In year 2018, the financial situation of Help without Frontiers has dramatically changed. For year 2019, we foresee a cut of at least 30% in our funds that will affect all our project and yet put the education of migrant children and youth at risk.
As we are committed to supporting migrant education along the Thai-Myanmar border, we have increased our fundraising efforts so as to generate income to re-invest in educational programmes that aim at giving to almost 3,000 children the hope for a better and brighter future.
On 9 December 2018, Help without Frontiers organised the second edition of the charity event “Run without Frontiers” in Mae Sot, Thailand. The day before the big event, the weather was rainy and cold and we were all a bit worried that many people would have been discouraged to join. On the morning of the event, almost 2,000 people gathered very early in the morning, warmed up before the sunrise and, step by step, wiped out the fog. After a funny warm-up activity organised by our local partner Play Onside, runners chose between a 5k and a 10k routes, discovered the beautiful scenery surrounding Mae Pa, waved to the local villagers and began their day running for a good cause.
Few weeks before the run, Help without Frontiers launched an online campaign of donation of tickets to build a chain of solidarity with friends and supporters who live far from Mae Sot and who would have wanted to join the event. More than 50 supporters from all over the world responded to our call for action and donated a total of 508 tickets for children, youth, and adults in Mae Sot to join the run for free.
The tickets donated were distributed to children, youth, and adults from migrant learning centres, public schools, and youth organisations in and around Mae Sot.
The free tickets were given to children and teachers from 10 migrant learning centres under Help without Frontiers Thailand Foundation as well as to students from Minmahaw learning centre, from New Blood learning centre, from the Hospitality & Catering Training Centre (HCTC), from the Karen Refugee Committee Education Entity (KRCEE), from the Youth Connect Foundation (YCF), and from the Victory Bible school. The Thai students from Ban Mae Pa public school had the chance to run for free as well. Students living in the dormitories of CDC, SAW, and Hsa Too Lei migrant learning centres as well as children and youth in the orphanage Heavenly Home received tickets as well. Finally, students, from many different learning centres in and around Mae Sot, who are active members of the Rays of Youth Network Group received their free tickets for the run.
During the Run for Education, the runners who received free tickets were divided into teams named after the generous supporters who made possible for them to join the event, creating a strong sense of friendship and teamwork amongst children, students, and teachers. Even if these supporters did not have the chance to join the run, we felt that they were with us, and with all the lucky runners. Check out their thank you notes here.
Sport events such the Run for Education are meant to promote health and build friendship while raising awareness on the education of migrant children and youth. A diverse mass of runners of all nationalities and ages took part to the Run for Education. Professional runners ran side by side with migrant students in their flip-flops. Entire families enjoyed the event, the fathers pushing the strollers and the mothers holding the hands of smaller kids. If you want to see a video of the event, you can find it here.
Children, youth, and entire families from Myanmar, Thailand, and from many other countries united for a cause: the education of migrant children and youth!
It is hard to express in words how magic the event was for all of us who had the chance to attend, how impressive was to see how many people support the cause of migrant education. We at Help without Frontiers have been honoured to host such a great event and to see the participation of all runners. Their joy and enthusiasm is the best reward for all the hard work in preparing the event and will remain in our memory.
All our gratitude goes to those who trust and believe in our work!
Huge huge thanks go to all Help without Frontiers staff and to our partners who tirelessly worked to ensure the success of the event.
And, of course, many thanks to each one of you who joined this unique event and helped us to make the difference.
We are looking forward to seeing you next year!!
~ If you want to see more pictures of the event, follow the Facebook page ~
