Inauguration of a new Learning Center in Pattaya, Thailand

The new Learning Center offers migrant children more than just a place to learn

On December 14, the inauguration ceremony for the new Learning Center took place at the help alliance’s child protection project in Pattaya, Thailand. Staff members of Lufthansa Station Bangkok and Station Manager Thomas Müller were also present at the opening.

The new Learning Center offers space for up to 200 children from migrant families, who receive non-formal schooling and daily care at this facility. These children, who come with their families from Thailand’s neighboring countries Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, do not have access to the Thai school system due to their temporary residence status. The families live in informal settlements and the children’s parents work on construction sites in Pattaya during the day. At the Learning Center, they receive a hot meal every day, can shower and sleep, and are taught 3 to 4 subjects per day by teachers. Since human trafficking is a great danger in Thailand, the children are thus safe from assault and are not cut off from education.

The new building was already completed in December 2020, but due to the strict lockdown in 2021 it was only in limited operation and with low utilization. With the official opening, operations will now be ramped up piece by piece. help alliance will cover the majority of the operational costs of the Learning Center this year and will also sponsor a new minivan for the outreach team in the slums of Pattaya.

That’s what help alliance project manager Benjamin Fischer says:

“In the new Learning Center, we can offer a safe place and access to education to more than twice as many disadvantaged children as before. Without the support of the help alliance, this would not be possible.”