I was so excited to discover that my favorite NGO, Burmese-run GHRE (recently renamed Foundation for Education and Development) is listed on Global Giving’s site. Well, to be clear, one of their initiatives — helping send elementary-aged children of migrant workers to attend school (GHRE-run “learning centers” in Southern Thailand) to prepare them for integration into Thai schools — is being promoted. This is really important because these kids otherwise have to go with their parents to help work on the rubber plantations or construction sites; and a lot of kids who attend learning centers still have to work after age 12, so it’s really crucial that they receive at least this limited education. PLEASE DONATE! Please please please!
I was there in 2006 and again in 2007, and visited many of the learning centers. They are really invaluable for these kids, especially for many orphans or children whose parents have been suddenly deported to Burma. Also, the lunches they provide (home cooked!) are awesome. The kids learn English, Thai, Burmese, Math, Health, and Buddhism in some cases. See DD’s photogallery to get a better sense of how amazing the schools and the children are, or my photos from my first GHRE visit. Note that most learning centers are thatched-roof, wall-less structures with donated desks and chairs, and they are usually somewhat hidden near rubber plantations so that the authorities won’t give them a hard time for helping the children of (often undocumented) Burmese migrants. I can’t urge you enough to support them! Make it a Christmas gift for someone!
UPDATE:
As per an email from the org director H.T., there is a deadline (12/23) and a fundraising goal ($4000), so act now!
FED-GHRE has been accepted to participate in the Global Giving
Challenge that runs from November 24th – December 23rd 2009. GHRE
needs to raise $4000 through at least 50 separate donors to gain a
permanent place on the Global Giving Website so we can gain further
support in all our worthwhile projects! Check out our website for more
information: www.ghre.org
Many donors are now pulling out of Phang Nga and Thailand as a whole
as Tsunami funds all but dry up and the Global Economic Crisis
persists. This has resulted in decreased funds for GHRE, putting
pressure on the sustainability of our projects. However, the problem
of access to education still remains for marginalized Burmese migrant
children in Southern Thailand so we must find a way to continue to
support their development, fulfill their Right to Education and
empower them to break the cycle of poverty in the future.
Please help us by following this link and donating a minimum of $10 /
to our education project in the Khuk khak area that currently supports
265 students.
Oh, The Onion, you’re so funny.
How To Find A Masculine Halloween Costume For Your Effeminate Son
*by DD, as part of our Living Room Studio series (upcoming on studiocrux.com)
Shameless plug: my friend J. recently put up a site of some of his photos, largely nature stuff. Check it out.
