As part of Misean Cara’s ’15 Years : 15 Stories’ media project, this photo essay showcases the transformative power of Education in Thailand. The future is bright for graduates from the Myanmarese Migrant Secondary Education Programme, run in Ranong, Thailand by the Marist Fathers. There is a high incidence of child labour in the migrant community in Ranong, with only 10% of children attending school and the majority dropping out at primary level. This project provides an alternative: in 2017, 80% of graduates from the Programme continued on to further education. These young people are now playing a critical role in supporting the Myanmarese community living in Ranong, with many graduates employed as teachers or working as translators in hospitals and in NGOs.

Photo caption: War War Zaw (pictured above) is a teacher and graduate of the Marist Education Programmes in Ranong. She completed the secondary education programme supported by Misean Cara, and she progressed to the University Online Diploma Programme. Ranong is a fishing town where only 20% of children go to school, and War War Zaw makes a difference by giving children a positive education experience. All of the children that complete the pre-school programme continue onto school.