Australian Marist Solidarity has agreed to continue supporting our partners in Thailand at the Marist Centre for Migrants in Samut Sakhon to help so-called ‘undocumented’ Burmese refugees access education and training to improve job skills.
One part of this initiative is called ‘The Young Adult Migrants Project’. It has been developed by the local community and has the full support of the Marist Brothers in Thailand, including Brother Andrew Chan and leader of the Marist District of Asia, Brother Juan Castro.
The centre in Samut Sakhon was established by the Marist Brothers and has been operating for more than five years. Its focus has been to provide education to the children of migrant workers, who are usually denied access to mainstream Thai schools.
The centre also offers young adult Burmese refugees, who have been displaced by violence and hardship in their own country, the chance to learn skills to improve their employment options.
Typically, Burmese migrants find work at one of the local fish-processing factories, where they receive very low wages, and their living conditions are extremely poor. They are also at risk of becoming ‘stateless’ and losing their connection to their home country.
Marist Solidarity is pleased to announce its support of upgrades at the centre, the ongoing education of refugee children, and resources to offer young adults training in English and Thai languages, and computers and IT.
Brother Juan says that job training will offer young adult migrants in Samut Sakhon the opportunity to improve the quality of their lives by getting a “better job” and achieve greater acceptance within the Thai community.
Students from Australian Marist schools Mount Carmel Catholic College in NSW and Saint Augustine’s College in Far North Queensland students will visit Samut Sakhon this year to experience first-hand the sense of solidarity that a cultural immersion brings.
Please visit our website to find out more or donate to the Marist Centre for Migrants.