By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

Local hotel propels Mae Sot Education Project forward

In a blend of local generosity and global compassion, the Mae Sot Education Project (MSEP) continues its mission to educate Burmese migrant children in Thailand, propelled by the innovative fundraising efforts of the Townships community. Spearheaded by Stephen Stafford’s initiative, a raffle for a luxurious stay at his Hovey Manor—including a visit to its new spa—has raised $7,500 this season.

This heartening local support comes at a crucial time as the MSEP grapples with post-pandemic challenges and an increasing refugee influx from Myanmar’s ongoing conflict, reaffirming the community’s commitment to making a life-changing impact on the lives of these children and the volunteers who teach them. The MSEP has been committed to supporting education for migrant and refugee youth from Burma/Myanmar since 2004. Its volunteers are mainly Bishop’s University and Champlain Lennoxville students.

“It started a year ago, we did it last year as well,” MSEP Coordinator Mary

Purkey said, referring to the raffle, “it was really Stephen Stafford’s initiative.” There are many faithful donors like Stafford in the local community. Stafford proposed doing something different – raffling off a room and meals at his five-star North Hatley hotel, Hovey Manor.

The idea worked well last year, selling tickets was “a piece of cake”. This year, time at the Hovey’s new spa was added on to the prize. The price of the ticket was upped $5, which did not discourage participants in the slightest, she said. This year they made $7,500, selling the tickets beginning in early November. “It was very much slated as a holiday raffle.”

The recent pandemic had a profound effect on the organization’s operations. Parents of the children in Thailand were unable to work and the focus was taken off education and put on maintaining the basic necessities of life. Related rising transportation costs, to get the Thai children out of their villages to school, were also a problem. Purkey noted another organization, Inclusive Education Foundation, helped the MSEP and other institutions teaching in Thailand to work through that difficult time.

In Covid’s aftermath, schooling has regained its priority, but the nearby fighting and coup in Myanmar has led to an influx of refugees of different ethnic backgrounds. The prospect of them returning to Myanmar and having “secure and happy lives” there is low, so the education system has been called on to adapt.

How does teaching English relate to all of this? “English teaching is ultimately not the important part of what [we] are doing there,” Purkey explained. Volunteers are there mainly to make a cultural connection and reassure the children there are people in the world that care for them. However, English is of practical use there and is in demand. The local tourism business needs people that can communicate in English. The refugees currently have no path towards citizenship, but learning English can give them “prospects”, Purkey said.

This year’s deadline for applications for the MSEP is Jan. 5, 2024. Since Covid, it has been more difficult to recruit students and there have been fewer applicants. People seem simply to be less willing to go abroad for extended periods. However, the MSEP is a great experience for those who wish to go on and work for international NGOs. The vast majority of participants, Purkey emphasized, have found the experience “life-changing” and have learned at least as much as the students they have taught. Purkey speculates that admission in the future could be opened to students from other schools or older members of the community.

“I’ve always had a soft spot for refugees,” Stafford said, detailing his motivations for helping out with the project, “I think it’s a global problem.” Refugees are the most tenacious, courageous, and ambitious members of their societies, and he thinks they would probably make for “good citizens”. South American refugees “go through hell” to reach the American border and he does not like how they are often “pilloried”. Refugees from Myanmar in Mae Sot are often treated badly, he continued, and do not get a lot of support, which is why he provides assistance.

Stafford has been involved with the MSEP for years, previously giving yearly $5,000 donations at its annual banquet. “The raffle brings more money to [the MSEP],” he explained. The potential prize makes for a great Christmas present, he said with a chuckle. “Mary Purkey has done a lot of work and I think it is a wonderful project.” The MSEP also benefits those who volunteer, he added, and makes them better “world citizens”.

Calila Tardif and Felix Duplessis-Marcotte, former MSEP volunteers who went on to marry and are still involved with the project, spoke on what the organization means to them.

The two participated in 2016; both were students at Champlain Lennoxville. The generosity from Mae Sot local students and teachers made a big impression on Tardif. What seems like a small organization from a Canadian perspective makes a big difference in Thailand, and the locals show their appreciation, she said.

“It was the relationships that I built,” said Duplessis-Marcotte, referring to what about the experience had the biggest impact on him. Not only the relationships with Mae Sot locals, but the Lennoxville community as well.

The MSEP taught Duplessis-Marcotte leadership – one must quickly become a good teacher and role-model to succeed. Currently completing his PhD in neuropsychology in Montreal, he does not think he would have been able to get through it without his MSEP experience.

Tardif learned “flexibility and engagement” from her time there; the job requires quick adaptation and adjustment. She also learned the value of this kind of volunteer work.

On Dec. 28, a party of around 20 people involved with and interested in the MSEP gathered in Hovey Manor’s Abenaki Room to determine the winner of the raffle. Purkey presided over the event, which was live streamed on Tardif’s phone. Stafford randomly chose a name from a large jar: Michael Petitclerc.

Petitclerc was not there, so Purkey called him and left a message telling him the news. Rounding out the event, Purkey thanked all those involved, and an open discussion was held on the MSEP and related issues. Committee member Graham Moodie was presented with his own certificate in thanks for all the work he had put into organizing the raffle.