March 2025 – Hope vs. Despair – Education as Resistance
Wise Words, Hard Work
A quick story…Last November, we were approved for a USAID grant that would have allowed us to expand the school, get a new school bus, and hire more teachers. As you may know, this program was cancelled, leaving us, and many others, in a difficult situation. So, what to do? Give up and let the dark forces at work in the USA and Myanmar prevail?
In such times, I often turn to the words of Rebecca Solnit:
“Despair demands less of us, it’s more predictable, and in a sad way safer. Authentic hope requires clarity—seeing the troubles in this world—and imagination, seeing what might lie beyond these situations.”
“To hope is to gamble. It’s to bet on your futures, on your desires, on the possibility that an open heart and uncertainty is better than gloom and safety. To hope is dangerous, and yet it is the opposite of fear, for to live is to risk.”
With these words as inspiration, we got to work, and because of your help, we are still open, we have a new school bus, and we have started building new classrooms for our 200+ students.
So, thanks for daring to hope with us, and for making the world a tangibly better place for our students.
Read on to learn more about how the kids are having fun, caring for the planet, cleaning the school, and more.
Children’s Day Festivities
Laughter and smiles abounded as we celebrated Children’s Day. An annual event across Thailand, it’s a day full of shows, games, and presents. Our students were divided into 4 big teams, and shared their talents in sports, singing, and dancing. Thanks to the volunteer parents who helped with serving food and crowd control!
2024-2025 Last Day of School
After a week full of tests and exams, the school year ended on 19 March. The students and teachers spent the day cleaning the school, practicing dance moves, and playing games. One of our supporters volunteered to make a video portrait.
The Wheels on the Bus…
Go round and round, and with almost 200 students, our one bus was making 4 trips each way, leading to delays in the start of school, and kids getting home too late in the afternoon.
We are delighted to announce that the school has a new vehicle!
A big THANK YOU to everyone who helped out. Most parents do not have motorized transport, and we can now ensure all of our students have a safe and timely journey.
Activate Adventure Mode
Over 40 of our students went on a field trip to Jungle Life Camp, a Nature Education Center.
Through hikes, talks, and river exploration, the kids learned about biodiversity, sustainability, and conservation. The teaching centered on English skills, Thai culture, and jungle survival. Students discussed how it felt to be out of their comfort zone, challenge themselves, and support each other to overcome obstacles. For several of the kids, this was the first time they had ventured more than 20 miles from home since coming to Thailand.
New Rooms
Construction Begins
With over 80 new students in the last 2 years, we have run out of space. Classrooms are packed full, and our canteen is used for language lessons. With the generous support of the Jan and Oscar Foundation and the Kerkham Foundation, we have started construction on 3 new classrooms and an assembly and dining hall. With the new space comes the need for new desks, fans, classroom equipment and two more teachers. Please consider helping with these expenses if you can.
