Some of our members are also members of the Australian New Zealand Women’s Group in Bangkok [ANZWGLast year after their Melbourne Cup celebrations, donations from this event were given to help build a boarding house for girls up near Mae Sariang, close to the Burmese Border. This was done in association with the Thailand Hilltribes Educational Project (THEP), run by Susan Race a guest speaker of SI Dusit in June and her associate Khun Panwaadee.

ANZWG spent 1.2million baht for this project $US 35,000.>p> After primary schooling it is almost impossible for most young girls in the Northern hilltribes to travel to further away Secondary Education schools. Hence the need for the building of boarding houses. Many villages, can only be reached by elephant or 4-wheel drive if conditions are not too wet.

After being a guest speaker, Susan asked for funding for six young girls who had good grades and needed sponsorship to allow them to continue their higher education. These young women had to be given more than our usual scholarship allowance, as they live so far from the nearest high-school. The Thai government pays for all their education, if their board, food and transport to the school is paid for.

The picture shows five of these young Hilltribe girls.