A support request was sent to PCF on April 1, 2022, and the project was immediately marked as urgent, the aim being to complete construction before the start of the monsoon rains. Approval was received on April 8, 2022, and FWB notified the school immediately so that preparations could begin. Surveying began shortly after so that the correct quantity of cement could be ascertained and procured from Thailand. Meanwhile, wood was ordered and collected locally, and school students and their parents contributed by carrying stone and sand from a nearby creek. After that, the old bridge was demolished, and the construction of the bridge pillars began.

On May 4, PCF and FWB signed a Memorandum of Understanding together and financial support totalling 60,000 baht was transferred to a teacher representative at Mae La Ah Khee School. Following receipt of funds, two large trees were felled to serve as the base of the bridge. 

Due to the density of the forest, it took two days for the timber to be transported to the building site with the assistance of an elephant. By May 15, the entire bridge was complete, leaving only the roof to be finished. Three days later, with the cooperation of the school and local community, the bridge was completed and was immediately put to use.

Friends Without Borders (FWB) Foundation was established in 1999 and registered as a non-profit organisation in 2008. FWB works primarily with refugees and displaced children living in conflict-affected areas in and around refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border. Since October 2018, FWB has been running the ‘SchoolPower’ project in cooperation with the local Karen Education Department (KED). This project aims to strengthen the quality of life and well-being of Karen children living in nine communities within the targeted areas and to be a model for similar efforts.

FWB was notified by teacher representatives about the damaged bridge connecting Mae La Ah Khee school to the wider community. The year before, floodwaters damaged a large section of the bridge, causing some parts to break off and float downstream. These were tied back into place with chains and slings but this could only be a temporary solution.  As such, further follow-up meetings were held after training to draw up specifications for the new bridge and to list material requirements. It was concluded that the new bridge should be larger than the older bridge to allow safe passage for cars and also that it should have a roof to shield it from environmental damage. The school and the rest of the local community planned to commit themselves to bridge building during their summer break.