Hope and hardship in Myanmar
Sophie King (Wyvern 2021) and Kurt Stephens (Wyvern 2021) found teaching at the Thoo Mweh Khee school on the Thai-Myanmar border, both heavier and more hopeful than they had expected. The school is a migrant learning centre providing education and a safe community for children and young people who have been displaced by the conflict and instability in Myanmar.
“Kurt and I travelled there with two goals in mind: to learn as much as we could about Karen culture, the impacts of ongoing civil war, and life in a migrant community, and to explore how Queen’s might grow its connection with Thoo Mweh Khee. At the same time, hoping to contribute in any way we could to the school and its community during our stay.”
Other Wyverns have led the way, Fleur Maidment (Wyvern 1987) founder of ‘Safe Water for Every Child – Myanmar, and Evangelia Wichmann (Wyvern 2020), who set up a First Aid and Health Hub at the school. Kurt was inspired to continue their work.
“Our role was really about continuing the foundations laid by Fleur and Evangelia, while also considering how a long-term exchange program with Queen’s could benefit Thoo Mweh Khee. We stepped into classrooms to contribute to lessons drawn from our own studies, assist with English, and work alongside teachers to deliver the social science curriculum. A big part of our time was spent within the 3rd year community development course, where students designed and delivered their own projects with support from money fundraised by Sophie. We were lucky to do several tours up and down the border to see some of the incredible work Fleur has done with Safe Water Myanmar.”
Sophie found the experience both challenging and inspiring.
“I was not prepared for the sounds of planes flying overhead and bombs in the distance, or for the stories of students who had been forced to become soldiers, or who feared they might have to fight once school ended. Nor did I anticipate the quiet, persistent fear that lives in all the students, a fear for their country, their families, and their own uncertain futures. A fear I have never had to know myself. At the same time, I was not prepared for the abundance of beauty within Thoo Mwee Khee school. The mountains, skies, and farmlands surrounding the school are magnificent but the beauty also existed in classrooms, the dormitories and the families’ homes. From the very beginning Kurt and I were warmly welcomed inside their homes. In the end, the reality was both heavier and more hopeful than we had anticipated.”
Kurt would love to see further support, suggesting ways we can all get involved.
“Supporters reading this can help by staying engaged and learning more about the challenges faced by students and communities along the border. Organisations and educational centres like Thoo Mweh Khee are doing genuinely incredible work on the ground, and supporters can contribute by raising awareness, volunteering, or sharing their stories.”
If you have an hour to spare each week and would like to tutor a student at Thoo Mweh Khee via FaceTime, please contact Sophie King at sophieekings@gmail.com. More information, including ways to support the school financially, can be found on their website: