Migrantland: A base for the future

An Update from DARE Network

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for continuing to support DARE Network through GlobalGiving.

Your help means a great deal to us and to the refugee and displaced communities we work with along the Thai–Myanmar border. At a time when needs are increasing and funding is becoming harder to find, your support helps us keep going with addiction recovery, prevention education, family support, and community-led care.

The Situation on the Border

The situation on the border continues to be difficult. Around 80,000 refugees from Myanmar are living in nine temporary shelters in Thailand. Many are Karen, Karenni, and people from other ethnic communities who fled conflict and insecurity.

These camps were meant to be temporary, but many families have now lived there for decades. Over time, they have built schools, basic health services, places of worship, local leadership, and community organisations.

Even so, life is still very restricted, and many people have limited freedom to move, work, study, or plan for the future.

Why DARE Network’s Work is Important

This is why DARE Network’s work remains so important. DARE, the Drug and Alcohol Recovery and Education Network, has worked with displaced ethnic communities from Burma since 2000.

We provide culturally appropriate, non-medical addiction treatment and prevention education in border areas including Mae Hong Son and Tak provinces.

Our work is led by trained local addiction workers who understand the language, culture, family life, and daily realities of the communities they serve.

Funding Cuts Are Increasing the Pressure

One of the biggest challenges right now is the reduction in humanitarian funding.

These cuts affect food, health care, education, shelter support, youth activities, addiction recovery, prevention work, and many other services that families have relied on for years.

For DARE Network, it means we must work harder to keep our local staff, treatment centres, outreach, training, food support, and follow-up services available for the people who need them.

Employment Opportunities Bring Hope, But Also New Challenges

There are also some important changes happening. The Thai government has begun allowing some eligible long-staying Myanmar refugees in the border shelters to work legally.

This gives people a chance to earn income, support their families, access better protection, and contribute to the Thai economy.

Things like identity cards, legal status checks, bank access, SIM cards, health coverage, and minimum-wage protection can make a real difference for families who have had very few options for a long time.

But employment is not a complete solution by itself. Many families still face movement restrictions, separation when work is far from the camps, language barriers, paperwork challenges, trauma, and stress from years of displacement. During this time of change, community support is still needed. Our recovery and prevention work helps people stay connected, supported, and able to make healthy choices for themselves and their families.

What Your Donation Makes Possible

Your donation through GlobalGiving helps make this work possible. Your support helps provide:

• local addiction workers from within refugee and displaced communities
• prevention education for young people and families
• treatment, counselling, and follow-up visits
• community awareness activities
• food and basic support for clients in treatment
• local leadership that keeps DARE’s services trusted and accessible

Looking Ahead

The border is changing, and refugee families are being asked to adjust once again after many years of uncertainty. DARE Network will continue to stand with them through recovery, prevention, dignity, and community strength. We know that when one person is supported in recovery, a family can become stronger, and when families are supported, the whole community benefits.

Thank You

Thank you again for believing in this work and for helping us continue. Every gift, every share, and every message of encouragement helps refugee and displaced communities on the Thai–Myanmar border know they are not forgotten. We are grateful to have you with us.