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Summary
Established in 2005, BNSCLC provides secondary education, vocational training, and community development programmes to underprivileged migrant and minority secondary
school-aged youth. The selection process for these students is not solely based on their academic skills but also on their motivation to contribute to their communities. An essential aspect of the programme is to promote better relationships and understanding with the surrounding Thai community by organising and hosting cultural and sporting events.
The students at BNSCLC are Burmese migrants and ethnic minorities living near the ThaiMyanmar border in Thailand's Mae Hong Son province. Most of these youths do not possess legal documentation allowing them to attend Thai public schools, thereby limiting their educational opportunities. Additionally, there are no educational facilities or schools near their hometowns.
Teacher salaries at BNSCLC are found to be insufficient, as teachers are remunerated for just ten months of the year and have trouble meeting their basic living expenses.
As a result, supplementary funds have recently been introduced with the aim of improving their financial well-being and boosting morale by recognising twelve months of their hard work.
PCF also supports the BNSCLC by providing food and medicine to the most underprivileged students, who would otherwise be unable to participate in the programme.
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Background
BNSCLC offers secondary school-aged Burmese migrants, ethnic minorities, and underserved rural communities in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand, the opportunity to enrol in non-formal, secondary-level education.
With support from the Mae Hong Son Non Formal Education Department, the programme provides high-quality instruction in Thai, English, Burmese, Karenni, vocational skills, and community development.
Graduates, depending on their starting level, complete the programme in two or three years and receive a secondary school certificate, enabling them to pursue further education at university. The centre fosters a supportive environment, promoting skills development and improving prospects for employment and higher education. Before enrolling at BNSCLC, many students faced significant educational barriers due to financial, geographical, and political challenges, often relying on informal or self-directed learning methods.
For underserved youth, these obstacles extended beyond education, affecting their access to nutritious food and healthcare. Joining BNSCLC marks a significant turning point. In addition to tailored education, students receive nutritious meals and improved healthcare services, which greatly enhance their physical well-being and concentration, paving the way for academic success. Within the centre, students find a supportive community that contrasts sharply with their previous experiences of vulnerability.
By prioritising nourishment and well-being, the centre ensures uninterrupted focus, thereby enhancing the learning environment and fostering a culture of hope.
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Goals and Results
Having educated 18 different groups of underprivileged students since its inception, the students now receive full educational support and valuable mentorship from former graduates, fortifying BNSCLC's role as both a stepping stone to brighter opportunities and a mechanism to break the cycle of poverty.
Initially established to address the challenges posed by COVID-19 and political instability, the centre also runs an online curriculum which is an essential resource for learners who are confined to their homes in Myanmar, enabling them to pursue their dreams despite overwhelming challenges.
The BNSCLC curriculum encourages global engagement while preserving cultural roots. Spanning two years, the programme includes subjects such as Community Development, IT, Basic Thai Language, and Karen Language. BNSCLC equips students with indispensable digital and linguistic skills, aligning with Thailand's Non-Formal and Informal Education (NFE) initiative and the educational guidelines of the Karen ethnic group. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for the harsh realities they often confront, placing a strong emphasis on community relations and social unity. BNSCLC also partners with diverse organisations for comprehensive training and development. As future community leaders, students are guided to focus on realistic goals to build confidence in their ability to effect positive change.
When these young minds complete their educational journey at BNSCLC, the impact extends beyond mere academic achievements; they take with them a wealth of knowledge and skills that brighten the way for whole communities. These learners return to their native regions as catalysts for change, prepared to help others as they themselves received help. They are not just students; they are future leaders, mentors, and most importantly, beacons of hope for people who may no longer dare to hope for more. Their transformation is a testament to the extraordinary difference that BNSCLC can make.
This is about transforming aspirations into tangible outcomes and initiating changes that will resonate for years to come; creating promising futures for these exceptional young people and the communities to which they belong.
These learners don't just dream of a better future; at BNSCLC, they're given the tools to build it.
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Sponsors
Bill Mapstone | 80.112.5 THB (1.919,91 GBP)
Des Wood | 80.112.5 THB (1.919,91 GBP)
John Wright | 80.112.5 THB (1.919,91 GBP)
Phil Burgan | 80.112.5 THB (1.919,91 GBP)
