IDP Relief

*** Urgent funding needs: 95,400 THB ***

This programme provides emergency relief when it is desperately needed inside Karen State. Our team travels at short notice to give food, medicine, clothes and stationery for IDP schools to the villagers displaced by fighting. The materials are donated to KYO and we then distribute them. Currently we incur no costs distributing relief in this way so we are not seeking funding for this project.

The team also collects information about human rights abuses and the situation inside Karen State to lobby the international community and provide continuing evidence of the atrocities committed inside Burma. Our KYO IDP Relief team works closely with Free Burma Rangers and Karen district leaders to ensure the security of the mission.

Local Karen assistance provides a vital link between displaced Karen villagers and those seeking refuge in Thailand. Our team not only provides material support but also emotional and psychological support to their community.

Teachers are a valuable resource in the Karen community and KYO tries to raise money to support teachers in IDP areas.

The work that KYO is able to do in Karen State is limited to some small support for teachers and emergency assistance only. We encourage the villagers to stand on their own feet and try to solve their problems by themselves so that they don't become donor reliant.

Since most children inside Karen State cannot get a full education, KYO invites some students to attend a special school on the border so that they can develop their leadership potential, critical thinking and analysis skills. You can find more information about the school here. Some students then go on to study at a higher level, either via distance learning or by attending university overseas. Most however, return to their communities to help their fellow Karen people.

IDP Relief for Education - Urgent Funding Needed

Ler Per Her High School in Ler Per Her IDP Camp close to the Thai-Burma border urgently needs 40,000 THB to repair the school roof before the new school year begins in June 2009. The school has expanded rapidly due to increasing numbers of Karen youths fleeing the SPDC in their area and seeking security in Ler Per Her camp. There are now around 300 students in the school. The camp currently has 150 households and 80 students in the unaccompanied children's dormitory. For the roofing materials only, 40,000 THB is needed. KYO and the villagers will donate all labour and transportation costs free of charge.

Sei Poe Kee IDP Camp Primary School close to the Thai-Burma border urgently needs water piping to extend the drinking water supply to the school, dormitory and villagers. Currently the students, who are under age 10, and villagers have to walk very far and carry drinking water back to their homes every day. The amount needed is 15,000 THB for the pipeline material only. Labour and transportation costs will be donated voluntarily by KYO and the villagers.

Kwee Lay Middle School in Kwee Lay Township, Doothahtu District (Thaton), Karen State, was built in 1962. Now the school is very old and in rainy season the roof leaks so much that the students cannot study in the building, so the community and students would really like to build a new school. They have already collected the wood to build the school but they really need donations for the following:

• Zinc roofing sheets (200 sheets)
• Nails (20 viss)
• Labour (joiner) fees (5 people @ 2000 baht each)
• Elephant hire fees (to carry the supplies)
• Wood sealant/treatment
• Furniture
• Door handle and lock holder

Total amount needed for Kwee Lay Middle School is 40,400 THB.

Total amount needed for all three schools: 95,400 THB. Please contact us if you can help.