Khom Loy Montessori Programme
	Location: Chiang Rai, Thailand
	Website: www.khomloy.org
	Program Established: May 2004
	# of Children: 600+	Ages Served: 4-6
	Immediate Needs: Donations to support the costs of teacher trainers. Funds to convert child care centres to Montessori classrooms. Donations to purchase materials. Used materials in good condition. Trained Montessori volunteers. Volunteer Support: Yes
	Contact Person: Paul Hancock
	Contact Information: Paul Hancock pmchancock@gmail.com
	Paul Hancock and Patricia Solar started the Khom Loy project in 2002. They created the Khom Loy Development Foundation to work with the Burmese refugee and ethnic minority hilltribes of Northern Thailand to find innovative ways of dealing with social deprivation. Over the last 100 years, Burmese and ethnic minority tribal people have migrated to Chiang Rai province, in the North of Thailand, to escape war, hardship and military dictatorship in neighbouring areas. The current population is estimated at over 550,000 in Thailand alone. In addition to the Burmese refugees there are 6 separate tribes: Akha, Karen, Lahu, Mien, Lisu, and Hmong. All are originally from different regions, and all have their own individual cultures and traditions. None of their languages stem from the same group as Thai. The Khom Loy Montessori Programme was started in 2004 with the aim of converting rural daycare centres into Montessori based classrooms. The introduction of Montessori has given these refugee and ethnic minority children a much richer educational experience as well as an opportunity to learn to speak Thai and begin the foundations of reading and writing in preparation for full-time schooling at the age of 6. In addition to developing academic and social skills they also discover the joys of community. Our materials are all hand made, using locally available raw materials.Some of the practical life activities include chopsticks, other equipment is carved out of bamboo, and the Pink Tower is made out of locally available teak, hand-painted and rubbed down by the staff. The sandpaper letters are in the Thai alphabet.  The trainers spend one year in each converted classroom so that the resident teacher is trained in our simplified version of Montessori education. So far we have converted 22 schools reaching a total of over 600 children. A further 7 are currently in the course of conversion. Trained Montessori teachers willing to volunteer are encouraged to contact Paul Hancock. Currently there is a trained teacher from Kenya who provides guidance and support. Khom Loy is committed to finding innovative and sustainable ways of helping hilltribe people help themselves and their children as well as to improve their quality of life. Our current projects include agriculture projects to grow more food, water and sanitation projects to bring clean water and simple toilet facilities to villages, handicraft projects to generate income for women in remote communities and the Montessori education project to help the next generation complete school, obtain better jobs and lead fulfilling lives. Donate Now