Youth Connect Vocational Foundation

Education of young Myanmar migrants living along the border on Thai soil is in a vulnerable state. Largely of Karen, Mon and Shan ethnic minorities, the migrant families flee from their nation’s conflicts and gather at the Thai border town, Mae Sot, to seek employment and education that they could not have in Myanmar. As Myanmar has become more accessible for donors and NGOs, many organisations have abruptly ceased their operations along the border area and resumed activities inside the country instead. The limited availability of learning centres and educational staff have led the migrant students to struggle, if not fail, to finish their education. Therefore, these youth face difficulties developing qualifications for employability and independent living in Thailand as their Thai language, fundamental mathematics and soft skills are lacking. As graduation comes, the youngsters are vulnerable to the low-end employment under the category of dirty, dangerous and demeaning (DDD) jobs.