The Shan Refugee Camp has always made educating the youth in the community a priority.  In order to help facilitate the schooling of the children, The Branch Foundation launched an Education Project based at the Camp.  Through this project, we provided stipends for 8 English teachers, the Project Coordinator, a computer teacher and other items such as school uniforms for the students and educational materials. Additionally, we also facilitate teacher training workshops twice a year and provide volunteer teachers for the Camp.

To read more about our educational activities at the Shan Refugee Camp and to offer your support, please visit our Education Project page on GlobalGiving.

The Branch Foundation played a significant role in establishing the two Shan Refugee Camp weaving centers.

We provided the weavers with weaving looms, training in design, personalized marketing that tells the weavers’ unique stories, and general development mentoring.  These weaving centers have become one of the Shan Refugee Camp’s most sustainable projects to date.

Now that the centers are fully functioning, we continue to serve in an advisory capacity through mentoring and facilitation. This project is an ideal example of The Branch Foundation’s commitment to non-aid reliance.

In 2012, we supplied the Camp with mushroom spores in collaboration with Jesuit Refugee Services so that they could create a mushroom farm. This mushroom farm pilot project served a two-fold purpose – By growing the mushroom spores, the Camp members were not only providing themselves with a source of food, but they could also be more sustainable, independent, and less reliant on outside food aid

We have also demonstrated a focus on sustainable projects and renewable energy through notable projects at the Shan Refugee Camp.  The Branch Foundation is currently supporting a pilot biogas project.  This brainchild of Camp Headman Sai Leng provides a free and environmentally friendly source of cooking gas. Better yet, the rice husks used in the biogas process can feed local pigs or be compressed into a charcoal-like substance. Since the Camp is prohibited from using electricity outside of the communal areas from the main grid, we helped to ensure that the 600+ residents of the Camp received solar-lighting panels.  Additionally, this project provided funding for one solar-powered computer in the Camp’s education center.  The implementation of this solar-panel project effectively made the Koung Jor Refugee Camp the first solar-powered refugee camp in the world!

To read more about The Branch Foundation’s solar panel project, please visit our project page on GlobalGiving.

The Branch Foundation previously focused on addressing the basic needs of the Shan Refugee Camp members. We provided food aid and latrines and other general hygiene products. We also covered the essential living costs of the most vulnerable, elderly members of the community, particularly those with no familial support. As of early 2012, The Branch Foundation has begun phasing out these projects and focusing heavily on those that are more sustainable for the community.

To find out about similar projects we’ve undertaken in Southeast Asia, please click here.