Some of our schools, dormitories and Rays of Youth are being financed, sometimes since many years, by many single donors and the following project adopters: ACS Data Systems AG, Augschöll Johann, Camping Seiser Alm, Capito Caroline, Olivia Guevara, Hope 4 the World, Youth Symphonic Orchestra South Tyrol, Kerschbaumer Zeno, Kunstdünger GmbH, Eine Weltgruppe Lajen, Nonna Gabriella, Nordwal AG, Axel & Sabine Senftleben, Technologische Fachoberschule Fallmerayer, Bäckerei Trocker, Wendelgard Lageder Projekt, Wolf Fenster AG.

Trainings and events: As in previous years, we also offered different training courses and workshops this year. We took part in different celebrations like World Childrens Day or Womens Day.
In February Eva Benelli did pottery with our Rays of Youth.
In the meantime the Rays of Youth team took over the organization of a lot of the training events. More information can be found under the Rays of Youth section.
Rays of Youth: There are four young people in the team. Unfortunately, Eh Mwe and Pher Chay left us due to personal reasons. Pawk Htun joined us instead. The two main projects are the training of the ‘Peer Youth’ and the music training. The team also conducted various workshops. In the meantime the Rays of Youth team has become well known for their work also outside the borders of Mae Sot.
The building of the new Rays of Youth centre began in June and was completed in January 2013. Apart from a meeting room, the building has enough space for playing music, learning and also sleeping. We would like to thank Stiftung Swiss Seaside, Mr. Reinhard Plank, the Region Trentino-Südtirol and the Stiftung Südtiroler Sparkasse for financing the building.

Last year the following activities took place:

In 2012 we invested 184.786 Euro or 32,1% of the total expenses in schools and education projects.

Prosthetic department Mae Tao Clinic: We have been supporting this project with contributions of the “Land Südtirol –Amt für Kabinettsangelegenheiten” since 2003. We are paying for all the materials to make prosthesis, as well as dressings, disinfectants, anaesthetics, part of the medicine and instruments, etc.
Last year 289 amputees, mainly mine victims, received a new prosthesis.
Acupuncture department Mae Tao Clinic: Since 2011 we also support the Acupuncture department, which was established by the German Doctor Ulrich Hühne at the end of 2011.
In 2012 a total of 4.417 patients were treated. The achievements of the acupuncture team got around quickly. The successes in the treatment of sciatica, migraine, paralysis after strokes, Parkinsons and the reduction of medicine usage with chronic illnesses are sensational.
Kathi Zeschg Clinic: This clinic is still offering only basic services and only a limited number of patients can be taken in, due to the difficult situation. In 2012 the clinic took care of 6.398 patients, 2.525 of those were under the age of five. We buy and deliver all supplies directly.
We would like to thank the Family Zeschg, their friends and relatives for their long time support in remembrance of their daughter Kathi.

In 2012 we invested 37.511 Euro or 6,5% of our overall expenses in our medical projects.

„The Happy Tailor“ – Sewing Workshop: Most of the work of our sewing workshop was taken up by making school uniforms, even though they received more and more external orders.
In 2012 the sewing workshop produced a total of 10.824 pieces of clothing, amongst them 2.264 free uniform sets for our Rays of Hope schools. The Happy Tailor also took on external work from other organizations or small fashion firms and managed an income of 6.250 Euros, which will go back into the project.
The economic crisis also affected our sewing workshop, and we decided not to hire any new employees or replace any who have left. At the end of the year we had 5 people employed in the sewing workshop.
At the end of the year the kitchen and sewing workshop moved into their new building.
We thank the Maro Foundation for their support.
In 2012 we spent 16.531 Euro or 2,9% of the total expenses in our programme for community and income generation.

yummy! – meals for schools: 2012 was a difficult year for the Yummy!- meals for schools project. Due to a lack of finances we had to completely stop the Fruit and milk programme in March and also reduce the number of meals delivered to schools. In 2011 we started to ask for 2 cents per meal from the parents who could afford it. In 2012 this sum was increased to 5 cents.
At the end of the year we had provided up to 668.016 (2011: 989.813) healthy and varied meals to 12 schools and 7 dormitories in the greater Mae Sot area.
Despite a reduction in donations and an increase in the price of food products, we managed to keep the cost of one meal at 30 cents (including all costs and the delivery).
Our kitchen catered for 21.682 meals from external orders, which was around 3.000 more than the year before. For our Rays of Youth Media Festival in November the team cooked for 400 guests.
Last year we started looking for a new building for our kitchen. It was necessary to move, since we were receiving complaints from local residents about the noise and smell from the kitchen. In the end we found a building, which after renovation was suitable for both the kitchen and sewing workshop. And at the start of 2013 we could finally move there.
Programme „Fruit and Milk“: From January to March we delivered a total of 32.082 portions of Fruit and Milk. Due to the reduction in donations we were forced to discontinue this project after the end of the school year. We could not finance this project in the 2012/2013 school year, since we had to ensure we had the finances to cover the daily meals instead.
Emergency: In February there was a fire at Umphiem refugee camp, 80 kms south of Mae Sot. More than 1.000 homes were ruined, and over 4.000 people left without a roof over their head. 566 houses were completely destroyed, a further 515 houses needed a new roof. We reacted quickly and together with Save the Children UK and Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees, provided the people with basic necessities.
In the same month there was a fire South of Mae Sot, at KM44, this time from a cooking area that was not attended to. Some of our KM42 students were also affected. In only 45 minutes the whole village burned down and left 31 families homeless. Together with the Spanish organization ‘Colabora Birmania’ and SPARK Circus we could give the people necessary supplies and help them rebuild their homes.
We would like to thank, besides all the single donors, especially the following project adopters and donors for the financial support to this project, often over many years: Amt für humanitäre Hilfe (Region Trentino South Tyrol), Bischöfliches Ordinariat (Missio-Sternsinger) , Amt für Kabinettsangelegenheiten (Land South Tyrol), Maro Foundation and Costanza Merzagora-Piatti.
In 2012 we invested 186.555 Euro or 32,4% of our total expenses in our food and agriculture projects.

All projects are taken care of by our team in Mae Sot. The staff there are in contact with all the other Help without Frontiers country branches, as well as with local government and non-government organizations.
All materials for schools, dormitories, prosthetic department, kitchen, sewing workshop etc. have to be bought, allocated and delivered.
Student and emergency medical transport have to be organized, as well as the delivery of all materials, meals, fruit and milk. The projects are being visited regularly, monitored and analyzed.
From the start of 2013 we have the Rays of Youth centre next to our office and so there is more space for meetings and various events.
In 2012 we invested 150.045 Euro of the total expense in our project assistance, from which 79.450 Euros for the building of the new youth centre, for the renovation of the new kitchen and the purchase of a vehicle. The net expense for project assistance in 2012 came to 70.595 Euro or 12,3%.