In November 2008 we opened our Youth Outreach Programme. This provides some of our brightest and most determined students who have graduated from our learning centres aged 12/13 with an opportunity to continue their studies to a higher level. Currently there are 22 students and they have all continued to show enthusiasm and intellect.

The YO project is a 3 year course. The students continue to focus on languages; Burmese, Thai and English, however the project aims to prepare students for the General Education Diploma (G.E.D.), a recognized qualification, by teaching a range of new and more in depth subjects including Maths, biology, physics, politics, poetry, history, geography and geology, oceanography, spacial awareness and computer skills. In the future we hope to hold more vocational courses for the older students. among others. The students rely on qualified and experienced teachers and volunteers.

In December 2009 the Youth Outreach was relocated to a nearby, larger building. The building offers greater security as well as space for more activities and an expanding number of students in the future. Soon after the Youth Outreach moved, a music room and library were set up. The library was set up with the help of volunteer teacher and librarian, Ms Janice Brown and subsequently another volunteer, Ms Brittney Spreyer. Library cataloguing and management training was carried out with some teachers and some of the students so that the library can grow, be maintained and eventually rotated between the learning centers.

The new location even has enough space for the students to grow some vegetables and flowers in their new garden. Students do 30 minutes of gardening together each morning before school starts under the guidance and supervision of teachers Phi Eak and Mon Aung.

We aim to prepare the students for a more prosperous future in the real world with career development workshops, vocational work experience placements and a recognized qualification such as the General Education Diploma (GED). We hope that with the education the students gain at Youth Outreach they will be able to go onto higher education, apprenticeships or internships gaining themselves other recognized qualifications and hopefully entering university or at the least, well paid and stable work. Skills such as computer literacy and English language ability, for example, are crucial for so many jobs they may hope to find in the future so having these skills will make them more employable. These skills and others are also crucial for the rebuilding of a democratic Burma. An educated, Thai speaking, Burmese migrant workforce will also be able to contribute productively to the Thai community. There are no other educational facilities of this standard that these Burmese youth are able to access in Phang Nga.

This group of Youth Outreach students have become role models among their communities and we feel they have the ability and respect to inspire younger generations by showing them that there are opportunities open to them. We hope that this will encourage many more to follow in their footsteps.