Many of you will remember our very first blog entry in Mae Sot.  We focused on Kwe Ka Baung school which was situated in stifling quarters right in the town center market area of Mae Sot.   420 students, including 135 boarding school students, were jam-packed into a three-level townhouse complex.  Throughout the year, we brought many visitors to the school so that together we could perhaps find a way to move these students to a new location.  Additionally, we took the children on field trips to give them a break from their concrete  jungle.  Finally, with a number of NGO’s working together in Mae Sot and through the generosity of people around the world, Kwe Baung has moved!

As of June 1st, they began school at a beautiful location in the countryside.   Interestingly, the new site was originally the location of a guesthouse with a number of cabins.  These cabins are now occupied by students and teachers.   The parking stalls at the main guesthouse building are being used as classrooms.  The school has electricity!  The students are climbing trees, playing in the field, sitting in the shade, and enjoying the cool breeze blowing over the land.   Two temporary school buildings have been set up.

One Grade 10 girl who has lived at Kwe Ka Baung for 10 years, told us that she loved the new school property so much.  She especially likes the “silence.”  Honesty, there was so much noise with students talking in classes, that her comment seemed a bit strange.  However, she went on to talk about the classrooms at the old site with no dividers and the students listening to music loudly on their ghetto blasters in such close quarters.  At the new school, there is so much room for everyone. She loves the large playing area as well.

As is to be expected, the new site offers many opportunities for individuals and groups to fund small and large projects and to come and work on specific projects as well.  Here are some interesting facts:

• Presently, there is no drinking water source.  They are negotiating with the surrounding village to put in a pipeline and are also considering digging a deep well.  Until then, they are transporting drinking water to the school from outside sources.  Imagine Thailand will be there to install the new water system when everything is in place.
• They have a huge field that includes a dirtbike track.  In my opinion, since most students don’t own dirt bikes, the field could be more appropriately transformed into a soccer field.
• Students are eating meals without tables and chairs at the present time!
• The cabins could use some renovations!
• Many of the bathrooms in the cabins don’t work.  Students have to leave their cabins at night to use the newly built outhouses.
• There is no fence around the school and so students are taking nightwatch shifts to make sure that everyone and everything is safe.

Sometimes we share the sad stories but we forget to share the conclusion of the stories.  And so we share this exciting story of Kwe Ka Baung with you.  It is a new beginning and Imagine Thailand looks forward to investing more time and money into the development of this flourishing school. Kwe Ka Baung is one of the schools where our life camps will take place in the future.  On a personal note, we are grateful that a number of men from our home church in Canada came together to form a group that is paying the rent for Kwe Ka Baung for one year.  Thanks a lot guys!  I wish all of you could see the new school.  Your donation is totally worth it!

PS.  A video of the new campus is in its production phase!  Stay tuned!