EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR EDUCATION PROGRAM The Foundation for Education and Development is currently unable to cover expenses for its education program from January – May 2012. FED greatly appreciates contributions of any amount to assist us in covering the current education deficit of 1,142,000.00 baht ($37,295.436) ABOUT US FED is a Burmeseled NGO which focuses primarily on education projects for Burmese migrant children who are unable to access the Thai education system. Since 2005 FED has opened 8 migrant learning centers, 2 nurseries and a youth outreach center for the most motivated students graduating from our learning centers. Currently we have 36 teachers of both Burmese and Thai origin. These teachers provide a comprehensive education to over 500 Burmese children who would otherwise be illiterate and working as child laborers. To date FED has also integrated over 100 Burmese children into local Thai schools. As well as its education program, FED also runs 3 other main programs which focus on healthcare, women’s empowerment and education (WEDA), and migrant development (child protection, emergency assistance and shelter, labor and human rights abuse documentation, legal aid, and peace building). FED also organizes community events for Burmese migrants and local Thais to facilitate Thai and Burmese integration. Currently, around 8,000 Burmese migrants directly benefit from FED’s projects.
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EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR EDUCATION PROGRAM
The Foundation for Education and Development is currently unable to cover expenses for its education program from January – May 2012. FED greatly appreciates
contributions of any amount to assist us in covering the current education deficit of 1,142,000.00 baht ($37,295.436)
ABOUT US FED is a Burmese-‐led NGO which focuses primarily on education projects for Burmese migrant children who are unable to access the Thai education system. Since 2005 FED has opened 8 migrant learning centers, 2 nurseries and a youth outreach center for the most motivated students graduating from our learning centers. Currently we have 36 teachers of both Burmese and Thai origin. These teachers provide a comprehensive education to over 500 Burmese children who would otherwise be illiterate and working as child laborers. To date FED has also integrated over 100 Burmese children into local Thai schools. As well as its education program, FED also runs 3 other main programs which focus on healthcare, women’s empowerment and education (WEDA), and migrant development (child protection, emergency assistance and shelter, labor and human rights abuse documentation, legal aid, and peace building). FED also organizes community events for Burmese migrants and local Thais to facilitate Thai and Burmese integration. Currently, around 8,000 Burmese migrants directly benefit from FED’s projects.
THE ISSUE FED began the 2011 – 2012 school year with a major deficit in its education budget. Only 20% of the proposed budget was secured with funding commitments. At the moment FED is currently short on funds to cover the expenses for 4 learning centers from January to May 2012. The difficulties to secure the proposed budget range from currency depreciation to funding trends. In 2010 FED’s budget suffered from a significant depreciation of the Euro and USD to the Thai Baht in the second half of 2010. The Euro dropped over 10% to the Thai Baht and the USD dropped just under 10%. On the depreciation of the Euro and the dollar alone, the net impact in 2010 was a loss of 900,000 Baht (approx. 30,000 USD). To stress the impact of this loss, the cost is equivalent to the annual salaries (at 2010 levels) of 15 of FED’s Burmese school teachers. Furthermore, the funding for FED’s education project from one of our major donors ended in December 2010 leaving FED with no way to continue running the learning centers for the rest of the school year except to use emergency funds that had been accumulated through the accruement of school fees and contributions from parents since 2005. In addition, with the end of tsunami relief funds acquiring funding for development projects in this area has become increasingly difficult. Although FED established itself in the area immediately after the tsunami we do not consider ourselves a tsunami relief organisation, but rather a migrant development organisation. However, despite this distinction donors are reluctant to allocate funds to this area, preferring to direct their attention towards other areas and priorities. For example, many donors interested in Burmese causes have gained interest in providing assistance inside Burma rather than helping migrants living in border areas. At FED we applaud the move to work inside Burma, but it is imperative that the funding assistance for Burmese organizations in Thailand continues. Since there has been no significant change under the new government, the flow of migrant workers into Thailand remains the same as before. The ongoing fighting along the border is also one of the factors that contributes to increasing numbers of migrant workers moving into Thailand. As was previously mentioned, due to these many issues FED is currently unable to cover expenses for its education program from January – May 2012. FED greatly appreciates contributions of any amount to assist us in covering the current education deficit of 1,142,000.00 baht ($37,295.436). Any contributions over 1,000 USD will be acknowledged in FED’s annual report. To donate please visit http://www.ghre.org. Inquiries about donations can be made to [email protected]. On behalf of all the children, parents, staff and Board of Directors at FED, thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, U Htoo Chit Executive Director Foundation for Education and Development
