the college
Projects to Support Refugees from Burma
We have supported this small Bible College in Ban Mae Surin, Karenni Refugee Camp on the Thai Burma border since 2001. Despite the ongoing threat of camp closure, a devastating fire in 2013, and now the big cuts to camp rations from the US government, the College survives. It is in a very remote location near to the border in the jungle and the internet connection is problematic.
Currently there are 53 students, 26 young women and 27 young men, 20 teaching staff, 10 women and 10 men and the college is full of life and a source of comfort and support to the camp population of over three thousand. They provide a home for 87 war orphans, 49 girls and 38 boys and have a very successful choir.
Over 25 years the College has grown a great deal and it is good to see how its relations with Thai Churches as well as Burmese Churches and with Churches in Australia, through its diaspora have grown and helped it to get well established and supported.
PSRB is the main donor and our partner, Bellay Htoo South in Thailand visits on our behalf. She is a Karen and therefore communicates well with the leadership and students there and she speaks fluent English so can report clearly to us here in the UK. The donations we send are mainly spent on paying staff, supplementing food rations, supporting the orphans in their care, and buying office equipment.
As the Burma Army has bombed many Churches on the other side of the border in Karenni State and persecuted Christians over decades this Bible College is an unlikely jungle haven of education and preparation for the students to rebuild their country in the future.
The Bible College sends reports and accounts regularly.
