A Chance for a New Beginning
In a world where tens of thousands of children and youth face displacement and an uncertain future, one thing remains clear: education and opportunity are the keys to transforming lives.
Avoda Foundation steps in to fill this gap through the Pathway to Hope: Empowering Refugees Through Vocational Training project, which focuses on providing vulnerable youth with essential vocational skills. This initiative is not just about education; it is a bridge to a stable future, offering them the chance to build a new life for themselves.
These youth did not choose to flee their homes; they were pushed out by war and violence, forced to live as refugees, stateless, powerless, and hopeless along the Thailand-Myanmar border. Many Karen communities were driven from their homeland, oppressed, and forced to escape to land they could never call home.
Though the world has turned its back on them, Avoda believes that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and find hope—so that one day, they will inspire others and change their own future.
A Path Out of Poverty
For refugees, the lack of stable employment opportunities means they are trapped in a cycle of poverty. They often have no access to the essential skills needed for a sustainable livelihood. The Pathway to Hope project brings about a life-changing transformation by providing specialized training in elderly care to refugee youth, equipping them with in-demand skills that can be applied both in Thailand and abroad.
Elderly care is not only a service needed for societies with aging populations but is also a growing industry with increasing demand for trained workers worldwide. Avoda helps vulnerable youth learn vocational skills, gain employment in elderly care facilities, and earn stable income to support their families. They are no longer just 'refugees'—they become skilled workers in demand, reducing the risks of human trafficking and exploitation.
A Life Transformed: The Story of Nume
Nume grew up in a small village in Myanmar, living with her aunt since she was six because her parents worked in Bangkok to send money to support the family. She had little contact with her father, who had fallen into alcoholism and forgotten his duties. Her aunt had to raise five children, so Nume helped care for her younger siblings, doing household chores and enduring exhaustion. But she was fortunate to receive an education, believing that it was the only way out of her family's hardships.
Then one day... everything collapsed. War arrived, gunfire echoed through the village, and many houses were burned. People fled in chaos, with Burmese soldiers causing havoc. News of attacks in nearby villages sent everyone into panic, and they hid wherever they could find shelter. After three months of silence, Nume’s mother contacted her and urged her to escape to her cousin’s house in Mae Sot, Thailand. Nume set off in fear, traveling on foot through the forest and crossing rivers with a large group of refugees, hoping for a new beginning at the end of the journey. She thought of her mother, her home, and her old school.
But upon arrival in Thailand, she could not attend a public school. She had no documents, no identity in the eyes of the government—she was simply a "stateless" child with no chance to even pursue her dreams.
Then, a light of hope appeared. Avoda Foundation welcomed her with open arms. Nume was given the chance to study again. She made new friends, learned Thai and English, and developed skills she had never had before. Here, she discovered that education could truly change her life. Nume no longer had to hide. She had hope, she had a goal. She wanted a legal, stable job to help her family and offer the same opportunities to other children facing the same path she once did.
But there are still many more children waiting for the same opportunity as hers—will you be part of changing their lives?
Building a Sustainable Future
The importance of this project cannot be overlooked. As the number of refugees in Thailand rises each year, the need for support grows. Pathway to Hope is not a mere temporary solution; it is a chance to create a secure and sustainable future for the next generation. The project aims to establish a nursing assistant training school for elderly care, providing a lifeline to hundreds of refugee youth by giving them vocational skills and the opportunity to be a part of society.
You can be a part of the change
By simply becoming a member of Avoda Foundation and contributing, you will help provide refugee youth with the opportunity to learn, acquire vocational skills, and gain hope for a new beginning. Every dollar you donate is a step towards a brighter future for them.
For just $10 per month, you can change the life of a child—transforming despair into opportunity. Your support provides education, vocational training, and a path to a stable future.
Join us today and be a force for change!A Path Out of Poverty
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