Education for Marginalised Ethnic Groups

Far into the Northwest Far into the Northwest corner of Thailand, in the hills surrounding Fang and into Burma, Ben Bowler and colleagues at the Blood Foundation are committed to providing education for the people of Shan State in Burma, those in displaced people camps from the civil war, and marginalised minority hill tribes on both sides of the border. With the support of revenue from their Monk for a Month programme at the Sri Boonruang Temple, they support literacy, primary education and community development initiatives marginalised ethnic groups on both sides of the border. In the photos, traditional weaving is taught to a new generation and a night-time Thai literacy programme is conducted for undocumented Shan migrant workers. They attend after a full day of work in orange groves to learn a language that will enable them to deal with health, safety and legal challenges in their daily lives. Across the border a network of schools set up in Buddhist temples compensates for a defunct Burmese education system. Read further blogpost on "Wandering Dhamma".

Hans H. Wahl, Sr. Associate Director