Keep Ethnic Children Safe from Labor Exploitation

20 Years of Opening Doors to Education

For more than 20 years, APCYF's Preschool Readiness Center has served as a bridge to education for children from migrant worker families in Fang District, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Most of the children enrolled in our center come from families who fled conflict, poverty, and instability in Myanmar in search of safety and work opportunities in Thailand. Many parents now work in the orange orchards and fruit farms that drive the local agricultural economy. While they work hard to support their families, their children often face significant barriers to accessing education.

Many arrive unable to communicate in Thai, unfamiliar with their new environment, and lacking the support needed to successfully enter formal schooling. Without intervention, many of these children would spend their early years accompanying their parents to farms and orchards, with little opportunity to develop the language, social, and learning skills necessary for school.

Our Preschool Readiness Center was established to change that reality.

The center provides a safe and supportive environment where children can learn Thai, develop age-appropriate skills, build confidence, and adapt to life in a new community before entering the formal education system. Most importantly, all services are provided completely free of charge, ensuring that financial hardship never becomes a barrier to learning.

This academic year, the center is serving approximately 122 children, including 43 newly enrolled students who are beginning their educational journey with us.

One of our proudest achievements is the success of the children who graduate from the program. During the previous academic year, approximately 50 children completed their studies at the center, and every one of them successfully transitioned into Thai public schools or other educational institutions. None experienced significant difficulties related to language, development, or social adjustment.

This outcome reflects the core mission of our work: ensuring that migrant children are fully prepared to continue their education and participate confidently in their new communities.

In addition to educational activities, the center provides daily meals to all enrolled children. During a single school semester, we serve more than 12,000 meals, helping ensure that children receive the nutrition necessary for healthy growth, learning, and development.

Today, the impact of the center can be seen not only in the children currently enrolled, but also in the lives of former students. Some of our alumni have returned to the center as volunteer teachers and mentors, supporting the next generation of children who are beginning the same journey they once took themselves.

For us, this is one of the clearest signs of long-term impact. The opportunities provided to one generation are now being passed on to the next.

The center operates entirely through support from civil society organizations, individual donors, and fundraising efforts. We do not charge tuition or receive income from educational fees. Every classroom activity, every meal, and every opportunity provided to our children is made possible through the generosity of supporters who believe that every child deserves access to education.

At present, our greatest challenge is the rising cost of food. While we continue to provide daily meals and maintain our programs, increasing food expenses place additional pressure on our limited resources. Nevertheless, we remain committed to ensuring that no child loses access to education because of poverty or circumstance.

For the children we serve, this center is more than a preschool. It is the first step toward belonging, opportunity, and a brighter future. Thanks to your support, hundreds of children over the past two decades have been able to enter school, build confidence, and pursue opportunities that might otherwise have remained out of reach.

Thank you for helping us keep that door open for the next generation.

Links:

• https://www.facebook.com/APCYF.TH