Here in the Khao Lak region, the Foundation for Education and Development (FED) has been running 2 nurseries, 7 learning centers and a high school project for several years now, supporting over 600 migrant children access education and stay out of the work force. However, as a result of different circumstance FED fears that unless we can find emergency funds to cover 4 months of costs, the education of these children will be severely disrupted. FED is currently unable to cover expenses for its education program from January – May 2012. FED greatly appreciates contributions of any amount to assist us in covering the current education deficit of 1,142,000.00 baht ($37,295.436) I have attached an appeal providing greater detail of the situation for your review. On behalf of our Board of Directors, staff and Burmese Community we thank you for your consideration.

1. EMERGENCY
APPEAL
FOR
EDUCATION
PROGRAM
The
Foundation
for
Education
and
Development
is
currently
unable
to
cover
expenses
for
its
education
program
from
January
–
May
2012.
FED
greatly
appreciates
contributions
of
any
amount
to
assist
us
in
covering
the
current
education
deficit
of
1,142,000.00
baht
($37,295.436)
ABOUT
US
FED
is
a
Burmese-­‐led
NGO
which
focuses
primarily
on
education
projects
for
Burmese
migrant
children
who
are
unable
to
access
the
Thai
education
system.
Since
2005
FED
has
opened
8
migrant
learning
centers,
2
nurseries
and
a
youth
outreach
center
for
the
most
motivated
students
graduating
from
our
learning
centers.
Currently
we
have
36
teachers
of
both
Burmese
and
Thai
origin.
These
teachers
provide
a
comprehensive
education
to
over
500
Burmese
children
who
would
otherwise
be
illiterate
and
working
as
child
laborers.
To
date
FED
has
also
integrated
over
100
Burmese
children
into
local
Thai
schools.
As
well
as
its
education
program,
FED
also
runs
3
other
main
programs
which
focus
on
healthcare,
women’s
empowerment
and
education
(WEDA),
and
migrant
development
(child
protection,
emergency
assistance
and
shelter,
labor
and
human
rights
abuse
documentation,
legal
aid,
and
peace
building).
FED
also
organizes
community
events
for
Burmese
migrants
and
local
Thais
to
facilitate
Thai
and
Burmese
integration.
Currently,
around
8,000
Burmese
migrants
directly
benefit
from
FED’s
projects.

2.
THE
ISSUE
FED
began
the
2011
–
2012
school
year
with
a
major
deficit
in
its
education
budget.
Only
20%
of
the
proposed
budget
was
secured
with
funding
commitments.
At
the
moment
FED
is
currently
short
on
funds
to
cover
the
expenses
for
4
learning
centers
from
January
to
May
2012.
The
difficulties
to
secure
the
proposed
budget
range
from
currency
depreciation
to
funding
trends.
In
2010
FED’s
budget
suffered
from
a
significant
depreciation
of
the
Euro
and
USD
to
the
Thai
Baht
in
the
second
half
of
2010.
The
Euro
dropped
over
10%
to
the
Thai
Baht
and
the
USD
dropped
just
under
10%.
On
the
depreciation
of
the
Euro
and
the
dollar
alone,
the
net
impact
in
2010
was
a
loss
of
900,000
Baht
(approx.
30,000
USD).
To
stress
the
impact
of
this
loss,
the
cost
is
equivalent
to
the
annual
salaries
(at
2010
levels)
of
15
of
FED’s
Burmese
school
teachers.
Furthermore,
the
funding
for
FED’s
education
project
from
one
of
our
major
donors
ended
in
December
2010
leaving
FED
with
no
way
to
continue
running
the
learning
centers
for
the
rest
of
the
school
year
except
to
use
emergency
funds
that
had
been
accumulated
through
the
accruement
of
school
fees
and
contributions
from
parents
since
2005.
In
addition,
with
the
end
of
tsunami
relief
funds
acquiring
funding
for
development
projects
in
this
area
has
become
increasingly
difficult.
Although
FED
established
itself
in
the
area
immediately
after
the
tsunami
we
do
not
consider
ourselves
a
tsunami
relief
organisation,
but
rather
a
migrant
development
organisation.
However,
despite
this
distinction
donors
are
reluctant
to
allocate
funds
to
this
area,
preferring
to
direct
their
attention
towards
other
areas
and
priorities.
For
example,
many
donors
interested
in
Burmese
causes
have
gained
interest
in
providing
assistance
inside
Burma
rather
than
helping
migrants
living
in
border
areas.
At
FED
we
applaud
the
move
to
work
inside
Burma,
but
it
is
imperative
that
the
funding
assistance
for
Burmese
organizations
in
Thailand
continues.
Since
there
has
been
no
significant
change
under
the
new
government,
the
flow
of
migrant
workers
into
Thailand
remains
the
same
as
before.
The
ongoing
fighting
along
the
border
is
also
one
of
the
factors
that
contributes
to
increasing
numbers
of
migrant
workers
moving
into
Thailand.
Item Description Unit5Cost Quantity Occurrence Total
Rent 4&Learning&Centers 10,000.00฿ 5 50,000.00฿
Utilities 4&Learning&Centers 8,000.00฿ 5 40,000.00฿
Burmese&Teacher&LC 8,000.00฿ 9 5 360,000.00฿
Salary
Thai&Teacher&Salary 8,000.00฿ 8 5 320,000.00฿
Car&Rent&Takuapa 27,000.00฿ 1 4 108,000.00฿
Driver 8,000.00฿ 2 4 64,000.00฿
Transportation Fuel 25,000.00฿ 1 4 100,000.00฿
Car&rent&Khok&Kloi 15,000.00฿ 1 4 60,000.00฿
Car&rent&Ban&Wan 10,000.00฿ 1 4 40,000.00฿
Total 1,142,000.00฿
As
was
previously
mentioned,
due
to
these
many
issues
FED
is
currently
unable
to
cover
expenses
for
its
education
program
from
January
–
May
2012.
FED
greatly
appreciates
contributions
of
any
amount
to
assist
us
in
covering
the
current
education
deficit
of
1,142,000.00
baht
($37,295.436).
Any
contributions
over
1,000
USD
will
be
acknowledged
in
FED’s
annual
report.
To
donate
please
visit
http://www.ghre.org.
Inquiries
about
donations
can
be
made
to
Sandra@ghre.org.
On
behalf
of
all
the
children,
parents,
staff
and
Board
of
Directors
at
FED,
thank
you
for
your
consideration.
Sincerely,
U
Htoo
Chit
Executive
Director
Foundation
for
Education
and
Development