At 18, Nan Hser Tha Mote fled conflict in Myanmar and crossed into Thailand alone, finding refuge in a migrant school near Mae Sot. Now 28, she teaches at KKB School, determined to prepare the next generation to one day return and rebuild. Among her students is 16-year-old Nan Yadanar San, who also fled violence in Karen State. Alone and undocumented, she now finds hope and family within KKB's walls.
Thailand hosts around 90,000 registered refugees, but most migrant students and teachers live undocumented, facing constant risks of arrest and exploitation. Without legal status, educators like Nan Hser Tha Mote struggle to get by, while students struggle to access formal recognition for their learning.