Ranong

Ranong is in the Southern part of Thailand and borders Burma. There are an estimated 100,000 migrant workers in Ranong. People from flee Burma in droves because of the political and economic oppression and mismanagement by the military dictatorship. Overall, an estimated 2 million migrant workers in Thailand. Most of them do not have legal documentation, making them extremely vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

Many migrant workers find work in the fishing and sex industry in Ranong. Children are not able to register in Thai schools so they are left to either work or stay at home alone. The Hussman Foundation and other NGOs have thus been working to support migrant education throughout the Thai-Burma border. Currently, there are 12 registered migrant "learning centers" in Ranong (they are not allowed to be called schools and receive no funding from the Thai government). The Hussman Foundation has been supporting 4 schools in Ranong since last year.

Qibo and I were there as external evaluators to assess certain indicators and to help them think through how they can use their data to create better reports and proposals. We traveled most of the time with Sirinate, an experienced non-profit consultant and Somkiert, our Burmese translator.

Monks at a morning market in Ranong accepting food in exchange for blessings.

Sirinate and Qibo in our guesthouse in Ranong.