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HILLTRIBE SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
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1. Why are schools so important? 2. Why don't hilltribe children have access to schools? 3. How does this hurt the hilltribes? 4. What would it take to give hilltribe children access to schools? 5. How does the Mirror Art Group help? 6. Who does the Mirror Art Group help?
1. Why are schools so important? Many of us take the right to an education for granted, after all, it is one of the cornerstones of our lives, and for a long time when we are young, the only way of life we know. But why is this right so essential? Schools provide a place for children to develop their skills (both emotional and intellectual), self-confidence, and self-reliance in a safe and nurturing environment. Schools help children learn to communicate with others, both by expanding their intuitive grasp of the language of instruction and by encouraging them to express and explore their own ideas. Lastly, the most straightforward role of schools is that they provide students much of the fundamental knowledge that they will come to rely on throughout their lives if they are to function successfully in their society.
Click here for an Akha mother's perspective…
2. Why don't hilltribe children have access to schools? The hilltribe population in Thailand is estimated at approximately one million. They live scattered over about twenty provinces, most often in remote highland areas or along the northern and western borders with Myanmar and Laos. Though many tribes have lived in Thai territory for hundreds of years, the Thai government does not recognize them as citizens. (For more information on the hilltribe citizenship problem, click here ). Lacking Thai citizenship rights, hilltribe children are not covered by the National Education Act or the Compulsory Education Act, which guarantee basic education for twelve years and require all children to attend school from age seven until age sixteen. Additionally, though the Thai government provides funding for rural schools, these schools are often of poor quality and too far a commute for many children whose families live high up in the hills. There is no system of public transport or assistance for these children. Some schools may provide boarding houses, but these are generally crowded, understaffed, and isolate the children from their families. Many hilltribe families do not have the money to provide transport, required uniforms, textbooks, or accommodation in a boarding house for any of their children. 3. How does this hurt the hilltribes?
• Though Thailand's literacy rate hovers in the high ninetieth percentile, the hilltribe people are typically overlooked in literacy surveys. There are no good statistics available on hilltribe literacy rates; however, that statistic would be fairly low, as many of the hilltribe people do not even speak Thai. • Due to the obstacles they have to overcome, many hilltribe students are still not going to school. For example, in 2005 only 51% or hilltribe children were enrolled in primary school, as opposed to the national enrollment average of 87%. • Of those hilltribe students who complete primary school few can continue on with their education. For example, in 1998 only 19% of the total primary school hilltribe students continued on to secondary school. • Without the benefit of an education some children migrate to cities to find low-paying jobs that don't require any education. Some work in gas-stations, others beg on the street, many (both girls and boys) end up in the sex industry as it pays much better than other jobs available to them. • With so much urban drift, most left at home in the hilltribe communities are the very young, the very old, and the handicapped. This leads to a general weakening of their culture and traditions.
4. What would it take to give hilltribe children access to schools? This is a complex problem and there are clearly no easy solutions. There are, however, three main areas to focus on-- building more schools so that the children do not have to travel so far to go to school, putting pressure on the Thai government to change their citizenship and education policies, and providing stipends to hilltribe families to facilitate their children's progress through school. 5. How does the Mirror Art Group help?
Building Program With financial support from outside donors and technical assistance from construction companies, the Mirror Art Group builds schools in hilltribe villages and develops infrastructure, making it much easier for hilltribe children to attend schools. Raising Awareness and Influencing Policy The Mirror Art Group has launched many campaigns to raise public awareness and change policy, expanding education opportunities for hilltribe children. Through its eco-tourism program, the Mirror Art Group places Thai citizens in homestays in hilltribe villages, to foster a connection between hilltribe members and the larger population. Also, by meeting with government officials and publicly lobbying on the internet, the Mirror Art Group has affected numerous laws. For example, the Mirror Art Group played an important role in recent reforms that did away with the “Non-citizen” stamp on graduation certificates for hilltribe secondary school students, which previously impeded further education and employment.
Hilltribe Scholarship Fund Through the Hilltribe Scholarship Fund, the Mirror Art Group provides financial support to hilltribe children, allowing them to pursue secondary school education. While this fund is need-based, scholarships go to those students who have demonstrated enthusiasm for and dedication to their studies. Each year, students receiving scholarships spend approximately two months at the Mirror Art Group participating in skill-building activities and programs. These programs serve to create a positive environment for the students, providing them essential encouragement to continue their studies despite familial and societal pressures to leave school early so that they can begin earning money. This program also affords the Mirror Art Group staff opportunities to check each student's progress in and dedication to their schooling. Last year we were able to provide full scholarships for fourteen students and partial support to one hundred more. There are, however, so many more students deserving of and requiring our assistance. 6. Who does the Mirror Art Group help?
There are so many children who would love to be able to go to school but currently cannot. You can help by donating to the Mirror Art Group. Any support is greatly appreciated. For $250 USD, you can fully fund a scholarship for one year, and for $1,500 USD, you can provide an entire six-year secondary education scholarship. We guarantee that 100% of your donation will go directly to the hilltribe children and not to administrative costs. We have included a rough approximation of the costs incurred over a nine-month school year by the typical secondary school student. Car service ~ $60 USD Books and materials ~ $50 USD Lunches ~ $75 USD Uniforms ~ $25 USD Evaluation and Enrichment Program ~ $40 USD ----------------- TOTAL ~ $250 USD IMPORTANT NOTES: The costs listed above are intended only as estimates to help you get a sense of how your money will be spent. We regret that unlike some other organizations we will NOT be able to earmark your donation for a specific need (such as lunches or uniforms) or provide you a picture of or letters from a specific secondary student. This is because the money you donate is put into a general fund for all of the selected students needs in order to best provide for them. We do understand, however, the desire of donors to see the impact their money is having and will be posting ongoing testimonials on our website from a few of the students (along with their teachers and parents) whose education YOU are making possible. TO DONATE, CLICK HERE.
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