An incredible 75% of Karen children never go to secondary school because they live too far away and there is nowhere to stay. Some children are lucky enough to find a place in a dormitory.

These dormitories are often poorly constructed and underfunded with little money for food, mosquito nets, or clothes. The teachers are responsible for looking after the children. The Karen Hilltribes Trust has built a dormitory for 80 children which is fully funded through specific sponsorship.

The children learn life skills such as working with animals, weaving and cooking. Through support from BCTFN in Bangkok and the Besom Foundation in the UK as well as David Williams, KHT has been able to repair some buildings and rebuild others. The costs vary dramatically according to the work required.

At present we plan to continue and strengthen our support for Karen school students at 8 schools and dormitories in northwest Thailand. Our ultimate aim is to give the younger generation of Karen the opportunity to complete their education and provide a better future for themselves and their communities. In subsequent years we plan to expand our programme to include Karen school students at dormitories across the Mae Hong Son province.