In 2007 we helped set up a link between Pirniehall Primary School, Edinburgh and Say Ta Nar School in Mae Sot. Over the years we have all come to know and love Pho Cho the headteacher, his wife Neeshar and their 2 lovely children. When we visited Mae Sot in 2011, Pho Cho shared the difficulties of finding suitable funders for his school. Sadly at the end of June 2012, difficulties with funding and landlord, meant Say Ta Nar School closed. Pho Cho and Neeshar and the family are now in Mae La refugee camp, wondering what lies ahead. We called Pho Cho when we arrived but we were too late to see them. We cycled past the empty school. What a very sad sight.

And for all the Burmese/Karen groups on the Thai Burma border life is becoming even more difficult as funders change their funding to support developments in Burma. Yet the migrant population is as big as ever. Life is not yet better in Burma so there is nothing to go home for. At least in Mae Sot, there is some work, food, schools and medical care for Burmese migrants. It’s so very very sad and worrying….