Although it has been a significant improvement in the migrant children enrollment in Thailand over the last decade, lack of educational opportunities still is a significant problem for refugees and migrant children. According to a policy briefing report from Save the Children and World Education in 2015, there are around 200.000 migrant children in Thailand without access to education.
Mae Sots proximity to the border, and its significant migrant population makes makes this a serious crisis in the city, with approximately 23% of migrant children out of school. Enrollment to regular schools is of course the best solution to this crisis, but in the mean time PlayOnside
decided to partner with Kick-Start Art, another local organization to bring alternative education to these children.
We believe that implemented correctly, sports and art, can be powerful educational tools. As PlayOnside has grown as an organization we have the resources to not only work with the schools, but also work in the communities. This is a new approach for us, and much more challenging.
Migrants often live unstable life, with a lack of certainty when it comes to future income and place to live. Many of them work as day-workers in the agricultural industries, or as day-laborers in factories or in the informal sector. Often the children have to help out their parents, either at work, or with domestic duties.
Regularity of PlayOnside and our partners, that we show up on regular times to provide our activities is therefore of big importance. The project has been a great success so far, and we will continue to provide alternative education through football for out of school children in the future.
Link to World Education Policy brief about out of school children in Thailand