WildFlower Land Education Working Group

Problem StatementPresently, the most demanding problems for the children in Thailand are associated with a lack of education. Since nearly all of the Burmese migrant workers are 'illegal,' their children are unable to attend Thai schools; and even if they were afforded access to these schools, most would be unable to secure the necessary costs for tuition and transport. They therefore must endure the extremely demanding environment of their exiled villages, usually being sent to work at incredibly young ages. When at home, many children live amongst unhygienic living conditions which invariably lead to disease and accidents, mainly due to the lack of education and knowledge of basic personal safety, and family planning. As of January 2000, there are only two schools in the entire area surrounding Mae Sot(8), where most agricultural workers live and work. In Mae Sot, there is one school in operation, for the estimated 15,000 children. The number of potential students has reached such an alarming level that there is now an immediate, dire need for support of more schools in this area. The consequences of hundreds, possibly thousands of Burmese children in Thailand alone unable to have access to a fundamental education, is frightening. Past ProjectsSince October 1999 - when the Wildflower Land Art Collection Group was conceived - several working members have taken iniative and began teaching independently in Mae Sot. While the international volunteers focus on teaching English and sharing cross-cultural ideas, the Burmese working members have been holding basic computer training courses, music lessons, and teachings on human rights and democracy. Together, they have provided a forum for open communication on such topics as art, literature, dance, philosophy, religion, and globalization. Moreover, without any external support, many classes have grown and interest has mounted. Proposed ProjectThe Education Working Group proposes one primary school initially, to provide decent education for the 70 potential students in the Djai Di Ko village, a village in the Tak Province, some 25 km from Mae Sot. The children range from the ages of 3 to 12. This school will be overseen by Ma Tin Tin Myane, the village head-woman, in coordination with Min Zaw, a Burmese student and coordinator of the Wildflower Land Support Group. They will employ several Burmese women from the village as teachers - all whom have graduated Burmese Universities with their education degrees. In addition, a foreign, English-speaking volunteer will be petitioned, in order to provide basic training in the English language. This school will be built and established in Djai Di Ko with a projected starting date of 1 May 2000. At this time, students will be enrolled, divided into classes, and provided education materials such as books, notebooks, pens, pencils and chalkboards. The school will be equipped with a blackboard, and the necessary teachers' provisions such as textbooks, gradebooks, and chalk. The school also intends to feed the students a lunchtime meal. Future ProjectsBeginning with the one school in Djai Di Ko, the Education Working Group will work to establish a base support for a more extensive education network in the Mae Sot area. There have been numerous, repeated requests for schools for Burmese children in Mae Sot, as well in surrounding villages, and therefore, the group will actively search out safe and reliable places for new schools, as well as gathering financial and teaching assistance. In this process, the group will concentrate on coordination efforts with other Burmese organizations and international NGO's in providing the best services available for the education of Burmese youth.(9) Also, the Education Working Group hopes to launch a modest international donation drive, where people can send learning materials, art supplies, pens and the like to the Wildflower Land office, and upon collection, all materials will be sent inside Burma for internally displaced persons and other children in need. This will be an ongoing effort, as there are countless children with no access to basic learning materials both inside Burma and in the Thai-Burma border area. Aims: To provide the children of Burmese migrant workers living in the Mae Sot area (Tak Province) with access to a decent education, as well as supporting Burmese children inside Burma with basic learning materials.
Provide classes in Burmese language, English language, and Thai language
Begin a careful review of Burmese history, with emphasis on the diverse ethnic makeup of the Burmese people (e.g. their culture, languages, religions, traditions)
Offer courses in Mathematics
Encourage athletic participation and art training
Instruction on personal safety precautions as well as introduce students to basic family planning
To promote youth involvement in local culture and traditions, and to assist in the implementation of community awareness programs
To facilitate students wishing to continue their studies after completion of their primary education
To distribute basic learning materials to Burmese youth living inside Burma.