Freelance Volunteer Myanmar (FVM) opened a school this week for children displaced by Burma Army offensives and fighting with resistance groups in Karenni State.

A source from FVM told Kantarawaddy Times that the non-governmental organisation (NGO) established the school to develop children’s “thinking skills”.

Besides language classes in Myanmar and English, maths and religion, subjects such as gender equality and mental and physical health are also taught. He said they’re planning various activities for the 100 students enrolled in the school with 27 teachers.

FVM started offering classes from primary to grade 4 in western Demawso Township on Monday 18 October.

We’ll carefully examine the school’s curriculum to see if it’s “effective for the children”. If it’s appropriate, we’ll open more schools in other internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps, the source said.

”We want to ensure that our children have a future to fulfil their dreams.”

After the coup, when schools were closed because of the unrest and the pandemic, families have to think about their safety and not about their children getting an education because their future has been ”destroyed by the military dictatorship”.

In the ethnic regions where there’s constant war, they don’t have the same opportunities as children who live in the city centres and can study online. That’s why we want to give them the opportunity to continue their education in the camp, he says.

“We’re asking for everyone’s support to continue participating in the revolution until the military dictatorship ends in our country. We will win this revolution.”

The FVM was formed in May by five engineers originally from Yangon.

They were supported by teachers who left their posts to join the protest movement and civil resistance groups from Karenni to help the many IDPs in the state.