The Karenni Rainbow Foundation is a volunteer group of Japanese and expats who raise money for the Karenni people living in refugee camps in Thailand. We also help internally displaced persons in Karenni. We strive to increase the awareness of their grim situation. Some of us have been able to visit the refugees and do volunteer work with them.

We are looking for new members to join--please email us with any questions!

Right now we are involved in three projects:  The Rainbow Education Program, The Candle Project and The KSU Publication Project. 

Rainbow Education Program (REP)

This project helps financially support students so that they are able to attend high school and are able to study after school.  These students are all living in the Karenni state of Burma.  The Karenni state is the smallest state in Burma and its population is approximately 300,000.  No foreigners are allowed to get into this state because of security issues.  The Karenni state is not only the smallest state but also the least developed in Burma.  For the past two decades children, girls in particular, have been denied the opportunity to study due to Burma’s military presence in the state.  Poverty in the state also prevents the students from continuing their education after elementary school.  

Currently we are giving scholarships to 20 students: 12 girls and 8 boys who are between 13 and 19 years old.  The scholarship for each student is approximately 30,000 yen.  We have received their photos and letters and are able to see how they study and live.

 
The Candle Project

There are 22,000 Karenni refugees living in Mae Hong Son in Thailand and more than 7,000 are under 15 years old.  Most of them attend school from the age of six but they cannot receive assistance from NGOs after ten years of school.  Because they don’t have electricity, we raise money so that they can buy candles for studying after the sun has set. 

 
KSU Publication Project

The KSU (Karenni Student Union) is made up of Karenni students living in the Mae Hong Son refugee camp.  Their goal is to unite the students through activities such as workshops, conferences and cultural events.  Since the Karenni refugees have been living in unfamiliar places for more than 10 years, the refugee camp has more young people than ever before. They need to become more socialized and be prepared for the future.