Project brought to life! Refurbishment of classrooms at the Burmese children’s school in Phuket
In Phuket, Thailand, the refurbishment of classrooms at Good Shepherd School has improved learning conditions for Burmese migrant children. At Children of the Mekong, we wholeheartedly thank you for your generosity!
Why is it necessary to support Burmese schoolchildren?
The number of Burmese migrant children in Phuket has been increasing significantly for several decades. With the resumption of armed conflict in Myanmar in 2021, the number of refugees in the country and on the island is now growing exponentially. Refugee children normally have no access to education or healthcare. During the day, parents have no choice but to leave them to fend for themselves while they go to work (fishing port, construction sites). This leaves them highly vulnerable to all forms of exploitation: sexual, labour or any other form of trafficking.
How have children been supported and what was Children of the Mekong’s response?
In 2013, a nun built the Good Shepherd Phuket Town school to welcome Burmese children and give them access to education. Originally designed to accommodate a maximum of 220 children, today more than 400 children are enrolled at the school. The premises have become far too cramped over the years: the conditions no longer allow for dignified access to education.
So in 2023, with the help of Children of the Mekong, Sister Lakana launched a construction project to expand the school: four new classrooms and a covered playground that could also be used as a dining hall and accommodate the influx of new students.
In September 2024, the school extension is officially completed. The new spaces are almost ready to be occupied. However, one essential thing is still missing before the final fit-out: the school furniture needed to teach classes (desks, benches and chairs).
CLASSROOM LAYOUT
Following the construction of four new classrooms, it was necessary to furnish them in order to accommodate the growing number of students in the best possible conditions. We therefore purchased new furniture: tables, chairs and benches. The furniture arrived one month after it was ordered, at the end of August 2024. This enabled the students to study in a completely new environment and continue their learning.
In addition, the rest of the budget contributed in part to the purchase of a new desktop computer for a teacher. She provides specific training to the centre’s students, who can acquire skills in hairdressing, cooking and baking, floral decoration and hygiene product manufacturing. This computer equipment will make her working conditions easier!
The main goals of the project
- The school is the only one in Phuket Town that welcomes children from Burmese migrant families.
- The four new classrooms enable 140 Burmese children to attend school in better conditions and improve teaching conditions for everyone (teachers and pupils).
- This project complements the work of Children of the Mekong, which has been supporting Good Shepherd School with sponsorships since 2011 and collaborates with its highly committed leaders. This collaboration gives young Burmese children dignified access to education and a chance to integrate into Thai society.
Who benefits from the project?
Today, the school also has the capacity to accommodate approximately 76 pupils at primary level and approximately 110 pupils in preparatory classes, i.e. 186 pupils divided into groups in dedicated classrooms.
It’s better for the pupils because we can accommodate more of them than before thanks to the construction of new classrooms. The physical conditions are better with the new furniture. This provides a more comfortable environment that is conducive to learning!
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