There are currently 80 boys and girls staying in this dormitory. Before Room to Grow Foundation came into contact with this dormitory, they received very little help or support for the large number of children under their care. Mostly the dorm had to subsist on refugee rations for food, consisting of rice, cooking oil, and yellow beans. Since many of the children are not officially registered with camp authorities, they do not receive rations, and were sharing what little they could get amongst themselves. Near the end of the month, to get food, the children would forage outside of the camp in the jungle, a dangerous practice, especially if they were caught by the camp guards.
The children in this dorm are between the ages of nine and 20. Most of them come from parts of the Karen State where the military government has been conducting a military offensive against the civilian population since for many, many years. Many of the children say they have dreams of becoming doctors, teachers and community leaders when they grow up, but since the regime has destroyed their villages and schools in their home country, it has become almost impossible for them to get the education they need to pursue their dreams.
The boarding house is run by a man named Day Chae and four other volunteers. They devote what time and resources they have to tutoring, assisting and caring for these children.
