Love & Care Learning Center
Going above and beyond its namesake.
"No matter where the student is from, whether they are rich or poor, Christian or Buddhist, we are all one Love and Care family, and we take care of each other."
Teacher Grace, Love and Care Director
Their Story
The Love & Care Learning Center is located near Mae Sot, Thailand, next to the Thai-Myanmar border. Teachers and students alike seek refuge from the military coup in Myanmar, where civil war rages on.
Love & Care not only educates, but feeds and houses its students. Most of the students have crossed the border alone, sent by their families to escape the danger at home. Even communities across the Myanmar border that are not entrenched in active violence have scarce educative resources.
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Despite challenging conditions, the school has completely changed the lives of hundreds of kids. They are a diverse, resilient, and resourceful community. The school has accomplished so much with so little, and the students thrive under their care and support. The school has grown significantly over the years, helping hundreds of their students graduate, acquire GEDs, and pursue professional careers, all while supporting their emotional and social growth in a home away from home.
There is no additional staff beyond teachers, so educators and students share all responsibilities on the campus. They all plant, water, weed, harvest, clean, launder, cook, and more. They do not eat lunch because there is no staff to cook or serve food in the middle of the day. Each small dormitory room houses 8-10 students. In addition to sharing responsibilities, they also share food, clothes, and space with their peers.
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The school is over capacity, lacking sufficient space, resources, and teachers to serve the ever-growing influx of children seeking refuge. Teachers accept one-third of the salary they would receive elsewhere due to their passion and belief in the school, its cause, and its students. Most of the teachers are former students themselves and understand the profound impact it had on their lives. Many students stay at the school after graduation to acquire work experience as they apply for university scholarships.
Love & Care in Numbers
185
Students living on-campus
206
60
25
Current Students
University Graduates
GED Recipients in 2024
The love & care experience
Student and Teacher Responses
What do you like about Love and Care?
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"We are free, because we are living here so we do not have to struggle like in our country" - Olivia, GED student
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"I like the curriculum, and also life skills like cooking" - Tutu, Grade 9
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"The students are very adorable and respectful, and really want to take the knowledge" - Teacher Sue
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"Students lead and organize for other students" - Wine Su, Grade 11
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"This school is unlike other schools, they take good care of us. We stay in only one building, we share rooms, we are living like a family...we fulfill everyone's needs" - Teacher Benny
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"I'm so happy to study here, because its not only for academics but improve our lives, our leadership skills, and thinking skills, and to be a good person for future...Teacher Grace teaches us to be a good person for our country" - Gay Mu, Grade 11
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What is it like to be a student/teacher here?
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"I don't feel like just a student, because we have leadership and participate like the teachers do" - Olivia
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"The community is very friendly, there is no stranger, there is no different people... we come from diverse backgrounds but when we are here, we are Love and Care family" - Tutu
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"It is like I am helping my country in a different way, because the students do not have opportunities in Myanmar and they come here, so I am teaching the ones who really want to learn. I feel very needed here" - Teacher Sue
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"People care for each other" - Ne Ne, Grade 8
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"I really feel like family... if someone feels lonely or sad, they have each other like family" - Wine Su
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"Motivate others, you have to lead and be a good example" - Teacher Benny
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"Because of the military coup we have no opportunity, we have no future, we have no hope...I am so happy to be a student here because I have so many opportunities and I have hope for my future" - Gay Mu
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What is it like to be a migrant student?
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"We are migrant students, we struggle more than other students because we are not legal here. We are safe in this place, but we have to be careful if we go to a hospital or market because we do not have an ID or anything. Value your student life and appreciate being a student because it is a blessing" - Olivia
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"Being a migrant student is a little hard for us; we have to leave our family in Myanmar. When we feel very sad, we miss home, we miss our parents, but we cannot see them" - Tutu
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"I used to teach to [non-refugee] students, but they are like playing, and they didn't want to get what I'm giving, but these students they want to take what they get and want to learn." - Teacher Sue
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"To leave is very hard" - Ne Ne
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"When I arrive at Love and Care, I feel sad and miss my family, but a few weeks later I didn't feel that because the students here are friendly and I feel like I got a new family." - Wine Su​​
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What would you like people to know about your community?
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"This school is really good, because it is not only for education but we grow up, developing, and caring for each other" -Olivia
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"Love and Care is very great" -Tutu
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"Love and Care is a shelter for over a hundred students, but they don't have a regular donor. Teacher Grace is searching for it, that is why I want them to know that the school needs your help" - Teacher Sue
"I want people to know that in my country it is a very terrible situation, and if you can do something please help them" - Wine Su
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"We love each other and help each other, whatever people need we don't think about what kind of thing we will get back from them. We collect money from our community to be able to help [non-student] refugees; some students give their pocket money, like 1000 baht (~28 USD), like their one-month pocket money and they share" - Teacher Benny
"It's great! We have many opportunities, Teacher Grace tries hard for us to continue our education" -Gay Mu