Education for children from multi-ethnic backgrounds has often been subjected to disruption due to school closures, lack of financial resources or the huge expenses imposed on families. Also, many families are forced to flee from their native land due to fighting or from political persecution by the repressive military regime. They become internally displaced or become exiles or refugees in Thailand and other neighbouring countries. The children of these families do not get the opportunity for further education.

The planning and implementation of the program took place between 2004 and 2007. Minmahaw Education Foundation (MEF) was opened on the Thai/Burma border in January 2007, in order to fulfill the basic right of education to this population. This was seen as an essential solution to a deteriorating educational system inside Burma. Minmahaw is the name of one of Buddha’s incarnations; a wise and enlightened man.

The program started with 20 students from multi-ethnic backgrounds (Karen, Shan, Mon, Palaung, Chin, Arakanese and Burman) from both inside Burma and the Thai/ Burma border with the assistance of volunteer teachers from Burma and other countries. The students were divided into Elementary, Pre-Intermediate and Intermediate classes according to their level of English. The first year of the program (2007) was predominantly an English immersion and skills upgrade course. In 2008, the first group started preparation to gain an accredited high school certificate and in 2009, nine students will take this high school equivalency exam.