The Good Shepherd Phuket Learning Centre requires urgent funding
The fate of the Good Shepherd Learning Centre Phuket is a matter of concern. The Centre has an urgent need to obtain sustainable funds to continue operations as its initial period of regular, committed funding will cease in May 2018.
At The Good Shepherd Learning Centre they provide basic education i.e. science, mathematics and language skills in Thai, Burmese and English to the children of Burmese migrant workers in Phuket, Thailand. They provide the education in a safe and happy environment, educate them on their rights as children and migrants, and help them integrate into the Thai school system or to be able to integrate into the Burmese public school system for those who return to their country of origin.
Above is only one of many situations the migrants are facing here in Phuket and Thailand. More than 60,000 foreign migrants (mostly Burmese) are currently living and working in Phuket, in very poor conditions. Because they are undocumented, they are marginalised, have unstable jobs and lack healthcare services.
“The children look forward to coming to the centre every day because it is a safe place for them to play, learn and be fed a warm meal. Every day they cook 17 kg of rice. It costs USD$12,225 (385,000 baht) a month to operate the centre, which includes staff salaries,” Sister Lakana explained as she lamented on the hopeless situation and living conditions faced by these families.
You can get involved and help the service continue this valuable education to the students. Your donation can make a great impact. Here is an indication of some of the costs:
- Educational supplies to one child for one year at a cost of USD$ 18.50 (600 baht) per year.
- 2 uniforms per child USD$ 12,50 (400 baht) each per year.
- Lunch for one child on a daily basis, five days a week, USD$321 (10,102 baht) per year.
- Health checks and medical attention for all the children monthly cost of USD$365 (11,500 baht).
- Transportation monthly cost USD$305 (9600 baht), per year USD$3,660 (115,000 baht).
The school would be grateful for any generosity or donations that could help with covering some of these costs.
In the four years since opening the new Good Shepherd Learning Centre, 668 children have been welcomed to the centre, and Sister Lakana has helped to get over 50 children into Thai schools. It is a path, she believes, that will give them a future. And for those who have ambition and have studied the Burmese curriculum, she would try to send them to boarding school in Myanmar.
“Sometimes I feel I don’t do enough for the children. I wish I have 10 hands to help take them all the way to success. I would like a chance to retrain young adults like Su who couldn’t go to Thai school or have studied the Burmese curriculum, to pursue a dream.”
Marso, 9 years old:
“I’m coming to school here because I want to be a nurse when I grow up. I want to help my parents with money that I earned so we will not be hungry anymore. My family will be proud of me. My father is sick, and my mother sometimes she’ll find vegetables to sell, but today, Sunday, she couldn’t, we didn’t eat today.”
Your support will enable the Learning Centre to continue to reach out to this vulnerable community so they can empower themselves and potentially break the cycle of poverty.
Contact Details:
Sister Lakana Sukhsuchit, Director, Good Shepherd Sisters Thailand . Contact Sister Lakana by emailing lakanargs@gmail.com
