Meet Sai Su Ree, a devoted mother of four boys and a beacon of resilience from the remote Karen hill tribe village of Mae Ra Ar Nai. Recently, we had the honor of interviewing her during the historic opening ceremony of the village’s first-ever school—a moment filled with joy and hope for the future.
Challenges marked Sai’s early life. “I didn’t have much of an opportunity to go to school when I was young due to the distance and my parents’ financial struggles,” she shared. Her education journey began at six in a far-off village, where she only was able to complete the second grade. Despite her limited education, Sai Su Ree’s determination to provide a better future for her children shines brightly.
Raising four boys aged 8 to 16 is no easy feat, as she candidly expressed, “It is tough to have the income to send one off to school, and we have four! One girl would be nice too!” The realities of their lives mean that education often comes with sacrifices, including sending her boys to stay at a hostel far from home due to the challenging terrain and travel costs.
“The income we have from our crops, like coffee and red beans, barely provides enough for us to eat, let alone send them to school,” Sai reflected.
Yet, she finds solace in the support of her nearby mother, who helps care for her children far away.
Sai Su Ree’s story resonates with many families in Mae Ra Ar Nai, where dreams of education often clash with harsh realities—poor roads, financial burdens, and the distance to schools. The new school branch, constructed by ITDF and supported by Ban Zibrae School and many generous donors, is not just a building but a beacon of hope for Sai and her community. This facility will provide preschool through third-grade education, bringing learning closer to home and enabling children to dream bigger. Soon, grade 4th-6th will be constructed to complete the primary grades, further enhancing the community’s educational landscape.
While the school opens new doors for some of her sons, Sai Su Ree holds and additional dream close to her heart: a medical clinic in their village.
“It is so difficult to travel with a sick child to Omkoi, the nearest hospital, particularly during the rainy season. Sometimes, we cannot even get there due to the road conditions. A clinic would be a blessing,” she said.
Through the generosity of our donors, we are planting seeds of hope that will empower families like Sai Su Ree’s to rise above their challenges. Together, we are transforming lives and nurturing a brighter future for the children of Mae Ra Ar Nai, one story at a time. I am so excited to have my children close by in the future!” Su Sai Ree exclaimed. “I am incredibly grateful to ITDF and all who have been so kind to help my village and our children.
Written by Debbie Tingley (ITDF/Volunteer)
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If you would like to be a part of supporting families like Sai Su Ree’s, become a community sponsor. Sponsoring a community provides funds and support for for ongoing, sustainable projects such as education for children, community health clinics, training in disease prevention and proper nutrition, and clinic hiring, training and management, social development, agriculture programs, micro-enterprising and more.
