Literacy Education for Thai Minority Community

Education is Key

DEPDC’s Community Learning Centre (CLC) was created in 2005 to provide human rights education, as well as computer, literacy, and life skills training in Thai and English for undocumented migrants, refugees, and ethnic minorities living in Mae Sai. The centre is open to community members who are at-risk of being trafficked into the commercial sex industry and who may not have the means to afford outside tutors. However, due to a shortage of both monetary support and human resources, CLC is currently limited to offering English language and life skills classes led by our passionate team of international volunteers.

Following the departure of the participants of Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Youth Expedition Project in March, another set of volunteers stepped in to facilitate classes for CLC students. Two nights a week, CLC convenes in one of the second floor classrooms of the Patak Half Day School. While the rest of the building shuts down at night - this particular classroom bustles with energy. The volunteers design interactive lessons to teach a range of grammar and vocabulary topics, while encouraging collaboration among the students and providing one-on-one support when needed. The significance of holding these nightly classes cannot be emphasized enough. They offer students, who are typically at work during the day, a feasible alternative to receive an education.

Beginning in August, six recent graduates of the Shan Youth Safety Training to End Risky Migration (SYSTERM) chose to continue their studies at DEPDC to partake in a life skills training program similar to that offered by CLC. In their daily classes, they learn a variety of topics that reinforce their existing knowledge and craft them into more well-rounded individuals. They hope to return home and share their experiences with goal of educating and inspiring their fellow youth.

Support CLC

CLC is still looking to recruit volunteers to teach English language and life skills classes! If you are interested in applying for a volunteer position, please visit our website for more information. As always, thank you for your continuous support of our mission!

What is the Community Learning Center (CLC)?

The Community Learning Centre (CLC), under direction of DEPDC/GMS, strives to provide human rights education and literacy training in Thai, Burmese, and English for undocumented migrants, refugees, ethnic minorities, and other community members living along the Thai-Burmese border.

The CLC officially opened its doors in February 2005 and has been operating ever since, alternating teachers between current DEPDC staff members, community tutors, and volunteers. Due to a shortage in both monetary support and human resources, the CLC currently has one teacher, Kru Mai, a devoted former daughter of DEPDC/GMS and MYN member who speaks Kachin, Burmese, English, and Thai.

The center is open to young people who are at-risk of being sold into the commercial sex industry as well as to their parents and other adult community members. Many of the current CLC students belong to ethnic minority groups from Thailand or Myanmar and/or hilltribes located in the Greater Mekong Subregion. The remaining students come from local Thai government schools and are unable to afford tutors in the English or Burmese language, the CLC’s two primary classes at this time.

Volunteers from Singapore

The Community Learning Center was excited to welcome volunteers during the month of March. Students from Singapore participating in Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Youth Expedition Project (YEP) volunteered at DEPDC/GMS’s Coordination Centre in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai, Thailand.

These 27 students and 3 professors spent the last 2 weeks renovating the Patak Half Day School, where the Community Learning Center (CLC) holds classes. Volunteers also assisted with teaching English and leading team and character building exercises. CLC students who would normally be in school during the day were now able to participate in these activities with the Half Day School and SYSTERM students as schools were closed for summer break which lasts from March until the middle of May.

In the evenings, YEP volunteers helped Kru Mai teach the Community Learning Center English classes and provided one-on-one support to students as needed. This was particularly helpful for about 5 older students who have acquired higher levels of English speaking and/or writing skills. With only one teacher and many students, Kru Mai is typically faced with the challenge of teaching to many various levels each evening.

Support the CLC

We are still very much interested in receiving donations for study materials and a teacher stipend during this time of need. If donors would prefer donating study books, we currently use the third edition of “Let’s Go” (Cross, Nakata, Frazier, and Hoskins). Let’s get started, level 1, 2, and 3 are used by the largest number of students with several using levels 4 and 5 as well.

Additionally, The CLC is looking for volunteers to help teach English speaking and literacy skills to migrant children and their families. To apply, please find the application on our webpage under “Opportunities in Mae Sai”. Burmese and English literacy skills provide never been had opportunities to families at-risk of exploitation. Reading and writing are crucial skills that fall into the category of “education for prevention” of human trafficking and forced-labor situations commonly found in the sex and fishing industry. Join the cause and spread the word that “Education is the Key”!

Thank You!

Thank you for taking the time to read our update about the Community Learning Center. We appreciate your time and support beyond what words can express! I want to sincerely thank you on behalf of all DEPDC/GMS staff members, volunteers, community learners, and especially our children who benefit from the thoughtfulness of people like you!