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The Karen Womens’s Organisation (KWO) with support and advice from Children on the Edge and with funding from The British Embassy in Bangkok have developed standards of basic care for children living in the KWO boarding houses (dormitories) within the refugee camps on the Thai–Burma border. Founded in 1949 KWO supports and organises the contribution of Karen women delivering services in community development and relief to women and their families in the refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border and to Internally Displaced Persons inside Burma. These boarding houses are home to many children that arrive in Thailand unaccompanied, fleeing the conflict zones in Burma. They flee to Thailand for safety and for an education in a comparatively more stable environment. It is unsafe for these children to be sent back to Burma. Wherever possible they stay with relatives or families in the refugee camps but mostly the only option for these children is to reside within these boarding houses and attend schools in the refugee camps. There are between 10 and 30 boarding houses in each refugee camp along the Thai-Burma border. Each boarding house accommodates up to 100 children and youth. They are managed by a variety of agencies including KWO. It is therefore important that basic standards of care are implemented. In 2006 David Tolfree was commissioned by UNICEF Thailand to report on strengthening alternative care options for refugee children in Thailand. One of his key recommendations was that standards of care be developed for these boarding houses. With encouragement from Children on the Edge KWO rose to the challenge to develop and implement standards of care for boarding houses within their care. Over a four month period KWO facilitated a community consultation process to develop these standards. This process involved a series of workshops in the Mae Ra Ma Luang refugee camp and in KWO offices. Stakeholders included children and youth from boarding houses, their carers, community members and leaders. With the help of The Better Care Network some of the best standards of care documents that exist internationally were used as guidance. Children on the Edge advised on the process. At first draft stage the document was distributed for feedback amongst UN agencies and NGO’s working in the refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border and was taken back to the community in camp for further comment. KWO included relevant and appropriate feedback into the document and the final document was completed in both English and the Karen language. To be understood in the Karen language this document is entitled “Not Less Than This.” The document outlines KWO’s “Standards of Care” for boarding houses accommodating children and youth from Karen State, Burma which satisfies international standards and local conditions. These standards are practical and relevant to the local situation ensuring their implementation. Training is now taking place within the KWO managed boarding houses in the refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border ensuring that staff and children understand the standards. This will be finished by the end of April 2010. The implementation of these standards will be monitored by KWO on regular monitoring visits to camp dormitories and also when Children on the Edge visit camps. In two years time there will be a full monitoring and evaluation process undertaken by KWO and COTE to identify how well these standards are being implemented and will lead to a revision of the document if needed. KWO is happy to share their good practice and already other organisations that run boarding houses have approached them for the document and for advice on how to implement these standards in their boarding houses. If you would like more information on this process or would like the document please contact KWO at [email protected] or visit their website www.karenwomen.org To contact Children on the Edge, email [email protected]