For a long time it has been my burning ambition to visit Thailand to see at first hand the work of the Karen Hilltribes Trust in the remote mountainous area near the Burmese border. By profession I am a teacher and educational economist. I spent ten years working in educational aid programmes in Kenya and Botswana. As a teacher and careers adviser back in the UK, for many years I have encouraged young people (including my three children) to spend time working as volunteers in low income countries. On retirement I set up a voluntary organisation which provides a free information and advice service for young people wanting to volunteer overseas, and through this I came across the Karen Hilltribes Trust. Several young people have worked for the Trust in Thailand at my suggestion, so I have had first-hand accounts of their truly life-changing experiences. I shall write a full account of my own experiences for those who kindly sponsor me!
During the last four years the generous support of many of my friends has enabled the children of a remote village with no school to begin their primary education. With your generosity through sponsorship of the trek I hope we can take this further, and that the money raised will allow many more Karen children to begin their secondary education.
