KNOWLEDGE ZONE

Vocational Training Centre

Proposal for Fund Raising

The following proposal is being submitted by Knowledge Zone Vocational Training Centre in an effort to secure the further funding for its educational support to the poor and marginalized Burmese migrants in Mae sot, Thailand. The proposal includes a brief history and documents of our goals and objectives, future plan, and the estimated cost of financing the school activities for the period of 12 months. We have been running the Knowledge Zone Vocational Training Center for two years since July 10th 2008.

Presented by Knowledge Zone Vocational Training Centre School Address:6/2, Ratchakarnratm, Mae Sot, Tak 63110, Thailand Contact Phone Number: 055542131, 0845960273,0894381347 Email Address: yemanphyoe@gmail.com,knowledgezone2010@gmail.com

Brief History of Knowledge Zone Knowledge Zone Vocational Training Centre (Knowledge Zone) was founded in July 2008, by 6 teachers who want to promote better and sustainable education for the povertystricken Burmese migrant workers in Mae Sot. The initial funding was secured through All Burma Monks Alliance (ABMA), and later supported with significant funding of World Education from April 2009 to July 2010. Knowledge Zone thrives to promote and provide education to all, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, racial, gender, political or social background. Knowledge Zone has been officially registered under MOE (Thai Ministry of Education) and it is now providing Computer Classes, Spoken English, English Grammar, Thai Language, Burmese Language, and English for Kids. There are now altogether 7 teachers and 1 office staff in Knowledge Zone. Knowledge Zone was established in order to assist the Burmese migrant community and Burmese political exiles in and around Mae Sot area. In the beginning, it was run as a free education center for all students until February 2009. This was changed as of March 2009 with commencing of student fees system whereby each student pays 200 Baths for each of the three-month courses. We believe that symbolic fee system will promote sustainability of the program as well as ensure commitment of the students. In the case that individual student is found to be extremely poor, he or she is exempt from fee payment. Background Information For decades, people are fleeing from Burma to Thailand because of political, religious, military and racial oppressions committed by State Peace and Development Council of Burma, on top of hundreds of thousands who migrate to Thailand in hope of finding better jobs. According to the statistics of NGOs of Thailand, there are about 2.5 million of Burmese legal and illegal migrants and political exiles who are living in a harsh, exploitative, stressful and terrible living condition for the day-to-day job basis. Those who are less fortunate and do not posses Thai legal documents are subject to daily arrests, maltreatments and deportation to Burma. Even though there is a number of nursery and primary migrant schools for the Burmese migrant children in Mae Sot, there are only few adult learning centers providing education opportunities to the young adult and adult Burmese migrants. Because of the lack of adult education centers in Mae Sot, those migrants and urban refugees who brave to try attending classes in education centers distant from their area are facing difficulties such as fear of arrest, distance, and transportation problems. While other refugees who live in the refugee camps near Mae Sot area can access free education supported by the CBOs and NGOs in the three refugee camps on the border migrant workers, their children and the Burmese urban refugees, especially the adult persons, have a slim chance for such education in Mae Sot.

Objectives There are many CBOs and NGOs supporting and running the different types of projects for the Burmese refugees. Burmese migrants should have opportunity and chance to work with such CBOs and NGOs, and should be able to participate in the projects for the Burmese refugees and migrants, instead of working in the factories under exploiting working conditions. To be eligible for the better job opportunities in Mae Sot, Burmese migrants need sufficient qualification and educational background. Knowledge Zone has been established as an education center with these following eight objectives, since we believe and consider education as a way to the better community and the better future for the society. 1. To support the basic educational needs for the Burmese migrants in Mae Sot 2. To provide the continuous education for the young adults 3. To promote their professional development, especially in the area of computer and language skills 4. To create a better surroundings for and empowered Burmese community regardless of their ethnic, religion, racial, gender, political background and social background 5. To support the capacity-building and skills for the forbidden Burmese Urban Refugees 6. To be able to create access to Education for the poorest and the most vulnerable Burmese migrant workers in Mae Sot 7. To be able to support with the pre-academic education for those students who want to have access to further international college education 8. To open the free education centre in Burma.

Current Activities

We are currently running 20 classes. About 204 students are attending in KZVTC. Some of the students in KZVTC are the teachers from other migrant schools such as SE, Minmahaw, HRMU and etc. Most of them are studying English grammar, reading, Spoken English and Thai and Computer courses. As a result, they get more language skills so that they make improvement in their teaching and their communities. They can practically use their skill for their communities at once. Also they join to the further studies in the other international education program.

Most of KZVTC students are migrant workers. And they are studying in Thai, Spoken English and grammar, computer (Basic, Office and Internet and Email) and computer hardware. It is essential for the workers to speak Thai very well. The more they can speak Thai language properly, the more they can communicate with their employers _ it is very important for the workers. Moreover, they can even get more chances for better jobs. Some of our students are inside Burma. Every year, our summer classes are available from middle of March to end of May because it is summer holidays for Burmese students. They have no chance to learn extra school curriculums inside Burma during summer. Thus, every summer, they come and attend in KZVTC. After they finish summer courses, they can speak English and Thai more and they can use computer very well. It is very effective and useful for their next school year and for their further studies. In order to get jobs for students from KZVTC, one vocational training could be opened by Youth Connect and Knowledge Zone on 15th March, 2010. In addition, Knowledge Zone cooperates with Australia Open University on publishing an education magazine namely Maukkha" and all writers who write the manuscripts in it are Burmese migrant teachers and students from Tak Area (2). In summer holiday of 2010, we was able to increase the number of the students attending in KZVTC .239 students attended above the classes opened by KZVTC and most of them are Burmese migrant workers, teachers and students from other schools, politicians in exile, some of young students are local residents. Also, volunteers from some international organizations occasionally join to our Burmese and Thai classes. On March 20, 2010, some of the students from KZVTC joined the entrants held by Wide Horizons, EIP and Minmahaw and some teachers applied to the scholarship program sponsored by Prospect Burma. Also, we are now trying to join the B.Ed entrant which will be opened by Australia Open University. Due to the occasional training by WEC, we, teacher get much more knowledge in Education, management, mental health and accounting. We sincerely believe that soon we will be able to provide a pre-academic education program, in hope to attain access to qualified courses for the Burmese migrant workers, which can further enable them to access international colleges. School Administration By the association of following staffs, permanent teachers and volunteer teachers, who have the high education level and extensive teaching experience in respective fields and subjects, Knowledge Zone is able to provide high quality classes to the migrant community of Mae Sot. Seven permanent teachers, one office staff and two temporary English volunteer teachers are teaching 204 students each day under the management of Knowledge Zone Principal.

Human Resource in Knowledge Zone 1) Mr. Thet Naing Principal and English Language Teacher 2) Ms. Saw Yu Nwe Receptionist 3) Ms. Nyein Nyein Ei Volunteer Teacher 4) Ms. Nwe Ni Lynn Computer Teacher 5) Ms. Khin Cho Lynn Computer Teacher 6) Ms. Gether Thai Language Teacher 7) Ms. Khin Than Swe Burmese Language and Computer Teacher 8) Mr. Min Htut Aung IT Officer 9) Mr. Aik Sai School Coordinator and Thai language teacher 10) U Thawbita Volunteer teacher Principal: The Principal is responsible for overall management of the school and arranging appropriate timetables; Maintaining the relationship with the relevant organizations such as Ministry of Education (MOE), -(BMWEC) and (BMTA). The principal is a full time staff and should teach a subject at least for two hours a day. Admin and Receptionist: Responsible for the budget accounts and the expenditures of the school; operating the office works, purchasing the stationary and teaching materials for the teachers, payment of salary to the staffs. The admin staff is also a full time staff and will teach a relevant subject. Responsible for receiving the students' application forms, making the list of the students, providing information about the classes to the students, arranging for the advertisements of new subjects and classes. Receptionist is a full time position. School Coordinator: Responsible for advertising the programs and classes of the school in the community, engaging community members to assist the project, resolving the students difficulties and any problems related to the project, negotiating with the local authorities if some students problems occurred require their attention. The School Coordinator is a full time staff and teaches a subject at least two sections a day. Teachers: Each of the permanent teachers must teach at least two sections a day and are responsible to report to the Principal.

Work Plan 1. Classes Knowledge Zone will continue providing current classes (above) for students in the next 6 month period. Additionally, we are planning to introduce the new two classes, aiming at better preparing students for the work in community: Practical Spoken English classes organizing classroom workshops where student groups will be able to put their learning into practical, work related discussions.

PC Technicians students will learn about complete management of the computer (hardware & software) as well as new technology systems. These students will be able to provide professional PC/IT services to other agencies and firms. 2. Scholarships for Students and teachers Knowledge zone students and teachers are now trying to join some universities through the occasional scholarship program. 3. Apprenticeship for Students As part of its ongoing support to students to enable them in finding jobs in community, Knowledge Zone plans to offer apprenticeship positions to selected number of best students, with a purpose of providing them. Last year we were able to appoint two new teachers who are selected from our former students. In addition, Through this training they will learn: Administrative work IT skills Report writing, Letter writing Communications and Meetings Updated information about different NGOs, CBOs and other organizations working in Mae Sot Upon completion of their apprenticeship assignment, Knowledge Zone will support them in developing their Curriculum Vitas. 4. Ministry of Education (MOE) Training and Official Certification to Teachers Nine teachers will attend MOE and WEC teacher training, through which they will be able to obtain official teaching certificate. This enables teachers to live in Mae Sot with full freedom, provide education classes to any other migrant schools and participate in trainings and capacity building workshops organized by Thai MOE. Evaluation Plan The monthly report including photos and statistics concerning the school will be available for the supporting NGO. Our students' exam results will be available for the donors. We will arrange for students and teachers monthly meetings. We will arrange for a suggestion form for students to fill out anonymously at the end of each course. Through ensuring good teacher and student relations, we also plan to follow old students' progress, and to see how it benefits their futures.

Photos of Knowledge Zones Activities

Knowledge Zone Vocational Training Center - Mae Sot, Thailand

BUDGET PROPOSAL

Project Code: Project Description: Knowledge Zone Vocational Training Center

Project Duration:November to ovember 2010 to October 2011 Currency: Baht Project Activity Costs 1. Personnel Staff Costs Principal Receptionist and IT Officer 1Coordinator and 4Teachers 1px12mthsx3000B 2px12mthsx3000B 5px12mthsx2500B Description Unit Cost No. of Per Month Unit Amount 12months

12 12 12

3,000.00 6,000.00 12,500.00

36,000.00 72,000.00 150,000.00

Total Stipend for office

21,500.00

258,000.00

2. Administrative/Overhead Costs22 Building Rent Electricity/Phone/Internet-email Total Administrative/Overhead Costs GRAND TOTAL {sub-total 1+2}

12 12

6,000.00 4,000.00 10,000.00 31,500.00

72,000.00 48,000.00 120,000.00 378,000.00

Thet Naing Principal Knowledge Zone Education Centre Contact:knowledgezone2010@gmail.com,055542131