This gallery invites you into the lives of Myanmar refugees who have crossed borders to seek what civil war and political instability in Myanmar have denied them—education. The conflict in Myanmar has devastated entire communities, especially in Karen State, close to the Thai border. Thousands of Karen people and others have fled their homeland in search of safety and opportunity, with many arriving in Mae Sot, Thailand.  

The Peach Foundation works with undocumented refugees to help them access education and complete their high school studies. In Mae Sot, amidst displacement and uncertainty, schools have become lifelines for these children and young adults. From the Noh Bo Academy to New Blood School, and others in the Mae Sot region, migrant and refugee-led educational initiatives are creating spaces where hope can grow, and dreams can be rebuilt. 

Teachers, often former migrants or refugees themselves, now serve as parental figures and mentors, raising and educating the next generation of Myanmar’s displaced youth. The Peach Foundation supports these schools by helping teachers and students cover fees and secure steady incomes, allowing children to focus on their education.

These schools are more than places of learning; they are sanctuaries of hope, where dreams are taking shape despite overwhelming loss. But the challenges remain immense: lack of official identification restricts future opportunities, financial hardships strain families, and the constant threat of violence across the border is a haunting reminder of the ongoing conflict they fled. Yet, in the face of such adversity, these students and their teachers are a testament to the power of education to provide a path forward—even in the most difficult of circumstances.