continue during these difficult times.
“The NGO work thus becomes part of our curriculum. Students learn how to provide assistance most effectively.”
Parallel to the support in the camps, we started distributing emergency aid packages to the Burmese migrants in Mae Sot. We provided the families with materials such as cooking equipment, bedding, and food packages. These were sufficient for one month each. After a few weeks, the migrants usually find work in the fields or at a factory and can thus keep their heads above water.
In addition to physical care, psychological work is vital. The migrants have experienced incredible suffering and are grateful to be able to tell their story. Sometimes, the migrants need treatment in the hospital or require medical care. We have been able to support more than 40 families (approx. 200 people) so far.
At the moment, we are mainly dedicating ourselves to the migrants in the region near our new school grounds. Many live in simple huts without electricity and clean drinking water. Together with our high school students, we visit the families and provide them with the essentials. The NGO work thus becomes part of our curriculum. Students learn how to provide assistance most effectively. The students take an active part in the relief efforts. They collect donations, draw up plans and help the children of the families to integrate.
In addition to the support of the families, we started teaching the children of the migrants. First, in open-air classrooms in the backyard of the migrant houses. The program was so successful that we could not meet the many requests. At that time, the plan developed to set up a migrant school in Mae Sot. Since most migrant children are not allowed to attend Thai school, there is a great demand for educational opportunities.
The adults also need training programs because they are mostly unable to practice their trained profession in Mae Sot. In the Mae Sot Tak region, there are 430 registered factories with about 44,500 employees. 40% of factories produce textile products.
The Thai factories mainly employ Burmese migrants as the salaries for immigrants are comparatively low. However, in order to get a job in the textile industry, the Burmese need basic tailoring skills, which they can acquire in a one-month course. Since we had set up tailoring courses and other workshops in our school in Myanmar we are familiar with such training programs. For the coming year, we plan to set up a vocational training program for young adults. Besides the Tailoring training, we plan to offer bamboo handicraft courses as handmade furniture is in great demand.