background history & some of activities

8/4/2019 Background History & Some of Activities

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KNOWLEDGE ZONE

Vocational Training Centre

Proposal for Fund Raising

The following proposal is being submitted by Knowledge Zone Vocational Training

Centre in an effort to secure the further funding for its educational support to the poor andmarginalized Burmese migrants in Mae sot, Thailand.

The proposal includes a brief history and documents of our goals and objectives,future plan, and the estimated cost of financing the school activities for the period of 12

months. We have been running the Knowledge Zone Vocational Training Center for two

years since July 10th

2008.

Presented by

Knowledge Zone Vocational Training Centre

School Address:6/2, Ratchakarnratm, Mae Sot, Tak 63110, ThailandContact Phone Number: 055542131, 0845960273,0894381347

Email Address: [email protected],[email protected]


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Brief History of Knowledge Zone

Knowledge Zone Vocational Training Centre (Knowledge Zone) was founded in July2008, by 6 teachers who want to promote better and sustainable education for the poverty-

stricken Burmese migrant workers in Mae Sot. The initial funding was secured through AllBurma Monks Alliance (ABMA), and later supported with significant funding of World

Education from April 2009 to July 2010. Knowledge Zone thrives to promote and provideeducation to all, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, racial, gender, political or social

background.

Knowledge Zone has been officially registered under MOE (Thai Ministry of Education) and

it is now providing Computer Classes, Spoken English, English Grammar, Thai Language,Burmese Language, and English for Kids. There are now altogether 7 teachers and 1 officestaff in Knowledge Zone.

Knowledge Zone was established in order to assist the Burmese migrant community

and Burmese political exiles in and around Mae Sot area. In the beginning, it was run as afree education center for all students until February 2009. This was changed as of March

2009 with commencing of student fees system whereby each student pays 200 Baths for eachof the three-month courses. We believe that symbolic fee system will promote sustainabilityof the program as well as ensure commitment of the students. In the case that individual

student is found to be extremely poor,he or she is exempt from fee payment.Background Information

For decades, people are fleeing from Burma to Thailand because of political, religious,

military and racial oppressions committed by State Peace and Development Council ofBurma, on top of hundreds of thousands who migrate to Thailand in hope of finding better

jobs. According to the statistics of NGOs of Thailand, there are about 2.5 million of Burmeselegal and illegal migrants and political exiles who are living in a harsh, exploitative, stressfuland terrible living condition for the day-to-day job basis. Those who are less fortunate and

do not posses Thai legal documents are subject to daily arrests, maltreatments anddeportation to Burma.

Even though there is a number of nursery and primary migrant schools for theBurmese migrant children in Mae Sot, there are only few adult learning centers providing

education opportunities to the young adult and adult Burmese migrants. Because of the lackof adult education centers in Mae Sot, those migrants and urban refugees who brave to try

attending classes in education centers distant from their area are facing difficulties such asfear of arrest, distance, and transportation problems. While other refugees who live in the

refugee camps near Mae Sot area can access free education supported by the CBOs and

NGOs in the three refugee camps on the border migrant workers, their children and theBurmese urban refugees, especially the adult persons, have a slim chance for such education

in Mae Sot.


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Objectives

There are many CBOs and NGOs supporting and running the different types ofprojects for the Burmese refugees. Burmese migrants should have opportunity and chance to

work with such CBOs and NGOs, and should be able to participate in the projects for theBurmese refugees and migrants, instead of working in the factories under exploiting working

conditions. To be eligible for the better job opportunities in Mae Sot, Burmese migrants needsufficient qualification and educational background.

Knowledge Zone has been established as an education center with these followingeight objectives, since we believe and consider education as a way to the better community

and the better future for the society.

1. To support the basic educational needs for the Burmese migrants in Mae Sot2. To provide the continuous education for the young adults3. To promote their professional development, especially in the area of computer and

language skills

4. To create a better surroundings for and empowered Burmese community regardless oftheir ethnic, religion, racial, gender, political background and social background

5. To support the capacity-building and skills for the forbidden Burmese UrbanRefugees

6. To be able to create access to Education for the poorest and the most vulnerableBurmese migrant workers in Mae Sot

7. To be able to support with the pre-academic education for those students who want tohave access to further international college education

8. To open the free education centre in Burma.

Current Activities

We are currently running 20 classes. About 204 students are attending in KZVTC.Some of the students in KZVTC are the teachers from other migrant schools such as SE,

Minmahaw, HRMU and etc. Most of them are studying English grammar, reading, Spoken

English and Thai and Computer courses. As a result, they get more language skills so thatthey make improvement in their teaching and their communities. They can practically use

their skill for their communities at once. Also they join to the further studies in the otherinternational education program.


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Most of KZVTC students are migrant workers. And they are studying in Thai, SpokenEnglish and grammar, computer (Basic, Office and Internet and Email) and computer

hardware. It is essential for the workers to speak Thai very well. The more they can speak

Thai language properly, the more they can communicate with their employers _ it is veryimportant for the workers. Moreover, they can even get more chances for better jobs.

Some of our students are inside Burma. Every year, our summer classes are available

from middle of March to end of May because it is summer holidays for Burmese students.They have no chance to learn extra school curriculums inside Burma during summer. Thus,

every summer, they come and attend in KZVTC. After they finish summer courses, they can

speak English and Thai more and they can use computer very well. It is very effective anduseful for their next school year and for their further studies.

In order to get jobs for students from KZVTC, one vocational training could beopened by Youth Connect and Knowledge Zone on 15

thMarch, 2010.

In addition, Knowledge Zone cooperates with Australia Open University on

publishing an education magazine namely Maukkha" and all writers who write themanuscripts in it are Burmese migrant teachers and students from Tak Area (2).

In summer holiday of 2010, we was able to increase the number of the studentsattending in KZVTC .239 students attended above the classes opened by KZVTC and most

of them are Burmese migrant workers, teachers and students from other schools, politiciansin exile, some of young students are local residents. Also, volunteers from some international

organizations occasionally join to our Burmese and Thai classes.

On March 20, 2010, some of the students from KZVTC joined the entrants held by

Wide Horizons, EIP and Minmahaw and some teachers applied to the scholarship programsponsored by Prospect Burma. Also, we are now trying to join the B.Ed entrant which will

be opened by Australia Open University. Due to the occasional training by WEC, we,teacher get much more knowledge in Education, management, mental health and accounting.

We sincerely believe that soon we will be able to provide a pre-academic educationprogram, in hope to attain access to qualified courses for the Burmese migrant workers,

which can further enable them to access international colleges.

School Administration

By the association of following staffs, permanent teachers and volunteer teachers, who

have the high education level and extensive teaching experience in respective fields andsubjects, Knowledge Zone is able to provide high quality classes to the migrant community

of Mae Sot.

Seven permanent teachers, one office staff and two temporary English volunteer teachers are

teaching 204 students each day under the management of Knowledge Zone Principal.


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Human Resource in Knowledge Zone

1) Mr. Thet Naing Principal and English Language Teacher

2) Ms. Saw Yu Nwe Receptionist3) Ms. Nyein Nyein Ei Volunteer Teacher

4) Ms. Nwe Ni Lynn Computer Teacher5) Ms. Khin Cho Lynn Computer Teacher

6) Ms. Gether Thai Language Teacher7) Ms. Khin Than Swe Burmese Language and Computer Teacher

8) Mr. Min Htut Aung IT Officer

9) Mr. Aik Sai School Coordinator and Thai language teacher10) U Thawbita Volunteer teacherPrincipal: The Principal is responsible for overall management of the school and arrangingappropriate timetables; Maintaining the relationship with the relevant organizations such asMinistry of Education (MOE), -(BMWEC) and (BMTA). The principal is a full time staffand should teach a subject at least for two hours a day.

Admin and Receptionist: Responsible for the budget accounts and the expenditures of theschool; operating the office works, purchasing the stationary and teaching materials for the

teachers, payment of salary to the staffs. The admin staff is also a full time staff and willteach a relevant subject. Responsible for receiving the students' application forms, makingthe list of the students, providing information about the classes to the students, arranging for

the advertisements of new subjects and classes. Receptionist is a full time position.

School Coordinator: Responsible for advertising the programs and classes of the school inthe community, engaging community members to assist the project, resolving the studentsdifficulties and any problems related to the project, negotiating with the local authorities if

some students problems occurred require their attention. The School Coordinator is a fulltime staff and teaches a subject at least two sections a day.

Teachers: Each of the permanent teachers must teach at least two sections a day and areresponsible to report to the Principal.

Work Plan

1. Classes

Knowledge Zone will continue providing current classes (above) for students in the next 6

month period. Additionally, we are planning to introduce the new two classes, aiming atbetter preparing students for the work in community:

Practical Spoken English classes organizing classroom workshops where student groupswill be able to put their learning into practical, work related discussions.


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PC Technicians students will learn about complete management of the computer (hardware& software) as well as new technology systems. These students will be able to provide

professional PC/IT services to other agencies and firms.

2. Scholarships for Students and teachers

Knowledge zone students and teachers are now trying to join some universities

through the occasional scholarship program.

3. Apprenticeship for Students

As part of its ongoing support to students to enable them in finding jobs in community,

Knowledge Zone plans to offer apprenticeship positions to selected number of best students,with a purpose of providing them. Last year we were able to appoint two new teachers whoare selected from our former students. In addition, Through this training they will learn:

Administrative work IT skills Report writing, Letter writing Communications and Meetings Updated information about different NGOs, CBOs and other organizations working in

Mae Sot

Upon completion of their apprenticeship assignment, Knowledge Zone will support them in

developing their Curriculum Vitas.

4. Ministry of Education (MOE) Training and Official Certification to Teachers

Nine teachers will attend MOE and WEC teacher training, through which they will be

able to obtain official teaching certificate. This enables teachers to live in Mae Sot with full

freedom, provide education classes to any other migrant schools and participate in trainingsand capacity building workshops organized by Thai MOE.

Evaluation Plan

The monthly report including photos and statistics concerning the school will be

available for the supporting NGO.

Our students' exam results will be available for the donors.We will arrange for students and teachers monthly meetings.

We will arrange for a suggestion form for students to fill out anonymously at the endof each course.

Through ensuring good teacher and student relations, we also plan to follow oldstudents' progress, and to see how it benefits their futures.


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Photos of Knowledge Zones Activities


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Thet Naing

Principal

Knowledge Zone Education Centre

Contact:[email protected],055542131

Project Code:

Project Description: Knowledge Zone Vocational Training Center

Project Duration:N ovember 2010 to October 2011

Unit Cost Amount

1. Personnel Per Month 12months

Staff Costs

1px12mthsx3000B 12 3,000.00 36,000.00

2px12mthsx3000B 12 6,000.00 72,000.00

5px12mthsx2500B 12 12,500.00 150,000.00

Total Stipend for office 21,500.00 258,000.00

2. Administrative/Overhead Costs22

Building Rent 12 6,000.00 72,000.00

12 4,000.00 48,000.00

Total Administrative/Overhead Costs 10,000.00 120,000.00

GRAND TOTAL {sub-total 1+2} 31,500.00 378,000.00

Principal

Electricity/Phone/Internet-email

Receptionist and IT Officer

1Coordinator and 4Teachers

Knowledge Zone Vocational Training Center - Mae Sot, Thailand

BUDGET PROPOSAL

Project Activity Costs Description

No.

of

Unit

Currency: Baht

background history & some of activities

Documents